Book Cancellation: THE HAUNTED HEART: SPRING
Maybe I just waited too long to tackle this one. I don't think I can completely blame it on the pandemic, though clearly that didn't help. I've started and stopped at least a dozen times. It's completely outlined. I've got whole scenes playing out in my mind. I've got the covers. I even did a couple of trailers and teasers. I tried to do a playlist. I tried every inspire-creativity trick I know, but the story and the characters just seemed to drift farther and farther away.I've read such stupid comments about books being delayed and cancelled. As though this was something a writer did simply to disappoint and anger readers. No writer wants to cancel a book. I wouldn't have dragged this out for years, if I'd actually wanted to cancel.
In fact, disappointing readers is the last thing I want to do. I know how this feels and I hate doing it. I've had it happen to me, and when it does, I feel that exact same frustrated why can't they just write the damn thing?!
Just from a practical standpoint... The first little novella earned over 30K. Spring had about 2000 preorders. I'd already sold the audio rights on the sequel (which now have to be repaid). So there was every practical incentive to complete this project.
So no, I really, really, really did not want to have to cancel this one. I mean, it was just a novella!!! Thirty thousand words! Why the hell couldn't I come up with a measly thirty thousand words?!!
I don't know why, but I couldn't.
I don't feel the characters anymore. There's no...emotional connection. Also having waited so long, I ran into the problem of other people's expectations. It's the lesson of The Ghost Had an Early Check-out. I waited too long on that one too, and readers had too much time to decide the story they wanted--which turned out to not be the story I had in mind. And then there were the hostile comments and negative reviews because Spring had already been delayed. I'll be honest. That kind of thing is a disincentive for moving ahead with a project you're already struggling with.
And I don't doubt that that's the goal of negative comments and hostile reviews of a book not yet written. This time it worked. This time I didn't have enough faith in the project to forge ahead anyway. I read over the outline, and it's like someone else wrote it.
Anyway, my creative energy still feels fragile, so I'm only doing what really interests me, what I'm eager to work on, what I know I can and will finish.
If the time comes when I feel different about this project, when I can remember what made me want to write about Flynn and Kirk in the first place, I promise you I will. But for now, sadly, this one is shelved.
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Arianna
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Nov 14, 2020 05:59AM
I'm with you. I love everything you write and it's not necessary to stand with something you don't feel anymore. Maybe it'll come around again maybe not. It's not important. The only important thing is that you find joy in it, so we readers could feel it as well. Thank you.
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While I was really looking forward to this one, I appreciate that you always release books of such great quality and haven't just sent out something out (since you obviously have the bones of it) just to make some money. I hope you come back to it when you feel like it again, or if not, tell us the outline in your blog in a few years.
I understand that sometimes characters don't speak to you and therefore makes telling their stories much more difficult. Tell the story when you can even if it is thru snippets. I enjoy all your work and look forward to your next project, whatever it may be.
I definitely have never understood how/why anyone would leave a hostile review for something they haven't even read. Bad karma for sure.
I understand when this happens. You have written so many great books and having one book not getting finished is fine. Having your creative energy fragile or stalled is very frustrating and I support you at this time.
I truly am sad. Not only about not reading how Flynn ist comming away step by step from ending his life (it was such an interesting and unique base for a story) . I didn't have any expectations other than to have an awsome story (as all of your storys are awsome). I'm also sad about your sadness. Don't worry to much about us. No one out of your circle of readers will drift apart, we are close, we will encourage you and hope with you, that these difficult times get more easy to live (and in your case write) in.
You are truly one of my favorite writers - in any genre. Your engagement in and dedication to your craft are revealed by your consistent connection to your stories and to your characters. You are NOT a robot! Or an assembly line worker! I would rather spend the time reading what you want to write and want us to read, instead of something that isn't working for you and/but feels more like an obligation. Thank you so much for being honest with us - and especially with yourself! I can't wait to read your next masterpiece...
HUGS! 30K is hard! Especially if you’re not feeling it. But you’ve got to do what YOU’VE got to do. These are your stories. They do not belong to readers until after they’re written, and even then, they’re yours first. Also, there will be other stories! If this one never gets written, that’s okay. Take some time and do nothing but read a good book for awhile, if you can. :-)
Arianna wrote: "I'm with you. I love everything you write and it's not necessary to stand with something you don't feel anymore. Maybe it'll come around again maybe not. It's not important. The only important thin..."Thank you so much, Arianna. I truly hated giving up on this, but at some point commonsense intervened and forced me to be honest with myself.
Nicki wrote: "While I was really looking forward to this one, I appreciate that you always release books of such great quality and haven't just sent out something out (since you obviously have the bones of it) j..."If the day comes--as has sometimes happened--when I'm reading over bits and pieces and think, "Why did I give up? I should have kept going," then I certainly would take another crack. I hate letting readers down. But, as you say, it's more of a let down to just bash something out simply to cross it off my list.
