Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher of Star Trek: TNG) has written three nonfiction books and contributes to several web sites. But even he gets the willies when he sits down to write fiction:
Writing fiction is a scary, solitary experience for me. Eventually, I get stuff to Andrew and we start working together to hammer out the final draft, but I write my first draft with the door closed, as Stephen King advises, and it can be a lonely time, with Self Doubt and the Inner Critic dropping in uninvited and unannounced from time to time to mess with me before the real fun starts.
As I struggle through the first (really the zero, but that’s just semantics) draft of this novella, I have to keep reminding myself that the first drafts of Just A Geek and Dancing Barefoot weren’t as easy as Happiest Days , and the first column I wrote for Geek in Review wasn’t as effortless as some of the last ones. In other words, I’m learning a new skill, and since I’m mostly on my own as I explore this new territory, it’s easy to get lost and confused.
Luckily for me (and all other writers) there are experienced authors who are willing to share with us how they got where they are, so that we may try to follow in their footsteps….
He goes on to list some good resources for encouragement. Check it out!
WWdN: In Exile: i thought i was the only one
Filed under: authors, writing Tagged: | Wil Wheaton
