I started writing Pokemon fanfiction in the 8th grade. After several different starts, I thought of one that really interested me. Around Chapter 7, however, I realized it lacked a lot of things (such as deep characters and thought-out conflict). My friend helped me think of a new idea that kept some of the aspects of my previous story with new ones mixed in. We came up with what I believe to be the greatest story idea ever.
Now, my friend is the one who came up with the new idea, but he would have never thought of it if I hadn't written the previous story. This just goes to show that you often have to go through many ideas before you find the best ones. So, the story kept some characters and aspects of my previous story and added some new characters and aspects. I do not take full credit for this story and would mention my friend's name if he had an account on here. I truly appreciate all he has done for me.
Now, I know it may seem arrogant or ignorant to call this story the greatest story ever, but I believe it is. Out of fear of someone stealing my idea, I will simply post a summary:
In this gritty alternate dimension, the Kanto region is filled with corruption. At the root of it all is the infamous Team Alpha, led by the cruel Archon, a villain with a secret so great, it has all of Kanto fooled. Meanwhile, in Pallet Town, Professor Oak has found a mysterious Growlithe with astounding abilities. The Archon sends Neo, his son, to retrieve it, but something goes horribly, horribly wrong and someone is hurt because of it. The Growlithe ends up in the hands of the hero, Thomas Magnolia, a strong youth with the dream of avenging his murdered father. Now Neo must become companions with Thomas and get his hands on the Growlithe. But what happens when Neo begins liking Thomas, can he live with the truth of his actions? And who is this Archon truly, and what does he have to do with Thomas' father?
This story gave me one of the greatest feelings I've ever felt in my life, as well as the greatest feeling a story has ever given me. I could not wait to write it. In fact, after falling asleep at around 2:00 AM, I woke up early and started to write the prologue. I cannot even describe how much this story excited me.
With the help of my friend, I wrote the prologue and several pages of Chapter 1. I got stuck a certain spot and took a short break. About a week later, I went to a nearly three week long camp in West Virgina (the camp lasted 10 days but we took a bus there and back). Throughout the entire camp, which was one of the awesomest experiences I have ever had, I thought about the story. My friend who helped me come up with it didn't go, but I talked about it with my other friends.
When I got back from camp, however, everything went wrong. I felt to tired to write the story, was dealing with a bit of depression, and stoped writing. Dear God, how I regret stopping. I began to ruin the ultimate story for myself.
Once 9th grade started, I decided to start again. However, I soon became a perfectionist. I read a lot of writing advice and felt that I had to plan out my story extensively and not write until I knew how to do it perfectly. (This perfectionism still exists within me today, but I'm working to slay it.) I ended up rewriting the epic prologue in a less epic way and rewrote the first chapter OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I wouldn't even finish the first chapter before starting it over. It has to be perfect. I thought. Characters, plot, setting, theme, everything! During those rewriutings and after, I hated my story. I hated it so much. I managed to singlehandedly ruin what could have been the most epic story ever.
Since then, I have sworn to never write The Kanto Kronicles again. If I wasn't going to write my story with the passion and non-perfectionism it deserved, I would never write it again. I never stopped thinking about it, though. I always imagined it whenever I played or watched Pokemon, listened to music, and whenever it just popped into my mind. I miss the story a lot and wish to God that I hadn't ruined it.
Yesterday, out of sheer boredom and sheer frustration that I wasn't writing anything for the current stories I'm "working on", I wrote part of a fight scene I always wanted to write. It was not the best, but it was actually kind of fun. It reminded me somewhat of the story it could have been.
Now, with Spring Break commenced and my constant imagining of this story, should I revisit it. I don't have anything close to the burning passion I had for it two summers ago, which is the main thing holding me back. I only want to write The Kanto Kronicles if I can reignite that passion, which I fear is impossible. It's like this story is demanding to be written. Deep down inside I love the characters and everything else about The Kanto Kronicles to bits, which is why I will not allow myself to ruin it even more than I already have.
If I decide to write it again, I'm going to have to truly kill my perfectionism. That's what got me to this point in the first place. One thing I really worried about was voice. I read that author's keep revising their stories to make their characters sound the way they should. I was worried that my main character did not sound serious enough. Or angry enough. Or confused enough. Should I worry about that? I have no idea how to create "an overall feeling and tone that the main character is serious about defeating the man who killed his father." It's like I question whether I should write "I ran towards the building, sweat dripping down my face" or "I ran in the direction of the building, eager to meet my resolve". Now I'm just rambling, but you get me.
Should I write The Kanto Kronicles? I have a lot of things planned out, but they could possibly change. I just don't want to screw it up, That's the last thing I want. Thank you for reading.
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