So maybe I'm just making this to make myself feel better, but I'm very curious to know if I'm the only crazy person who has been working on something for-freaking-ever? Something that - despite how long it's been since you started, you do actually intend to finish and get published "one of these days"...?

I consider myself an author first and a "working person" second, but somehow, work and school always seem to come before my writing. Thus - the taking so long. Now granted, I'm really hoping that once I get a Real Job and don't have to be worrying about living on $200/wk that I can really relax into finishing my novel, but I'm hesitant about waiting that long. I mean, it's already been about 9 years at this point--

I started the thing my sophomore year of high school (1998). I trashed, restarted, and finally finished a solid first draft before a graduated. During high school, though, I spent more time writing than studying or paying attention in class, and I certainly didn't have to work. I got halfway through the manuscript version in four years of college, at which time I was also working and running a student group. Now I'm about 2/3 of the way through the manuscript, in law school, trying to get a real job -- and still trying to finish the damn thing.

Does this sound like anyone else's story? If so, I'd be happy to co-miserate. Maybe we can figure out what, other than paying the bills, is keeping us from doing what we really love, writing, and get back to that.

I'm very glad to hear your works weren't completely lost! Not that having a power source failure is anything grand, either. (I've got an iMac account just for the iDisk, so no matter what happens to my laptop, my writings are safe. I learned this the hard way when I lost a raw chapter, which thankfully I had in hard copy...)

I actually think one of my major problems is that in high school I had a dearth of people to bounce ideas off of, and once I graduated, I've been sorely lacking beta-readers. So the reason I can't write is the fact I never DO talk about it with people. (Starting of the poll = babysteps to getting back into it.)

As to just figuring out the ending, one of the most frustrating things for not finishing this novel is that I have at least four others lined up after this one is done. Two I've started working on, just barely. I figured out the main story arc (and a few of the minor ones) on the drive from Iowa (undergrad) to Mass (law school) - and lemme tell you that was 1) unexpected and 2) an amazing experience. My poor fiance, though, had to deal with me zen-driving through New York state just gushing out ideas and plot. Thankfully, he had the stamina to see me through.

... Speaking of which, I should get around to writing that down one of these days...