I started my WIP in 1972 (I have the notes to prove it - now in Scrivener). My first draft - which I finished on my 72nd birthday,
This may be a rad suggestion, but at 72 it might be worth it to you-- perhaps look for someone who can help you (lightly) to “ghostwrite” it for you? Not take it over, but do some of the heavy lifting, and work with you back and forth to draw out what you want to say and get it on paper.
After all, wouldn’t it be nice to live long enough to read some of the reviews ??? (Or maybe not… depending on the subject)
@jwhitten Thank you for your heartfelt advice. At this point in my life, I’m 75, and my work on this novel is approaching 50 years. But I am closing in on a publication date. My motivation is not to get some reviews (to be honest, because my novel has such a literary aspect, I expect many readers will just give up on it). But I do appreciate your encouragement. I realize that only I can write this book. It’s largely autobiographical fiction, and only I know what the facts behind that fiction are, and I do have enough confidence in my writing skills to believe that I can tell the story (with the help of some excellent editors who have supported me).
[looks at the date of the last time he posted in this thread] [looks at amount of work done on his WIP since then] [double checks the current date] [double checks the amount of work done on the WIP]
LOOK, 2020 WAS A REALLY BUSY YEAR FOR ME, OKAY?!?!!!?!!!?
[gets all embarrased about the overly defensive outburst]
There are four quotes that I keep handy. I will regularly retype them to reinforce the truth of them. Others will say different, but I believe they hold the truth.
I would like to say there is some magic pill to making it work, but all I’ve ever found is grit, determination and consistency.
I hope these help someone.
Working inspires inspiration. Keep working. If you succeed, keep working. If you fail, keep working. If you are interested, keep working. If you are bored, keep working.
—Michael Crichton
When you can’t create, you can work.
—Henry Miller
You force yourself to get going — once sentence, two sentences, three — and little by little you enter that other world.
—Stephen King
Quit quitting. It’s all too easy to start something and not finish it. Remember when I said you were legion? […] if you want to separate yourself from 90% of the other writers, then just finish the shit you started. Stop abandoning your children. You wouldn’t call yourself a runner if you quit every race you ran halfway through. Finishing is a good start. Stop looking for the escape hatch; pretend your work in progress just plain doesn’t have one.
—Chuck Wendig
So per the OP’s question, I think that last quote is the most relevant. You quit when it’s done.
I started a book titled Imbroglio in 2007. The idea grew from one book to three and is now the linchpin for a 16-book series. It is now Book 3 of that series. In 2011, I finished Book 4 of that series. In 2013, I finished book 1. In the interviening time, I’ve attempted Book 2 several times. In 2020, I decided to abandon the series as I felt hopelessly blocked.
In November 2021, I went to 20 Books Vegas. The 20 Books to 50K crowd comprises a few thousand writers all trying to build or sustain their indy career. While at the converence, I chatted up the second series. But, the first series intrigued fellow authors more. By conference end, I committed to finish the first four books by the 2022 converence (13 November).
Last week, I finally finished Book 2 satisfactorally…threw away 2/3s of the prior drafts. The middle of the story was weak and every rewrite covered the same terrain. I threw away the book plot and plotted by chapter then pantsed the scenes. The characters took the story in a more satisfactory direction than my plot. When I hooked it into the finale, I had to add an extra scene.
I’m now re-plotting Imbroglio (Book 3) so I can write it by May. I can sustainably write 1,000 wpd with a full time job.
You’ve said you are 2/3s of your way through the draft…how many words? What’s the genre? What is your style (pants/plot)? What is holding your draft up? Why are you writing? I’m writing to set up my fourth career as my third should end in the next seven years.
Absent any of that, you don’t need our permission to move forward. Take a bit of time to find out why the WIP is stalled. Find your motivation to keep writing, then write on. Soundtracks by Jon Acuff might be helpful.
