23 Unfinished Stories and counting

My eyes glass over as I gaze upon another challenge from Vocal while at the same time watching my subscription notices pile in from other writers who have completed yet another story, article, or poem. While my screen light glows empty with unfinished projects of my own.

Most are fictional stories, as that is what I am most comfortable with. Now that I wrote that line, I think of what a business mentor of mine once said.

'Don't become comfortable, it is too close to being complacent.'

I don't know if that is true, but...

To be fair, I have three finished stories ready to be submitted. The thing is, I do not feel they are ready. WHY? because I like them and do not want to submit something I feel deserves better. They are good stories but not great, not yet.

Look, I know what this is, it is me stalling to write or finish another story. Vocal is my prime writing forum; however, I belong to other writing groups and forums as well. Also, like many I work full time and still try to see friends and be with family. Hence the twenty-three unfinished pieces, twenty-four if I do not complete this one.

When I was a young parent my children (family) were my attention, I always wanted to become a published author but back then I used writing as a way for me to cope with life and frustrations. Write something, then delete or throw it away. I found it calming, therapeutic.

One of the few I kept (On paper) was for my wife, when we were younger, money was short, so we made our own gifts. Mine was a continuous Christmas tale I wrote for her over a three-year span. A few chapters each year. She says I need to publish it, to me that would take away the gift I gave her.

My question to you is, how many stories do you have on the go?

I should mention these twenty-three unfinished stories are only on my Vocal site. The number does not include what I have written down in my notebooks or other forums, or the two novels I have in the works.

My goal is to finish these before I embark on a new adventure, of course we know that as one writes, other stories automatically pop in the head, so if anything, this number may increase. Still, it is a goal I plan to try to complete.

As far as writing for Vocal challenges I must really decide whether I will continue to try. To date no story of mine has won or even made it to the honorable mention list. Clearly I need to rethink and work on my submissions. Recreate my style perhaps?

I know full well my writing is raw, but it is truthful and honest. Not Forced by regulated rules from university professors that refuse to let go of a pompous attitude they feel is the only way to write. These types of people are the same ones who refuse to recognize writers such as Stephan King, Tom Clancy and Brandon Sanderson (To name a few) as legitimate authors. Oh, that felt good to rant a wee bit.

I have issues with that line of thought; it is trying to harness imagination with guidelines. You should never try to harness imagination, let it fly free and wild.

In my eleventh grade math class there was a poster that I read everyday I was there. It became a mantra for me and has stuck with me ever since. It let me know I was normal, not weird. There is nothing wrong with a child who daydreams, why was that always a negative comment on our scores in school. My heart would swell with pride when my children's teachers would tell me they are daydreamers.

Who am I to disagree with Einstein?

I do acknowledge that structure, proper thought process, plot and editing is necessary.

It is just before midnight and I fear that what I am writing right now, is nothing more than procrastination at its finest. Therefore, tomorrow March 15th , shall be the day I make a promise to myself that I will finish and submit the works I have yet to finish or delete them into oblivion. (Mostly likely I'll store them in a separate file, after all you do not throw away your children).

Let me know that I am not alone.

Do you have unfinished pieces? If you wish to Challenge yourself and complete some, if not all, please tag me, so I may read them. I have a feeling that there are some wonderful unfinished works that need to be shared with the world.

Perhaps, I will add them to this as a continuous running challenge to us. Our reward will be to see them shared with others.

Thank you for letting me go on a tangent, but I really must get back to writing a story or two.

Jason,