Writing a book - the love and hate cycle
Starting a novel is easy. The idea is fresh and I have generally been inspired by a meet-cute that is easy to deliver upon.
Those first few chapters are a dream to write. We meet our H & h, witty dialogue ensues and we start the set up.
Easy as pie, loving this story, these characters and this book... so far.
Then things tend to grind a bit , as the story / plot finds it feet. I'm assailed with ideas on several directions in which to take the characters but go with my gut.
At the half way point things start to go a bit wobbly. Is this funny? Is this making any sense? Are the characters being consistent? This is crap isn't it?
Take the time to do a re-read. My fears are laid to rest. It is funny. It does flow. These characters are really good together, seriously, what was my problem?
Thanks to the re-read I know where to head next. The back third of novel though still requires a bit of a push - the end is in sight but still so far away. With 2-4 chapters to go, the elation sets in. But then so does the doubt.
Have I taken care of every thread? Has the peaks and troughs of this relationship been realistic and true to who the characters are? (I know they are made up people in a made up world - but after months writing them I wish good things for them and a HEA worthy of them)
Am I resolving the bad guy situation appropriately? Doing them justice? You can't introduce a bad guy and then resolve them/and all the problems they created in a paragraph - I loathe when that happens.
The last two chapters are in sight. Should I include an epilogue? Is there anything more left to say? I am so over this book, I can't even be bothered re-reading it. Just put it away for 3-4 months and cross your fingers when it comes time to edit/re-write that it is not as bad as you think it is.
Four months later - re-read time. Oh, thank God, this isn't half as bad as I thought it was going to be.
Two weeks later - if this is so good, why is it taking so much time and effort to re-write/edit?
No it's good.
No one is going to want to buy this crap. I can just see all the one and two star comments now.
Hit publish button. I love this book, these characters. They are the best, so funny, so cool. I hope everyone loves them as much as I do.
After eleven books I have this cycle down pretty much pat. Have no idea if this is how other authors experience the writing process. But thought, since I am currently 2 chapters away from completing the draft of Book 10 - To Surprise A Seer - that you might appreciate a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes - pure madness obviously.
Thanks for always coming on the roller coaster ride with me.
Those first few chapters are a dream to write. We meet our H & h, witty dialogue ensues and we start the set up.
Easy as pie, loving this story, these characters and this book... so far.
Then things tend to grind a bit , as the story / plot finds it feet. I'm assailed with ideas on several directions in which to take the characters but go with my gut.
At the half way point things start to go a bit wobbly. Is this funny? Is this making any sense? Are the characters being consistent? This is crap isn't it?
Take the time to do a re-read. My fears are laid to rest. It is funny. It does flow. These characters are really good together, seriously, what was my problem?
Thanks to the re-read I know where to head next. The back third of novel though still requires a bit of a push - the end is in sight but still so far away. With 2-4 chapters to go, the elation sets in. But then so does the doubt.
Have I taken care of every thread? Has the peaks and troughs of this relationship been realistic and true to who the characters are? (I know they are made up people in a made up world - but after months writing them I wish good things for them and a HEA worthy of them)
Am I resolving the bad guy situation appropriately? Doing them justice? You can't introduce a bad guy and then resolve them/and all the problems they created in a paragraph - I loathe when that happens.
The last two chapters are in sight. Should I include an epilogue? Is there anything more left to say? I am so over this book, I can't even be bothered re-reading it. Just put it away for 3-4 months and cross your fingers when it comes time to edit/re-write that it is not as bad as you think it is.
Four months later - re-read time. Oh, thank God, this isn't half as bad as I thought it was going to be.
Two weeks later - if this is so good, why is it taking so much time and effort to re-write/edit?
No it's good.
No one is going to want to buy this crap. I can just see all the one and two star comments now.
Hit publish button. I love this book, these characters. They are the best, so funny, so cool. I hope everyone loves them as much as I do.
After eleven books I have this cycle down pretty much pat. Have no idea if this is how other authors experience the writing process. But thought, since I am currently 2 chapters away from completing the draft of Book 10 - To Surprise A Seer - that you might appreciate a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes - pure madness obviously.
Thanks for always coming on the roller coaster ride with me.
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