A question for my writer friends

[pjthompson]

 

In my current WIP I am weaving together new writing plus a number of short stories set in the same universe. Originally, I had planned to include a 31.5k novella* in this but I second-guessed myself.

“You know,” I told myself, “you could probably use this material for another novel centered around this character.”

So I removed that chunk from the novel.

But, you see, every second guess is worth a second second guess. It occurs to me that the future novel I was thinking of may never get written. Old time is a-flying…and I’m not. Not to mention that the information from that novella needed to go into this novel for the actions/motivations of the characters to make sense.

So I did this ham-handed non-POV retelling in the current novel that just isn’t going to work.

That novella, on the other hand, fits quite handily (ha) into the current work so I’m thinking that maybe I need to spend my coin here rather than save it for a rainy day that in drought-prone Southern California may never happen.

I know it’s not possible for anyone to make a fully informed opinion without reading the piece in question, but I’m wondering all the same if there’s any consensus of opinion on this?

 

 

*For those who may be reading this who have read some of my Dos Lunas pieces, the novella in question is Hortensia’s Man.

Comments

[sartorias]

Without knowing any details, I'd go with your instincts, especially when something isn't working.

[pjthompson]

Yeah, my instincts were telling me to follow my instincts, you know, but sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between instincts and echo chamber. Thanks.

[marycatelli]

Never put off what you can put into the work now!

Of course, that's for me generally a "I know this will happen sometime, why not now?" thing

[pjthompson]

This seems to be the consensus between here and Twitter. I'm not going to hoard my gold.

[mount_oregano]

Stephen King said something to the effect of always use all your best writing on whatever you're working on and don't save anything for later. Because each thing you write should be the absolute best.

[pjthompson]

Yes! Thank you. I knew somebody famous had said something of the sort but I couldn't remember the exact quote or who it was. So, yes. I think I'll take Stephen's advice. (And yours.) 😊

[asakiyume]

I think if it seems to fit in, in it goes!

[pjthompson]

Thanks! I decided to use it. No more gold hoarding.

[notasupervillain]

I'd say put it in. There's always more ideas in my head than there is time to write them. So if you can tell two stories at the same time, I consider that a bonus

[pjthompson]

Yes, I decided to include it. And really, maybe that story didn't have the legs for a novel of its own. I wouldn't know that until I made an effort to write it. So why not use it here where it works?

[notasupervillain]

Yay!