final draft

Whenever I finish a writing a book, and then of course the final draft, I’m left feeling lost. Like I can’t find my way and don’t know where to go next, even though I’m working on multiple projects. I go to this place of numbness. A numbness of letting go of the work that I know is about to go through innumerable torture. Rejection, more edits, more rejection, revisions, maybe acceptance and even after that, more changes. More loss. I find that, as I write more novel-length works, I do best focusing on one project at a time. I can do some short-story stuff and poetry at the same time, but one novel/series at a time seems best. My writing is more focused and clear, requiring less formatting in the end.

I still find blogging difficult. Honestly, I find the whole social networking thing difficult. I see the positive results of it, however, in my sales and growing fan-dom. Sometimes though, social networking feels like more work than the writing, editing, and submission process combined. Harsh! I do it though, because as a small-time writer, it’s important. Managing my website is much easier, and fun. Facebook is tolerable, Twitter is impossible to keep up with. I don’t mind Goodreads, Kindlegraph, or Amazon. They’re very tidy.

At this point, I’ve finished my YA fantasy manuscript. Submissions are underway. I’m going to take it slowly to start and follow the guidance of my mentors. I really hope it works out. I want very much to experience the traditional route of publishing. I’m hoping for the best.

With this, I’m now back fully working on the Legacy Series. I’m a bit behind schedule (not that I’m following any deadlines… I set strange schedules for myself). Book 2 is fully written and well into the drafting process. I’m thinking about changing the title as I think it’s too common in the paranormal genre, but that will come in time.

Cheers!

Max