Late Morning, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Miami, Florida
“Writing fiction, especially a long work of fiction, can be difficult, lonely job; it’s like crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a bathtub. There’s plenty of opportunity for self-doubt.”― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
I am, first and foremost, a storyteller. Whether it was writing articles in journalism school, crafting screenplays, or blogging about my adventures and misadventures, storytelling has always been my passion. My late mother used to say I was born to do this, and I truly feel that way.
As you know, I’ve been working on my first novel, Reunion: Coda, for a little over two years now. It’s not my first attempt; I’ve started and abandoned several manuscripts over the past nine years. Mostly, I chose stories I wasn’t quite sure I could tell or let self-doubt get the better of me.
Just last week, I finished the 28th chapter of Reunion: Coda. This chapter is the emotional climax not just of the novel but also of the Duology that began with my novella, Reunion: A Story. As I approach the denouement phase, I feel a bit like a soldier about to traverse a minefield. I’m excited to finish it, but I know I can’t rush the process and produce an unsatisfactory ending.
Yesterday, I tried to either finish outlining the first scene of Chapter 29 or to write the scene itself. However, my self-doubts clouded my ability to immerse myself in the world of my protagonist, Prof. Jim Garraty, and I didn’t accomplish either goal. I hope to be in a better frame of mind to start the new chapter when I return to my desk later this afternoon.
A Novel’s Progress
Two years and 10 days into this journey, this is where Reunion: Coda stands, statistically speaking:
- Chapters Completed (Including the Prologue):28
- Number of Pages (9 in. x 6 in.): 541
- Word Count: 132,117
A Certain Point of View, Too 
Comments
10 responses to “Writer’s Shop Talk: Despite Self-Doubt and Writer’s Block, ‘Reunion: Coda’ Moves Closer to Completion”
Hope you were able to get some more writing done today.
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I did! Chapter 29 has its first scene.
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Oh yay, that’s great.
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I can’t believe that I’m working on the denouement section of my first novel. It seems…unreal.
So, yep. I’m happy with my progress! #ReunionCodaIn2025!
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That’s amazing, I’m so happy to hear you’re progressing so quickly!
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Third try was the charm, right?
Getting to the climax was sometimes a slog, though. And figuring out an end that wraps up not just one novel but a Duology took quite a bit of time, too, especially because I had two options. The last part of the novel – the “resolution” – ought to be easier.
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Oh definitely, it’s much harder to wrap up multiple books and make sure there aren’t any holes in the plot.
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The wonderful thing about the novel is that it’s character-driven more than anything else. There is a plot, of course, but it’s not the focus of Reunion: Coda. I’m damn proud of that, too!
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That’s really cool!
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I think so, too.
Are you feeling better today, Pooj?
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