What can I publish anyway?? | chitchat

Happiest of Mondays!

I’ve removed the Spooky Week 2023 staple on my last few stories. If you didn’t know, my plan was to write seven horror stories on the last week leading up to Halloween. That’s because I love writing and also spookiness, and I’ve held that concept alive for years. But I decided to end it. At least for this year. That’s because A) creativity can’t be forced or rushed. If it is, it usually doesn’t turn out great. At least that is the case for me. And B) I am figuring out that the stories I’ve been planning to post here, aren’t stories I just wanna throw out all willy nilly.

I want to use them. Tinker away at them. And maybe even publish them. You know, TRADITIONALLY! Or at least in some more official way hehe

You see, I’m not being completely honest when I’m saying that rushing and living by a time table isn’t doable for me. Because it has a very interesting effect on me. Creating the Spooky Week concept has definitely helped me. It’s pushed me into thinking about storytelling, to make creative twists so that plot holes go away and generally write more and often.

It’s also helped quicken my writing because the plan for Spooky Week has always been to write one story every day for seven days. I’ve managed to do that several times, but I’ve never been 100 percent happy with my stories. Don’t get me wrong; I think they’re good and I’m proud of having written them. And I’ve also made many of them into podcast episodes. But I wouldn’t want to send them off to a publishing house because they’re nowhere good enough – and I know it.

I’ve never been 100 percent happy with my stories.

That’s why I’m so excited that this year is different. I REALLY like the story ideas I’ve come up with – the ones I haven’t published here that is – and I feel like their uniqueness is something that I shouldn’t take lightly.

What I’m saying is that I want to take what I’ve come up with and work with them behind the scenes. Because apparently; publishing something on platforms like a blog, on Wattpad or other personal – but public – places is considered.. well, published. Shocker, I know. But a little mind-boggling for me anyway. Giving away something for free isn’t going to make someone want to buy it one day.

Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve not been in love with my previous stories on this blog. But now I am. Or rather; I’m in love with the stories I have in my drafts here. One button and they are assessable to everyone. But in doing so I’m blowing my chances of using my stories in any way that may benefit me – other than creating an awesome place to share spookiness.

Which I will continue on doing by the way! I’m just going to be more picky about what I choose to share – and what I want to keep nursing until it’s a healthy baby book.

Giving away something for free isn’t going to make someone want to buy it one day.

So what’s my goal right now, you may ask? Well, first I want to finish my short story ideas, scramble them all together and eventually send them off for consideration somewhere. I’m finally addicted to writing again. It’s been a hot minute, but like I said; Spooky Week got the creativity wheels rolling and I’m very excited about the ideas I’ve conjured up. And I feel like if I just use this momentum, I’ll be very satisfied with the result.

Exactly HOW I’m going to go about doing all this is still unclear to me. But I’m taking away the main stress factor for now, which is feeling a strange kind of obligation – to myself – to publish as much of my stories and story ideas here as possible. I’ll continue to post things I like, but wouldn’t want to use any further than as a type of resumé. Because people reading things here, can get a glimpse into my way of writing. Plus more personal posts, like this one, where my thoughts surrounding book publishing, dreams and future hopes is discussed in a very rambly way 😅

I feel like if I just use this momentum, I’ll be very satisfied with the result.

So that’s that! I like the idea of using this blog as a kind of overview of my works and thoughts, but the bigger ideas will be kept hidden. My road to publishing however will be transparent. Because I feel like that is something that can be pretty interesting. Both for me and others since I’ve obviously never been published – outside of the local newspaper – so it’s exciting trying to tread the waters!

Being Norwegian – yeah hey I’m from Norway! – there are a lot of Norwegian book publishing «rules» I’ll have to get caught up on. AND I have to translate things into Norwegian, because a lot is still in English. That can be explained by the fact that I still thought that I would post the stories here, and I’m trying to address an English audience. Broadening those horizons yo!

Also I’ll continue on making videos on my YouTube channel, so definitely check that out if you’re as into movies and horror as me! I’ll also talk about books and writing here – once I know what kind of angle I want to take on that. Thanks for reading, and maybe for finding me right now when I’m about to go deeper into the matter of MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE and taking things SERIOUSLY. WOW!

Spook to you soon! 👻