Taking a Pause Because I'm Writing A Novel
I made a Spotify playlist that I often put on when I write that starts with Father John Misty’s song “I’m Writing a Novel.” The rhythm of the song is extremely catchy. The man’s voice is vivid and expressive. And the lyrics… The lyrics are devastating for any Aspiring Novelist.
I ran down the road, pants down to my knees
Screaming "please come help me, that Canadian shaman gave a little too much to me!"
And I'm writing a novel because it's never been done before
And I’m writing on Substack about how I’m writing a novel. That’s even more novel!
Something 'bout the way Violet whips her hair
That makes me empty my pockets on the corner to corner bumming twenties as if I was the mayor
I don't need any new friends, Momma
But I could really use something to do
So if you're up for it sometimes
I swear you wouldn't have to be my muse
When I first heard the song (and, yes, I have been late to discovering some old music), I had mixed feelings. Yeah, it’s always been a great song, but, Shit, he’s singing about me!
Well, kind of. He was writing about a lot of people, including himself. Yes, the guy who has published fourteen studio albums (eight as J. Tillman, one with Fleet Foxes, and five as Father John Misty) also has an unfinished/unpublished novel. (Called the Mostly Hypothetical Mountains, a version of it is published on his Blogspot.)
We writers and humans shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. A good dose of humility combined with a self-deprecating sense of humor keeps us grounded. So it’s healthy to enjoy the song and its all-too-accurate critique of us Creatives in full.
Nonetheless, I am writing a novel. I have written a good chunk of the novel. I’ve written the outline. I’ve written ten chapters. I’ve jumped between the chapters a couple of times. I’ve revised the outline and kept writing the novel.
But I don’t want to write to you about how I’m writing a novel. I want to write a novel. I’m either going to complete it, or I won’t. (I will.) When I complete it, I’m either going to get it published, or I won’t. (I’ll try.) I rather think the product should speak for itself. When it’s done, it’s done.
Maybe I’m scared that if I write about how I’m writing a novel, I will complete my transformation into the character Father John Misty is singing about.
That said, I live in the Online world we all live in today. I have a Newsletter and a Brand and all that Bullshit. I've been publishing relatively frequently, and I don’t just want to go dark with no explanation.
Writing a novel is difficult, and the distractions of the Online world, especially social media, which Notes-era Substack is in large part, slows one down. I intend to have my novel mostly finished by the end of May and/or make great progress on in during the month of May, etc, etc.
Hence, I’ve paused paid subscriptions until the end of May, and I am announcing I will be publishing infrequently—if at all—this month.
I'll never leave the canyon 'cause I'm surrounded on all sides
By people writing novels and living on amusement rides
I’ve gotta leave the online canyon. So I’m writing a novel. It might have been done before, but no one has ever written my novel.