Monday, May 5, 2008

My biggest fear

I just read a nostalgia piece in Filipinas Magazine about a man who grew up in rural Philippines roughly the same time when "Ghost Moon Night" takes place. My biggest fear is that before I finish revising this novel, he would come out with either a novel or a memoir set in that era. I had better hurry and finish this thing.

2 comments:

rcloenen-ruiz said...

Interesting post. I remember reading somewhere that there are only a certain number of plots one can write and all these plots have already been used. So, there is nothing new under the sun except what you bring to the genre.

I do think a story when it's told well will rise above genre and era prescriptions. So, while there could be a number of writers travelling along your same storyline what would make yours rise to the top is your voice.

Good luck with the writing. I certainly hope to read some of your work in the future.

Jewel Allen said...

Thanks for stopping by and for your encouraging comments. You seem to be a part of a thriving literary community that I am just barely getting a glimpse of, and I'm glad I happened upon you!

It's mind-boggling, the amount of work out there for public consumption; I have to force myself to stop checking out the "competition" (at least while I am in the thick of my book) because I figure,all that's beyond my control. I'm not necessarily aiming to "rise to the top" although if I could be considered a "unique voice" I would be satisfied.