Donna wrote: "I understand that sometimes characters don't speak to you and therefore makes telling their stories much more difficult. Tell the story when you can even if it is thru snippets. I enjoy all your wo..."Thank you so much, Donna. <3
DKSDGM wrote: "I definitely have never understood how/why anyone would leave a hostile review for something they haven't even read. Bad karma for sure."It's a weird one, for sure.
Darlene wrote: "I understand when this happens. You have written so many great books and having one book not getting finished is fine. Having your creative energy fragile or stalled is very frustrating and I suppo..."Thank you, Darlene. You're right about creativity being something that has to be nurtured and guarded. Sometimes it's more resilient, but right now mine is more pilot light than flame.
Lüpges wrote: "I truly am sad. Not only about not reading how Flynn ist comming away step by step from ending his life (it was such an interesting and unique base for a story) . I didn't have any expectations oth..."Thank you, Lüpges. It's so strange how creativity works. There was a time I couldn't wait to tell the rest of Flynn's story. And then little by little, that pleasure and eagerness died out. I do think I waited too long, and I want to not make that mistake in the future with other characters and series.
Don wrote: "You are truly one of my favorite writers - in any genre. Your engagement in and dedication to your craft is revealed by your consistent connection to your stories and to your characters. You are NO..."That's so lovely. Thank you, Don. I will say that the relief of admitting I couldn't do HH2, resulted in an unexpected flood of new ideas for these remaining projects.
Jordan wrote: "HUGS! 30K is hard! Especially if you’re not feeling it. But you’ve got to do what YOU’VE got to do. These are your stories. They do not belong to readers until after they’re written, and even then,..."Ah. Yes! I do think my inability to read or even watch almost any fiction over these past months was an ominous sign for creating my own stories.
Writing about a character who is suicidal would be difficult at any time. I can't imagine trying to do it in 2020, not without tipping over that edge myself. I know it's frustrating, but cancelling it is self-preservation.
I absolutely love your writing. What makes your books so good is the thought you put into your characters and story. You have every right to cancel a book, it's part of the creative process and in no way reflects on you as an author. I hope you continue Doyle and Spain.
I'm sorry you've had to endure that kind of behaviour from readers. It's awful...and ungrateful...and...just plain mean. Thank goodness you're taking care of your well-being and doing what you need to do.Cookies are so much more delicious when the baker loves them too.
Becky wrote: "Writing about a character who is suicidal would be difficult at any time. I can't imagine trying to do it in 2020, not without tipping over that edge myself. I know it's frustrating, but cancelling..."It's one of those strange instances where the original story (quartet) was going to be kooky and funny and light, and then I began to write and it all went so much more dark and serious than I'd ever intended. When the first book ended, the story felt complete. And yet I had envisioned something very different, and I felt locked in by that.
Now older and wiser, I think knowing when to call it, is wisdom, not weakness.
100sweet wrote: "I absolutely love your writing. What makes your books so good is the thought you put into your characters and story. You have every right to cancel a book, it's part of the creative process and in ..."Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Moving forward, I'll make it easier on readers and not make promises I'm not sure I can keep.
Debbie wrote: "I'm sorry you've had to endure that kind of behaviour from readers. It's awful...and ungrateful...and...just plain mean. Thank goodness you're taking care of your well-being and doing what you need..."It's the weird effect of the internet because I think most of the time these readers believe themselves to be creatively encouraging and supportive and caring. They think they are in the right and that they are the kind of readers authors should listen to.
No one looks in the mirror and sees a troll. Not even the trolls.
I adore “Requiem for Mr Busybody”, so write those characters that come to you. I certainly don’t want to read something you only feel obligated to write. I am sorry if you’ve been affected by negative comments and online trolls. I absolutely loathe it when people give out 1 star for books not yet published! WHY?????!!!!
Sequels are always hard and they are largely for “fans”... which sometimes may not be the best reason to write a story. 🤔
I'm sorry that you're feeling down and that this one had to be shelved. However, I think it's way more important to work on yourself and to write whatever you feel like writing instead of forcing yourself to write a story that you're not inspired by.I can't understand why people feel the need to be mean and disrespectful to authors because books didn't go the way they wanted or weren't published when they wanted.
I love your books, you're one of my favorite authors, and I have quite a lot of them already lined up for reading. By the way, I really loved "The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks" and its sequel. It's one of my favorite duologies ever.
Fátima wrote: "I'm sorry that you're feeling down and that this one had to be shelved. However, I think it's way more important to work on yourself and to write whatever you feel like writing instead of forcing y..."Thank you so much for your kindness and understanding, Fátima. I mean, I know it's frustrating when books are delayed or cancelled. If the time comes that I feel I can do that story justice, I'll certainly try again.
