Short Story Slump

I’m confused.

I finished a short story for a competition mid-January – in time for once! But, ever since finishing it, I’ve been reluctant to go back and make corrections.

This short story was in a genre that I had touched on, but never really fully immersed myself in. Since my speciality is fantasy, I rarely step out of that box. However, this short story was sci-fi. It had aliens and space and spaceships and really, it was like a breath of fresh air! It was almost as if I’d been suffocating in the fantasy ocean for far too long. I was beginning to drown in all the mythical, fantastical ways of the genre, forgetting that actually there’s a lot more out there if only I’d take the time to look.

I was so inspired! The story just flowed constantly. There was no sudden blockage, no getting carried off course. The three days that it took me to write were some of the best I’d had in a long time. To delve into new characters, discover new personalities and describe something that I hadn’t been able to before. It was wonderful.

I have to admit, that writing a fantasy series that is on the whole very serious, writing something with a bit of humour was a great relief.

But then, when I’d finished it, I read it back a few times and noticed – as of course there would be – quite a few mistakes that needed ironing out. So, determined to go through and do the editing I read through, corrected mistakes, only to find that the plot needed bulking out a bit. I’ve come across this before, of course, but somehow, the story that brought me so much joy has remained unopened since that day.

It just sits there, waiting to be opened. The entry closing date is drawing closer, but to open that file and do the corrections seems to be a chore and I don’t know why! I’ve never had this problem before, especially not with something that brought me a lot of joy.

Maybe I just need to force myself to do it and the enthusiasm will return. I really do want to get it ready to be sent off in time. It’d be a shame not too; since I really do think it might stand a chance.

Anyway I’ll keep you updated.

Mel