A Novel Idea

Okay, so I had this awesome idea for a novel one evening when I was sick. The idea came to me in full force, instantly. One minute I’m watching TV and the next minute I’m seeing characters and had a complete story in my head. I even saw the book cover, right down to the font used. The story blurb on the back was instantly conjured, too, and I had a title. It was definitely surreal.

Here’s the thing: I’m scared of it.

This idea is so good, I don’t want to muck it up. I’m not avoiding writing it, but I’m not above admitting that I’m not sure I can do it justice. I can watch the whole thing in my mind, like a movie, and yet I’m terrified that the words I use or the structure I go with will ruin it.

Have you ever felt this way, writer friends?

I know for a fact that if I can pull this off correctly it’ll sell. This is the real deal, not some murky idea I have that needs fleshing out and expanding. This story is complete, ready-to-go; I just need to pen the thing.

Never before have I wondered how to enter a story. That stuff just works itself out, as far as I’m concerned. With this one, though, I feel that the first page, how I set the tone, is going to be all-important. It’s the little decisions that sometimes make the biggest difference, eh?

Anyhow, I’m definitely going to write this epic tale, but it’s such a huge undertaking and I just hope I’m prepared for it and have all the tools I need. If not, the entire thing could fall down and flop on its face, and that would hurt badly because this is going to be more than a little work.

Off I go. Clackety-clack go the keys.