What are your thoughts/ plans about writing a book/ novel/ book of poems? 

Have any of you have plans to write a book for publication, or compile one from your published posts?

I definitely have thought about publishing my work. Over the years, I have started compiling the short stories I’ve written and attempted to write some new short stories but I always get stuck because I’m not confident my stories are good enough. Unlike my weekly 100-word flash fiction where it’s too short to have any plot holes, longer stories are different, and it’s prone to have plot holes. I’m always stuck in the editing phase and would end up re-writing a big chunk of the existing plot and before long, re-writing the entire thing.

I also think the reason why I haven’t published anything is the lack of support. When I told my mom my work is being published in an anthology, the first thing she asked was, “Do you get money from it?” No, I told her. She scoffed and said, “unless you earn money from it, it doesn’t count.”

She also often discourages me from writing, citing it as another useless hobby. She seems to discourage anyone from taking up anything fun for a hobby. I mean, she discouraged me from taking up photography, writing, crocheting, and gardening, calling my hobbies useless. I don’t understand why one cannot have fun?

Anyway, maybe one day, I’ll have the courage to finally publish my work.

Sunday Poser