I’m about 85% finished with a short story and, as usual, I’m not particularly pleased with it. But that’s how it works for me–I get about 85% finished and I start to think it’s an absolutely stupid story. It’s not just stupid, I tell myself, it’s dull. But usually I bang on through and finish the damned thing, and in the end the story does sometimes turn out to be stupid and dull, but most often not. But I’m aware that my judgment at this point in the process is suspect, to say the least.

What’s worrying, though, is that this happened with another short story about three weeks ago. I was about 85% finished, didn’t like it, but instead of banging through I decided to set it aside and start a new one. Now it’s happening again–I’m at that 85% mark, and I’ve got a half-formed idea for a new story that interests me immensely.

So what to do? Put this one aside and write the one I’m interested in? If I do, what happens when I’m 85% finished with the new new story and I get the urge to put it aside? Or do I finish the impossibly stupid and dull story I don’t want to work on (which is probably not nearly as stupid or dull as I think it is)?

This writing gig is hard.

It’s never been easy to be a writer. Never. I’m not talking about the act of writing, though that can be difficult as well. I’m talking about all the associated aspects of writing. Finding the time to write. Finding an agent. Finding a publisher. Finding an audience.

With the advent of e-publishing, some of those chores have disappeared. But other chores have taken their place. You no longer need an agent…but you probably need Facebook. You no longer need a traditional publisher…but you probably need a website. You don’t have to live in New York City anymore…but you probably need social media.

So here I am. I’ve done all this before. I’ve had blogs, and let them fade away. I’ve used Twitter, but only to make announcements for Utata.org. I’ve avoided Facebook, but I’ll be joining it soon. These are the things you have to do.

It’s not a bad deal, really.