Writing is sometimes uncomfortable. I’m not talking about when it’s hard, like when you can’t think of a word, you don’t know the characters, or when the plot point just won’t unravel. I’m referring to when the process makes it hard to sit or concentrate. It’s the feeling you get when your heart races and you can’t seem to catch your breath.
You wish it was from excitement, but it’s not. Instead, it’s from that overwhelming feeling you don’t know what you are doing. You have the ideas, the plot, and the characters, but the writing it’s just this brute that’s in your way telling you, “Piss off.” But, of course, it’s not really the writing. It’s all those doubts, the ones that usually begin with “I can’t” or “Your not.” Someone told me today I have to sit with the discomfort and write anyway. Maybe even say, “Yeah, I know what you are doing,” and keep typing. It feels like the chick in the horror movie that’s got to quietly keep moving through the room even though the monster is right there. However, that’s not the advice at all. The recommendation is to say, “Hey, just passing through,” as you walk by, knowing you’re getting the thing’s attention. This is me as I try and work on my sequel. I’m at the stage in the process where there’s nothing for me to do on the revision, so I might as well work on something new as I wait to hear from my beta readers. Except there’s a thing looming over my shoulder. I can feel it breathing down my neck and find all the avenues to escape, but that won’t get the next book written. There’s a monster in the room. I guess I should offer it a cup of tea and keep typing. RM
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I've finished the first draft of the revision. This means I have to start thinking beyond just writing and focusing on what it takes to publish a book.
One of the challenges I feared about self-publishing was the editorial process. I have no illusions about myself as a writer. I need an editor, but then again, all writers do. Publishing with a publisher is easy in the sense that they do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. For example, they assign and hire you an editor. As an independent author, part of my job is to find and hire one. You want someone qualified, experienced, and familiar with your genre. At least I do. Other factors come into play with the decision as well. The cost is one of the big ones. When you have a limited budget, money will play a heavy factor in who you can hire. Yet, an editor is not where you want to penny-pinch. They do hard work and should be compensated accordingly. I've done my shopping, and I have inquiries out there. I'll be making a decision soon. In comparison, writing is so much easier. However, I'm forging ahead. So to stick with the analogy from my previous posts, it's time to hire the mechanics and let them start working on the engine. RM Tune-ups are standard maintenance, but it doesn't mean they don't take time. Nevertheless, I'm making good progress on the revision. I'm on target to meet my goal of completing the first draft by the month's end.
It's interesting how the work has moved so quickly yet seems slow. If you'd asked me a week ago if I thought I would be this far, I would have said no. But, on the other hand, it seems that no matter how many hours I put in, that goal is just out of reach. Still, I am heartened by the response to the news that I'm tinkering away. It helps with the motivation when I hit those word jams. Sometimes nothing is more daunting than an incomplete sentence or a half-formed paragraph. I'm careful not to burn out, which is always a danger when you are on a creative roll. Being tired makes for sloppy work. It's the metaphorical dropping of the wrench. So I'm balancing the writing with researching what it takes to self-publish, but that's another series of blog posts. For now, I just wanted to say it all looks good under here. RM In 2017 I published my first book. It was a bit of a whirlwind for me. Not only hadn't I expected that dream to become a reality, but I also wasn't prepared for how well the book would be received. I was also adjusting to big changes in my professional life outside of writing.
I was cruising on the interstate of life, making good time and enjoying the road trip. Then, of course, I hit the potholes, the traffic jams, and the speed traps. Not only did my publisher LooseID unexpectedly close, but I developed some health issues that took significant amounts of my time and energy. Writing got left at a rest area while I had to navigate a new much different route for a while. So here I am, several years later, feeling better and timidly reading my emails and reviews. There seem to be two consistent themes, "Where can I buy the book?" and "Are you writing a sequel?" If the last few years have taught me anything, it's to break what seems daunting down to the simplest tasks and tackle them one at a time. I am going back and doing an author's revision on the book. You know, taking it to the car wash, getting it detailed, and making it clean and shiny before I hit the road again. Then, I will republish it, even if I have to self-publish on Amazon. As to a sequel? We'll see what's down the road. Right now, I'm just focusing on getting the car back on the interstate, cranking up the tunes, and feeling the hum of the engine as it speeds along. Thank you for your continued interest. RM |
Rose MaefairAuthor, geek, gamer, and avid coffee drinker. Archives
November 2022
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