Why I Write. No. Really.
An average day, with a to-list that includes edits, promotions and a little work on that WIP that's been tickling my ear since Hans (bless him) whispered while rubbing my shoulders...."Soccer studs, m/m, Las Vegas..."
And for me, an average day includes review of sales goals, writing beer press releases, updating beer websites and other Really Sexy Small Business Ownership crap, like figuring out why the brewery drain has backed up and caused a small but fairly destructive flood behind the bar of the tap room (it was a bit of holiday greenery, stuck way down in it. Gross. and a huge mess).
If you are a regular follower of Liz on Her Various and Sundry blog posts about her "craft" and "process" you already know however that I am officially OCD when it comes to big projects. I get a plot stirring around in my head and I gotta get it OUT. I have a big editing/revision project and I must shut off all outside influences including the Evil that is Facebook and Twitter and just focus until the damn thing is done.
I spent the last two days obsessing in my special way over an R&R (jargon alert: Revision and Resubmission) project for one of my targeted marque publishers for 2011. I am determined to get this story accepted and am feeling good about its prospects, especially and most importantly thanks to the assistance of professional editors (get some of those if you can).
Done with that for the time being I log onto Goodreads and find....not much in the way of excitement for the books I have already ripped my guts out over in terms of time spent ignoring the hell out of family and friends. And a continual drip drip drip of stories I could never write getting all the kudos and reviews and listings on "best of" sites.
By the end of yesterday I had fallen firmly into a "If it don't gots vamps, weres, demons, succubi, m/m/m/m/m cowboy ranches with BDSM barns and a female virgin who needs to discover how to orgasm, or isn't on a pirate or space ship---don't bother. Just give it away" funk from which I am still only just now recovering.
It's how it works as a writer. I know. But it made me get back to a small kernel of argument-inducing "discussion" initiated by my DH a few months ago as he observed me falling ever deeper into the hole of single-minded creativity. "Why do you write?"
For yourself?
To prove something to someone?
To bring pleasure to a close knit circle of friends you've conned into being readers?
To make money?
To be famous?
My goals have shifted considerably since I've discovered the extreme buzz one gets reading a good review, or opening an email stating "The AE had to write your acceptance notice through tears it was so great."
I once wrote for fun, for personal pleasure and as a "simple" creative outlet on this very blog.
I now feel pummeled by markets (as in "what sells" of which I am aware--see my funk from yesterday), pressure for ever more great reviews, more books and more blog posts that no one will read.
It's a road I gladly travel, don't get me wrong. But after staring at the ceiling last night, angry at self and spouse I woke this morning with a different set of goals.
1. To enjoy the process
2. When I don't enjoy the process to stop, walk away and come back later (i.e. Lose the OCD affect)
3. To write down those plot worms that burrow in my brain and I keep up there until I'm ready to explode and MUST WRITE FOR HOURS. No. Get 'em out in note form and come back later.
4. To stop obsessing over the fact that for every one great review and happy reader I get there are about 10,000 more who have no desire to read about the real people I write, even if they brew beer, sell houses or live in exotic locales. If a reader wants a hot vampire menage with a demon thrown in on a spaceship that is just what they are gonna read, period.
Please don't misunderstand me all you wildly successful writers of said paranormal, steampunk, sci fi, cowboy multiples with bondage. You guys rock! I'm just sorting through the 'tweeners dilemma. I'm not a rookie, nor a pro, not yet. Do I write to the market, or write what I love and see who follows. Keep up the great work. I myself await with bated breath Tohr's fate (but what I REALLY wanna see is if she can pull of the man love thing....I have my doubts).
Oh Hans, you are such an attention hog....
cheers
Liz
And for me, an average day includes review of sales goals, writing beer press releases, updating beer websites and other Really Sexy Small Business Ownership crap, like figuring out why the brewery drain has backed up and caused a small but fairly destructive flood behind the bar of the tap room (it was a bit of holiday greenery, stuck way down in it. Gross. and a huge mess).
If you are a regular follower of Liz on Her Various and Sundry blog posts about her "craft" and "process" you already know however that I am officially OCD when it comes to big projects. I get a plot stirring around in my head and I gotta get it OUT. I have a big editing/revision project and I must shut off all outside influences including the Evil that is Facebook and Twitter and just focus until the damn thing is done.
I spent the last two days obsessing in my special way over an R&R (jargon alert: Revision and Resubmission) project for one of my targeted marque publishers for 2011. I am determined to get this story accepted and am feeling good about its prospects, especially and most importantly thanks to the assistance of professional editors (get some of those if you can).
Done with that for the time being I log onto Goodreads and find....not much in the way of excitement for the books I have already ripped my guts out over in terms of time spent ignoring the hell out of family and friends. And a continual drip drip drip of stories I could never write getting all the kudos and reviews and listings on "best of" sites.
By the end of yesterday I had fallen firmly into a "If it don't gots vamps, weres, demons, succubi, m/m/m/m/m cowboy ranches with BDSM barns and a female virgin who needs to discover how to orgasm, or isn't on a pirate or space ship---don't bother. Just give it away" funk from which I am still only just now recovering.
It's how it works as a writer. I know. But it made me get back to a small kernel of argument-inducing "discussion" initiated by my DH a few months ago as he observed me falling ever deeper into the hole of single-minded creativity. "Why do you write?"
For yourself?
To prove something to someone?
To bring pleasure to a close knit circle of friends you've conned into being readers?
To make money?
To be famous?
My goals have shifted considerably since I've discovered the extreme buzz one gets reading a good review, or opening an email stating "The AE had to write your acceptance notice through tears it was so great."
I once wrote for fun, for personal pleasure and as a "simple" creative outlet on this very blog.
I now feel pummeled by markets (as in "what sells" of which I am aware--see my funk from yesterday), pressure for ever more great reviews, more books and more blog posts that no one will read.
It's a road I gladly travel, don't get me wrong. But after staring at the ceiling last night, angry at self and spouse I woke this morning with a different set of goals.
1. To enjoy the process
2. When I don't enjoy the process to stop, walk away and come back later (i.e. Lose the OCD affect)
3. To write down those plot worms that burrow in my brain and I keep up there until I'm ready to explode and MUST WRITE FOR HOURS. No. Get 'em out in note form and come back later.
4. To stop obsessing over the fact that for every one great review and happy reader I get there are about 10,000 more who have no desire to read about the real people I write, even if they brew beer, sell houses or live in exotic locales. If a reader wants a hot vampire menage with a demon thrown in on a spaceship that is just what they are gonna read, period.
Please don't misunderstand me all you wildly successful writers of said paranormal, steampunk, sci fi, cowboy multiples with bondage. You guys rock! I'm just sorting through the 'tweeners dilemma. I'm not a rookie, nor a pro, not yet. Do I write to the market, or write what I love and see who follows. Keep up the great work. I myself await with bated breath Tohr's fate (but what I REALLY wanna see is if she can pull of the man love thing....I have my doubts).
Oh Hans, you are such an attention hog....cheers
Liz
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