The Ones That Got Away
Few of us are divinely inspired enough to have the very first novel we write - or attempt to write - be a hit. Heck, most writers’ first novels may not even be a good idea. It’s still a good idea to write a “practice novel” or two before working toward publishing, though. The experience of simply writing and completing a WIP is very valuable.
I’m in a nostalgic mood, with American Thanksgiving so close at hand, so let’s walk down memory lane and review my “practice novels” that got away from me for various reasons.
Practice Novel The First
When I Wrote It: Started my sophomore year of high school, and I dabbled in it for the rest of that time until I graduated. I did some work on the planned sequel in my early twenties.
General Concept: It was a dystopian fantasy self-insert fic about me and my friends. I had magic powers, I was a semi-chosen one and not fully human, with a dash of evil government conspiracy thrown in there for good measure. Naturally, my friends and I were the only ones who could stop the evil overlords from doing their worst. (I was a teenage boy, can you tell?)
How Far I Got: I made it to about the halfway point, where the main bad guy ruins the heroes’ day, killing one of them, and then gets away.
Why It Got Away From Me: I fully blame this one on my age and ADHD. Between school, transitioning out of school and into the Navy, and being neurodivergent, it was very hard to stay on task. I did eventually just jump straight to writing the sequel, in which my character trained to use his superhuman powers, but I got even less far on that story.
Chances Of Revisiting: Nil. RIP.
Practice Novel The Second
When I Wrote It: I started this one around the time I turned 30, and worked on it intermittently in my early thirties.
General Concept: This was a high fantasy with a comedic tone about characters who form a band to quest and get various things: treasure, glory, the usual. The thing was, everybody in the party was an absolute reject and a loser, terrible at what they do. The wizard could only do wild magic, the barbarian was very smart and articulate but bad at fighting, and so on. This was my first attempt at trope subversion.
How Far I Got: Really only the first act was ever completed. I got the group together, and then realized they had to do something, but I never bothered to figure out what. (This also should have been my first clue that I am not cut out to be a pantser.)
Why It Got Away From Me: Once I had to figure out an actual story for these characters, my interest dried up.
Chances of Revisting: Slim, but not out of the question. I still think this idea could have legs if executed well.
Practice Novel The Third
When I Wrote It: This one was in my late thirties, roughly between 2016 and 2018.
General Concept: This was an Urban Fantasy about two mercenaries, one of whom is, to put it roughly, a Space Elf, and the other has superhuman powers bestowed on him by the Norse Gods. All of them. Because he’s harboring all of their powers in his soul. Also there was a talking cat.
How Far I Got: This is a practice novel in the purest sense of the term, because I did actually finish it, and I did actually start self-editing to create a second draft.
Why It Got Away From Me: Unfortunately, in 2018 the computer that housed the book file died, and I lost about half the manuscript due to it not being backed up anywhere else. This pretty much killed my enthusiasm for the book. Eventually, in 2021, I began planning out the Chloe Stewart Novels, and this project went to the back burner.
Chances Of Revisiting: Fair. I still like this idea, and think it could be a fun series, but I’m a much better writer than I was in 2016, so I think the whole manuscript would need an overhaul.
So, there you have it – a run-down of my past, dearly departed work. Some of it might make a resurgence one day, but with three more Chloe novels and another idea in the pipeline as well, the wait could be a long one.
