Going in Circles

            I have been working on my novel for six years now. Am I ashamed to say that? No. This is the only story idea I’ve ever completed, and despite everything wrong with it in the past and right now, the idea won’t leave me alone. Besides, I first wrote it as a 16-year-old. I’ve grown, matured, and been through college since then, so of course I’m going to apply what I’ve learned.

            “But aren’t you tired of it?” Absolutely.

            However, I see potential in my idea. Many authors spend years on their first book because they know their idea is good, and they strive to make agents, publishers, and readers see the same vision they do. They want to break into the market and share their book with others.

            Perhaps you’re in the same boat. Maybe you’ve been working on the same story for years. You’re exhausted, over it, and sick of that one scene (you know which one). Yet you can’t give up. So you go in circles – writing, editing, revising, restarting – all so you can see your book on the shelf one day.

            You’re not alone. Even if some people say you should give up and move on, you should persevere with your idea. Going in circles feels insane, yet it will be worth it once you finally write that draft you’re happy with.

Trust the process

            I don’t know what draft I’m on. I know I’ve written chapter one at least six times and am about to go back for the seventh to change it to New Adult. I’ve done a massive amount of editing, I’ve been revising, and I’m going to edit those first 100 pages again.

            It’s a lot of work, but it’s because I want to present my best. That means keeping track of the plot and adding those important details I forgot the first time. It’s all part of the process.

            Every writer has their own process. Some are better at organizing than others. Some edit as they go while others write the whole first draft without looking at what they previously wrote. It’s not a crime to stray away from “what everyone else is doing.” It may take longer, but sometimes we have to take longer for our own sanity.

            This is, of course, a different situation if you have a deadline. If an agent or publisher is waiting for the draft, then getting it together is a good idea. The same applies if you’re self-published and already promised readers you’d release your book by a certain time.

            But if you are not on a deadline, take the time you need. New York Times bestselling author Jerry Jenkins says that you should be happy with every word in your manuscript. So if you have to go through a few rounds of editing and revision in order to be happy, then do so!

Minimize the crazy

            Something I absolutely cannot do is edit on my computer. I can do a good enough job when editing my school assignments, but when it comes to my book or story excerpts, I can’t stare at the screen and think about the edits that are needed. Every time I go through the editing process, I have to print out the pages and scribble my notes all over them in order to finally focus and figure out what I’m doing.

            Another thing I have to do sometimes is handwrite. Handwriting helps my brain slow down, and I’m able to focus on it longer because I’m not spitting out words at five times the speed. Before I know it, I’ve written a whole chapter within an hour when it would take me longer while typing because I have to stop and think.

            What I’m trying to say is that if there is a method of writing, editing, or revising that helps you focus, even if it is not as convenient, then use that method. Anything that helps you write is beneficial, especially when you’re on your third round of editing. Minimizing the crazy can help you be more productive, and if that means handwriting the whole draft before putting it on the computer, then go for it.

Do something else

            While you are doing all the writing things, you can do other things to help yourself as an author. This can be building a website, managing your blog, promoting yourself on social media, or writing stories to submit to websites or magazines. By doing this, you can stay present among your readers, get your name out there, and build a platform while working on the important stuff.

            Writing does take a lot of time though. I have neglected my social media lately because I’ve been too busy to make reels. I also do my best to get my blog posts out on time. But without a book, which I’ve promised to my readers, then why am I doing all these things at all? The book comes first.

            But if you have the time or you really do need to promote yourself, then do that on top of working on your story. If anything, it helps you get your mind off your story for a little bit and allows you to be creative in a different way.

            When we are turning in circles, it feels like we’re going nowhere. But as long as we are happy with our story in the end and we’re still getting things done, going in circles isn’t too bad. If you are still learning about writing, you may find yourself returning to your book multiple times (like I did). As long as you persevere and finally finish that story, you can do whatever you need to in order to make your book the best it can be.