The Long Haul

I’ve had story thoughts linger, some rattling around in my head for over twenty years. While not an “idea guy”, I have found that I am better at imagining a story than I am pushing it to completion. My office is a cluttered mess that accurately captures where my motivation goes, and where it falters. So, I have become a dusty collection of unfinished things.

I look for validation out there. Successful failures that commiserate on their inabilities to complete something. Others, like this piece by Vauhini Vara help me to justify my own “long writing” projects. Maybe they will never be finished. Maybe some will.

What I have started to do in my middle age is design writing projects that present challenges above and beyond story design and execution. Some will take many years to complete, on purpose. Others use language challenges, timing restrictions. Limitations to open up opportunity to refocus.

I’ll start putting the results here over time. Long winter months. Nothing else to do.