Working on my novel and couldn’t figure out why it felt so empty. I didn’t have any filler. It was all 100% plot. The characters only interacted when necessary. I didn’t prattle on about the scenery or how the birds sounded. I had all my fuller stuff that I loved saved in another file because I “didn’t need it”.
Y’all, I knew this existed in TV shows but it didn’t hit me until this that everything is being whittled down. We are so starving for filler that we snap up anything. I unload all mine on Tumblr or keep it in a massive Google Docs. It SUCKS.
Honestly? Death to plot necessity. Revive filler. Revive unnecessary interactions. Revive just vibing with characters sometimes. I don’t want to just consume the plot and I don’t want to just create the plot either.
Okay so this blew up more than I expected. Here’s the thing guys-
When you’re new to the game, you write things that aren’t “in”, you write anything that could be considered “political” or “woke”, it makes it hard to break through the noise. I’ve gotten agents, and then been told to “tone down” my stories (especially if I have a trans MC). I, a freaking Anthropology major with a focus in Human Culture and Pop (yes, weapons are a HUGE part of this) have been told that guns didn’t exist in the 1500s and I need to “do my research”. I have been told that my work wouldn’t reach a wide enough demographic, that I prattle on, that I get too off topic with my “side quests”.
I could go on about all the things that agents and publishing houses tell you when you’re new. Yes, I have published a couple works through writing apps. Yes, I do currently have an agent. And it’s been HARD. I can’t just write what I want. “The Great American Novel” isn’t something we get to decide. It’s what the Trad Pub Houses think will sell.
If you want to write what you want, self publish. I’m in the process of using Kindle. I just want to be able to be proud of what I’ve put out and know that I didn’t compromise. I like giving “too many” details, and based on the interaction I’ve gotten on my posts, y’all do too. I have resigned myself to the fact I’ll never be a big name author, and you can’t go into writing thinking you’ll be the next Stephen King. I’m okay with that.
I’m not saying this to dissuade you. I think you SHOULD write. You SHOULD try! I just also think to avoid the pain of rejection or being faced with reworking something you loved that I myself have been dealing with this for 15+ years), acknowledge and be okay with the fact that you’ll have to choose, and be okay if your work only makes you happy.