Has Leigh Done It? A Resolutions Series (Part 1)

In January I published "New Year's Resolutions...Again" as part of Vocal's New Year, New Projects Challenge, highlighting my plan for my 2025 creative project.

The idea is to document my journey throughout the year, on Vocal, so you can all see my progress.

I'll be posting updates in March (okay it's two days into April, cut me some slack), June, September, and December.

And if you haven't read it for yourself, I'll give you the rundown of what you missed: I'm calling myself a writer, whether the world likes it or not, and I'm getting back on the novel-writing horse.

But that horse?

It's a fucking stallion that does not like me.

In my article I laid out this plan:

- Reread the second draft and insert any comments I have, without making edits, and documenting the plot

- Take a step back and turn the plot into a Sparknotes version of my novel, chapter descriptions and all

- Get into the meat of it. Tackle any comments and inconsistencies that occur. If things need to be deleted: be strong. If things need to be added or rearranged: get to work

- Reread again and then finally, the worst bit of all…get someone else to read my work

Well...

In my attempt to reread my novel, I've reached page 67 out of 650, and the idea of creating a Sparknotes is GREAT, but my second draft doesn't have any chapters.

So I'm outlining them from scratch.

It's a lot harder than I thought it would be. And it's been a little discouraging.

It's like wading through honey with an anchor tied to my waist and someone thought it would be funny to make me wear Moon Boots.

That may be a slight over exaggeration, but you get the idea.

I've dipped in and out over the past 3 months and found that my novel is an amalgamation of the book it could be, and the book it actually is.

There's some really great stuff in there - if I do say so myself - but there's also a lot that you can tell hasn't been properly planned, or lacks a certain je nai se quoi that I know I have grown to have since writing my second draft.

But the real issue is... I want to rewrite it.

I want to change it from first to third person.

I want to consider the deeper layers that eighteen-year-old me definitely did not think about.

I want to raise the stakes.

And it feels so tempting to wash away everything I've created to start anew. Same world, same characters, same premise. But a whole lot different.

And for a little while I felt as though I'd reached an impasse. Because I was fighting with myself.

It's a monumental decision. One that I took a while to think about. But here's what I know to be true...

I have a stable foundation - characters I love who are complex and have interesting dynamics, a plot that is strong in theory but needs work to be engaging, and solid themes of found family, friendship, and the classic dystopian theme of The People vs The Power.

It's all there, it just needs revising.

And so even though the call of starting fresh has been like a clear river dissecting off my tough honey path with signs that say "easy way out!", I'm going to continue wading with what I have. (You're remembering my elaborate analogy with Moon Boots, right?)

I'm going to dig my heels in and persevere. I'm going to befriend that stallion that is novel-writing. I'm going to keep going.

Now till June will be a lot more of rereading and Sparknoting, and yeah it's hard but I'm okay with that.

It wouldn't be rewarding if it was easy.

And aside from focusing on my novel, I have been a writer in other ways too!

Since my resolution of wanting to write more, I have published 6 different articles to Vocal. From poetry, to music journalism, to the ramblings of my mind.

One of which gained Runner-Up in the Love in 50 Words Challenge, and one that gained Top Story fame which allowed me become the 2nd highest subscribed to creator of that week.

I love the conversation that people are having from my article, so if you want to talk about movie critics, and what silly little movies you enjoy, I suggest you check it out:

I'll leave you with that. I hope you've enjoyed hearing about my progress (or perhaps lack thereof?), and I'll see you in June!

—

Hi I’m Leigh, I want to start expressing myself more so tune in for some fiction, some thoughts, and some fun.

Until next time x