I recently read an article over on John Scalzi’s blog. This is unusual for me… I really like Scalzi’s work, as I think everyone who knows me is aware, but I don’t often read any blogs by writers. I couldn’t say exactly why, but they aren’t entertaining to me (he said while writing just such a blog).
Writing here, for me, is part of the job. This comes with the territory, and since it’s writing I don’t mind that bit. And reading also comes with the territory, but I normally focus on reading that’s relevant specifically to my genre (hence me sitting down and crushing through all the Chamber’s “Wayfarer” series last month). Anyway, I digress.
I was reading Scalzi’s blog, which a guest author had written. And the guest author mentioned in a throw-away comment that their next work was, and I quote, “Ocean’s Eleven with Power Armour” (they probably spelled it “armor” because they’re American, but again, digression). And that made me instantly a little sad and took a lot of the wind out of my sails for this last week.
The story I’m working on right now is much more “Ocean’s Eleven with cyberpunk” than power armour, but it’s close. And I know that it’s not about having super unique ideas, but rather telling whatever ideas you have in the best way… great stories are retold countless times. It’s not the idea, but the execution that matters.
But I was still sad. And a little demoralized. I’ll get over it (I mean, the novel still needs to get written!), but maybe that’s why I don’t read other author’s blogs…
Anyway! Just a blip. I’ll be back at it later today after my classes!
Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!