Post-first chapter paralysis: Frozen at the foot of a new story idea
I'm curious to know if there's a specific word or phrase to mean, "highly adept at coming up with creative story ideas and quickly writing a first chapter but then not revisiting said work. Ever." Because if it's a syndrome, I've got it. I'll just call it Post-First Chapter Paralysis for now.
Another idea struck a month ago when I was traveling on the west coast for my full time gig. I let the story and at least three characters introduce themselves to me in my mind as I lavished in a lazy Saturday of mostly solitude at Golden Gate Park. A glorious day of handwritten fiction and bare feet in grass and the lighted aura surrounding a creative who's just had a spark of muse float past their mind's eye.
A first chapter I did indeed write that day. By hand. To then get back to my hotel room and type it all up and bam. A beautiful chapter, beautiful because of its completeness. And that was June 9 and I won't tell you to check the date on this post but needless to say we were well past weeks and very nearly ready to use months to describe the creative distance from my latest foray into a new idea.In snippets here and there, I've been jotting down dialogue and themes and overarching motifs I want to convey in this story. I have a title. I'm pretty sure of my character's destiny. But I just don't have time to give her the attention she deserves. Which is the usual point when I get nervous someone else will get this nearly exact idea and have the time and metal capacity to see it to fruition. Thanks a lot Liz Gilbert. The book "Big Magic" mused with the idea of creative and inspiring forces floating through our existence and latching onto a host when the idea is fresh and ready.I just need a little time to be a hospitable carrier for this creative idea's sojourn in reality. Which I clearly don't have. But I've managed to squeeze in 10 minutes of blogging right this very moment as I caffeinate prior to my workout class.See! (I'm thinking, addressing my own mind), there's time if you make it a priority. And it's true, I've been finding so much relaxing solace in blogging here and there without cadence, without agenda, without too much self-pressure.Feels good.Now if only I instilled a bit of structure into my writing life so I can see past a first chapter. My characters and my ideas, and frankly me myself and I, all deserve a chance to see where it goes. With a little time and dedication and sacrifice.Anyone else have Post-First Chapter Paralysis? Any tried and tested methods to overcome said situation? I'd love to hear your ideas and experiences in the comments.(Featured image photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash)