Where's Wandering Days?!

I promised my fanfic Wandering Days by mid January and surprise, surprise, it's not up yet. Why you may ask? I actually got a couple of reasons.

For one, the material I was writing about was pretty heavy and mature on its themes. I thought at times I was going a little too far into detail on what was going on in these characters minds as they explore this world with a different mindset.

Perhaps I'm being too vague, so I'll give an example.

One character in this story actually has a problem that some of you might relate to. They actually reject who they are on the outside because it's not the same for them on the inside. In other words, one of the characters wanted to be human while at the same time knowing that it was impossible. I want you guys to know that I was actually trying to pretend to be this character, by that I mean try and have this notion that my brain tells me I'm not who I am or what I should be. And it was pretty scary for me. What I wrote was pretty graphic for anything, especially for a fanfiction based off a children's movie.

I believe, though, that anyone, even children can handle themes like that. But there were times that I, myself, thought was going too far. That balance of trying to get the characterization of someone going through their own personal hell, while at the same time respecting the audience and being gradual with these themes instead of pouring out my brain, was a challenge for me. It's not like I have an editor or anything.

Second, who would read it? I don't go around telling my friends and family about this sort of thing. This is kinda a personal hobby. I also don't want to post this on fanfiction.net for the simple fact that I don't like fanfiction.net.

Third is that it's just a chore for me to write anything. It's taking me about over 23 minutes just to write this post, and I'm actually trying! So actually coming up with an ending to all of this is a hard thing for me to do. I do have a lot of free time these days, but if I really cared about my craft, I would be spending time researching and coming up with new ideas rather than just playing Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the Witch all day. This ties in with my second reason because who would care? My effort would be all for naught. I don't really personally enjoy doing it a lot of the time, so what's the point?

There ya go, my top 3 reasons why I haven't finished Wandering Days. Will it ever be finished? I dunno. I'm actually hoping to get some response out of this so that I may be willing to start up again. And maybe some help with the editing and such. Good day to you all. :3

First of all, if you’re not getting any real enjoyment out of writing it, or if you’re finding it to be too much of a chore, then there’s no point in forcing yourself. There were times when I was working on my first-tier stories when I ran out of enthusiasm, only to resume writing when inspiration would return in one form or another. So maybe you’ll be similarly inspired, but of course you’d have to make this a project you genuinely care about first.

I’ve never felt that writing fiction based on a “children’s movie” was a barrier to taking it in directions that would go beyond the medium’s restrictions. I never tried writing to a particular audience except for more mature fans of “TSoN”, mainly because the movie dealt with more mature themes, mainly the Rats’ fear of being exterminated as a people and a culture, though admittedly this was played down.

Depending on how your project ultimately comes out, should you decide to go ahead with it, you could make it by-appointment-only, e-mailing to whoever wants to read it if you think it’s unsuitable for posting here.

First of all, if you’re not getting any real enjoyment out of writing it, or if you’re finding it to be too much of a chore, then there’s no point in forcing yourself. There were times when I was working on my first-tier stories when I ran out of enthusiasm, only to resume writing when inspiration would return in one form or another. So maybe you’ll be similarly inspired, but of course you’d have to make this a project you genuinely care about first.

I did care about it in the beginning. Actually concluding it has been a chore. The aforementioned fact that I don't really have an audience besides, well, you doesn't bode well with me. I maybe just need a break from all of this for awhile. I wouldn't have continued writing if the whole thing made me miserable, which it obviously did.

I’ve never felt that writing fiction based on a “children’s movie” was a barrier to taking it in directions that would go beyond the medium’s restrictions. I never tried writing to a particular audience except for more mature fans of “TSoN”, mainly because the movie dealt with more mature themes, mainly the Rats’ fear of being exterminated as a people and a culture, though admittedly this was played down.

I agree with you. I think this whole business of "Let's think about the children!" is belittling our children and what they are capable of. At the same time, this is a fantasy movie and there was little that was fantastical about my story. It was all very psychological in nature. Having these events play out and then segway into the events of SoN didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. This was a different kind of mature if that makes any sense. Normally, I'd agree with you, but I am dealing with a canonical source here and I personally like to keep the tone at least somewhat similar. It didn't seem plausible, the way I was writing it, that the rats would be as settled in as they were in SoN with all they went through.

Don't give up! I would absolutely love to read it! The "Rated G" barrier is almost always crossed by NIMH fanfics, my own included. Anything that has a rating lower than Darkest Days is fine. A character with emotional problems? Sounds like fun :). I'm looking foreward to seeing this on Robin's.