There's no easy part

when it comes to writing.

I’ve heard other writers say that they think certain parts of writing are the “easy” part. Some say it’s the first draft, because revising is so difficult. Others say it’s the revision that’s easier. And some say the easiest part is copyediting. They’re all wrong. There is no easy part.

1. Outlining (if you do this part consciously or not, I think all writers do it) is about trying to take hold of something as intricate and subtle and huge as a whole novel and get your head around it. It’s trying to plant beats in the right places and figure out some of the big problems in advance. While you’re outlining, you’re constantly taking off and putting on the writer hat and the editor/agent hat. And you’re not even writing scenes. You’re approximating writing without having any of the fun that comes with it.

Outlining sucks.

2. Writing a first draft is all about letting your imagination go wild, putting in all the parts that might be totally and completely wrong, knowing it isn’t working and pushing forward anyway, dealing with daily fears about not being ready to write this, and sometimes feeling like you’re going backward faster than forward.

First drafting sucks.

3. Working on a revision means you have to deal with feedback from someone who sees all the problems in your first draft. They make lists of them, sometimes in great detail, and then send them to you. Sometimes they expect to get paid by you for this. When you get an editorial letter, you will likely want to hide or murder someone, or both. And then you have to figure out how this thing there affects that thing there, and fix them both at the same time. Your head will feel like it’s about to explode.

Revision sucks.

4. Copyediting is about the tiniest details that the reviewers are going to hound you about that honestly no one really cares about, except that you have to. You can’t hire out this job no matter how tedious it may seem because it’s your last chance to change your book. Of course, you can’t change it too much no matter how enormous the mistake you find in it is because it’s likely already gone to press for ARCs, and that’s what reviews are going to based on. So good luck fixing everything in a sentence or less! And let me say again that you will never be able to change this book again, even if you see the perfect solution ten years down the road.

Copyediting sucks.

5. Waiting is after the book is sent out to reviews and there is nothing you can do but bite your fingernails and wish you could live in a cave where there is no internet access. You have no control anymore. The book is written and sure, you’re also supposed to be working on a sequel or a second book or something, but who can do that when your nerves are jangling like that? But you have to because otherwise you’re going to go mad and you’ll drive everyone else mad right along with you.

Waiting sucks.

6. Self-promotion is just before your book comes out (no one knows the exactly right time, but it’s not too soon and it’s not too late) and you have to go out and be the most interesting, sparkling personality on the planet. Everything you say has to be not only correct, but kind. It has to be wise and accurate. It has to be what will sell your book, too. No pressure or anything!

Self-promotion sucks.