I’ve had the worlds of Aerus (the Skylands), and Geisa floating around in my head for sometime as well as the adventures of Chathik and Ryell, the main characters in the two worlds and novels, respectively. I even occasionally relive the adventures as if I’ve just read them. The problem is, I haven’t. They’re worlds, novels, and characters I’ve concocted (along with dozens of others). Still, as I churn these plotlines and character arcs over and over in my head they feel more real. I actually went looking for notes on part of the story for one and was confused how I couldn’t find them until I realized that the notes were solely in my head, not on paper or in the computer yet.

So, I’ve sat back down tonight and started banging out some details on Chathik in company in the world of Aerus. I want to write both, but I’ve got to pick one. At the moment I’ve actually got Geisa more detailed out, but since I’ve been gaming in Aerus/the Skylands and got it ready for GURPS I feel like I can get the most out of that concept.

I’ve been reluctant to get back into writing a novel as I’ve been focused on getting a short story published. I’ll still keep working on that, especially with my attendance at the Dallas Writer’s Meetup Group meetings, but I just feel like I’ve got to do this.

I realized something as I decided that tonight, something I’d heard in discussions with the new writer’s group I’ve joined. I’ve always written for the sake of getting a story out there and published so others can read it and enjoy it. But I enjoy these two worlds that are in my head. No, in all likelihood I’ll never finish the novels, nor will they likely be good enough to get published (won’t stop me from trying though), but I realized I don’t have to be writing these solely to get published. I can write these for me and just enjoy them. My own private fantasy worlds and stories, as good (to me at least) as half the junk I pull off the shelf and read.

So, I’m writing these novels for me. However long they take, however much of them I end up finishing. Because I really enjoy the stories as they unfold. And if I don’t like how the story is going, I know the author real well and can probably convince him to make a few edits.