I just took a look at an old journal where I wrote my first entry about nine years ago. Back then, I was in college, had just finished final exams, and had a positive outlook on the possibilities of my future. I had an idea for a website for submitting music to record labels, and I also shared the original idea for my book, Pangaea. It’s so crazy how extremely different the original book idea was from what it is today. I will share that in a moment, but what’s even more interesting was how freely I wrote back then.
Go ahead and free yourself…
The journal was a way for me to get my thoughts down on paper with no expectations. Today, after having published my first book, I feel the self-imposed pressure to produce another book. This has caused my writing to stiffen. While a personal journal is normally easier to write than a book, regardless, I still felt the thoughts come at a faster pace back then. Now, most of what I write is measured and evaluated before I type anything out. I’m trying to get back to that space of writing with abandon. I think I’m making some strides, but the weight to make something good hasn’t completely lifted. My belief is now that I’ve stepped foot into the world of self-publishing, my mind is adjusting to writing under pressure. My second book has been coming along so slowly, but I know I’ll make it through this eventually.
The original idea for Pangaea
Now, for that original (cringe-worthy) book idea for Pangaea straight from the pages of the first entry in my old journal:
“It’s about people who live in what we call Pangaea – a super-continent where all of the continents of Earth are one. One man tries to separate the continents (via some magical source) and rule the world while my protagonists try to stop him.”
Maybe it’s just me who’s cringing. I am the author after all. But, boy is that bad to me! Nearly everything about that description has changed except the setting. But that also goes to show you that once you have an idea and start working on it, amazing things can happen. What I learned was not to get so bogged down in the details that you get stuck. I even find it hard to come up with what are supposed to be new journal entries on this blog. I wish that lesson stayed with me, because I feel like I’m learning it all over again.
