Fiction Notes

Do You Fear Starting a New Novel?

Today, I stare failure in the face.
Today, I am scared.
Today, I see possibilities as the possibility of failing.

In other words, I have finished all my self-imposed deadlines on other projects and cleared my plate of other tasks, so that I can start a new novel. And it terrifies me.

It’s an ambitious project, something I expect to turn into a trilogy. I have such hopes for this project: hopes that it will reach new readers; hopes that it will be fun to write and promote; hopes that it will be (I’m afraid to even say it!) a breakout novel for me.

And I am scared.

I’ve done my homework. Volcanoes feature large in this story, so last month while I was in the Pacific Northwest, I visited Mt. St. Helens.

Darcy Pattison at Mt. St. Helens
I recently visited Mt. St. Helens for research on the background for a new novel.


I’ve written samples for this story from different points of view, and even sold a short story based on the back story.

And yet–I am scared to sit down and start this. Yes, I’ve written the book on starting a novel and I’m still scared to start again. As ART AND FEAR puts it, I am scared that my fate is in my own hands–and that my hands are weak.

I SHOULD see the great possibilities of success.
I SHOULD approach this with excitement.
I SHOULD be so ramped up by now that the words would flow, as if bestowed from above, with angelic music swelling and…

No. Writing is work. It’s the hardest work I’ve ever done or ever hope to do. But it’s also the most exciting, most fun, and most rewarding work I will ever do.

So, at 8:30 this morning, I’ll turn on my Freedom app, giving myself three hours of uninterrupted time. I will make a start. A messy start. But a start. And that will be enough for today. Just make a start, that’s my goal for today.

Darcy Pattison

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6 responses to “Do You Fear Starting a New Novel?”

  1. Yes! Thank you for this post. It prompted some perception-altering thinking. Write on, Darcy!

  3. Greg:
    I know I’ll feel MUCH better once the writing starts. It’s just the starting that is HARD!
    Art and Fear says that creative people quit their craft at specific times: in fact, they quit when they fail to begin again.
    Beginning again, is the most important skill for building a career.
    Darcy

  5. Go for it Darcy. I believe in you. Add up all the people who believe in you and your doubts will be swallowed up, stomped out or buried in the deep blue sea.