I'm starting to think that, no matter what I do, I'll never be able to top "Op Rescue- The New Co-Ed", at least in my mind. It may be my Magnum Opus, my best that was, is, or will be. I'm getting the muse back in action, and the work is a new Op Rescue story about a young boy who was a runaway - even though it will be multiple chapters, I can't see it even living up to my feelings about New Co-Ed.
How do the rest of you deal with writing something after such a work? How do you deal with the feeling that your best is now over, and you'll never match it, no matter how good your others stories are?
In a way, it's a feeling of pride that I wrote something that I consider my masterpiece, while it's also a bit of a bummer to think that I can't get my muse working on anything even remotely close in scope or quality. Despite that, I'm trying to write. I'm going to keep plugging away as long as the stories are in me. But things just don't excite me like New Co-Ed.
If it wouldn't be too much, could some of you privately (message, e-mail - [email protected]) tell me which of my stories, in YOUR opinion, you thought was best and why? It might help if I understand why different types of stories appeal, and what makes them memorable, so I'm not so plagued with doubt.
Comments
I wouldn't worry about it
I wouldn't worry about it Elrod. You've had many a great pieces of works and though I feel that particular story is your best (to date) you have some other interesting ideas. One should not regard which story is the best as one can not regard which child is their best... See them all as equal. stop worrying so much. Gery
Course I'd like to see you create something in Tommi's life later in the future, say bout 15 years??? That could be something interesting.
Great news!
Im so pleased you are feeling better about yourself and your stories. I look forward to a renewal of your magnum opus, and hope that it's even better.
Red MacDonald
It's all relative
By that I mean that when we look at a piece of work there is one that we find that stands out among the rest. And then we find that we can't top it. We try to hard in some respects only to find that we fail.
It's when we stop worrying about what we did and want to do is when you find that you have another masterpiece in the works. Which one did Rembrandt, Picasso, or Michelangelo consider their best pieces? Only to find that they had another one waiting in the background to come out. Sure there are ones that stand out but its what YOU consider your next masterpiece that counts.
Don't try to top what you've already done, for it can lead you to failure. Be thankful for it and look towards your next goal. You may find yourself surprised when you find that you have another favorite once your done writing, be it a short story or long. For me I consider Vicky's tale along with In the beginning. Even though they were short in comparison to Op Rescue they packed a lot of information/story in them.
So it's all relative to the reader on which is their favorite.
So try not to worry about topping what you consider your best just write your best and your readers will thank you for it.
Me I looked at my first story published and it's a doosy and I was afraid on how to top it. So I quit. Not to say writing but thinking about how to do better. I'll let my work speak for itself. For I have only myself to go after and I can't be chasing my tail for what will I do after I catch it? Release and try again?
Ibi
Ibi, Glad you feel that way I
Ibi,
Glad you feel that way I was always worried you would not be able to write for fear of how well you first was went. So there goes the question, are you working on anything???
If
If that was the case Mr. Mom would never have come out.
As it stands I'm a slow writer. Even with my editor beating me with not only wet noodles dipped in soy sauce and a tempting cookie I work at my pace unfortunately. Natty will have graduated H.S. and Mel would have won a Gold Med at the next Olympic. Maybe even have who knows what.
But seriously I'm working on a few and will get them done as soon as I can. Being a sig father takes some of my time.
Hmm
I need to find something more threatening than a wet noodle to beat you with. You are beyond slow!
Depends
Depends on whose measuring stick your using. We all have our own pace.
Your Best is Yet to Come
Writing is like any other skill or art form. The more you practice it with diligence and an eye to improving upon what you did before, the better you become. I personally have found that writing a good story is also a matter of patience. You cannot force a story out if it's not ready to come. You have to allow it to mature, to maturate.
I am willing to bet in a week, in a onto, maybe in a year you will wake up one morning and discover your best story was was always there, hiding away in your subconscious just waiting to pop out and surprise you. Mine almost always do.
Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
A runway boy?
Perhaps his name was Tar Mac?
How do you top a Magnum Opus?
With whipped cream.
It isn't what you think
Magnum opus means great (as in large) work, it isn't necessarily a masterpiece, but rather a major undertaking that is often
best known/ most popular. The way to top a magnum opus is with a short masterpiece.