Why I'm scared right now
A couple of weeks ago I hit the send button and the manuscript of my latest book went winging its way electronically from me in Auckland, New Zealand to my editor in London, England. Since then I've been living with a constant low hum of fear. You see I'm not one of those novelists who shows their work in progress to other people. I don't belong to a writer's group and read passages aloud. I certainly don't let my husband read it (the man's favourite book is the Highway Code which he often quotes from at length usually when I'm driving).
Nope I spend about a year working in total isolation. My characters and the plot follow me everywhere I go and I think about them whatever I'm doing (hence the issue with my driving). And while I'd like to think I write books that are pleasurable to read they're not always pleasurable to write. I get stuck a lot.
With my last novel The Food Of Love Cookery School I put my characters in a cafe then couldn't seem to make them leave. With the new one I had three entirely different endings in my head and didn't decide on one until the morning I woke up to write it.
And here's the thing, I have no idea if the result of all that mental tussling and frantic typing is any good. I mean really, no idea at all. All I can do is wait for my editor's verdict. This may be my eighth novel but I feel just as freaked out as I did with my first....well wouldn't you be?
Nope I spend about a year working in total isolation. My characters and the plot follow me everywhere I go and I think about them whatever I'm doing (hence the issue with my driving). And while I'd like to think I write books that are pleasurable to read they're not always pleasurable to write. I get stuck a lot.
With my last novel The Food Of Love Cookery School I put my characters in a cafe then couldn't seem to make them leave. With the new one I had three entirely different endings in my head and didn't decide on one until the morning I woke up to write it.
And here's the thing, I have no idea if the result of all that mental tussling and frantic typing is any good. I mean really, no idea at all. All I can do is wait for my editor's verdict. This may be my eighth novel but I feel just as freaked out as I did with my first....well wouldn't you be?
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Lesley
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Jul 27, 2014 12:25AM
Congratulations on hitting the send button! I could imagine how "argh" you must be feeling about the whole thing, but we, the readers, thank you for facing the fear and doing it anyway!
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I'm so glad it's not just me who works alone. It'll be grand, don't you worry :)
I find it enormously stressful sending my work off to an editor and yet in my day to day I write all the time and easily accept criticism - constructive or not. Why is it that we end up in knots when it's our writing, our novel manuscripts that are being assessed?
I think the entire process of writing a story is amazing and inspiring and you are truly gifted!Your books are awesome and I have loved every single one of them.
Good luck - I hope they love it and we get to see it on the shelves soon. It must be scary showing it someone for the first time and wondering if they enjoy it.
Good to know am not the only one who freaks during the writing process in many ways. Thank you for sharing. Tells me I must be on the right track if you feel and work that way :-)
Good luck, although you are bound not to need it! I have read all of your books so far and loved each one. Very excited to hear about another :)
i am so excited to hear you have another book (hopefully) on the way.. I read your 7 books in 12 months and loved them all.. so sad to have come to the end of the list!
