Thursday 13: When the book is done...
Sometimes the hardest part of producing a book is what happens AFTER it's published.
Sometimes the hardest part of producing a book is what happens AFTER it's published.
- You have to market the book, which for most of us solitary writers who live mostly in our heads, is a daunting road to navigate, with frightening intersections like...
- ...live chats (EEK! No editing your posts!!) and guest blogging (what if I don't come up with something to impress my host, or worse, what if nobody comments??!!!)
- Release day comes and you suddenly feel exposed. Naked! You wish, for one panicky moment, that you could take it back.
- And release day is a bit of a non-event. You find yourself waiting.... but you're not sure what you're waiting for. It's not like you can watch a counter spinning around, telling you how many books are being sold.
- You're now expected to write another one...
- ...but you can't get the characters from the last book out of your head...
- ...and you're not sure you even want to (because you love your babies)...
- ...but you didn't leave any loose threads to justify a sequel...
- ...and you're too scared to try in case it doesn't live up to the first one.
- You wait on pins and needles to find out what your family and friends thought of it...
- ...but some don't even bother (ouch!)...
- ...or have any idea how much their opinions mean to you...
- You have a hope-love-hate relationship with review sites. You hope to get a good rating, you love the praise, you hate the waiting.
And those, dear readers, are the sad-truths and self-doubts that plague this neurotic writer (I'm sure I'm not alone!) to counterbalance the whoop-ass elation of getting published.
By the way... Law of Averages is now available from Ellora's Cave ;)
28 comments:
aww, hugs on #11. It's not that we're not bothering, hon. (Plus Christine has commented!) I just haven't had a chance to yet - I'm desperately trying to get to the point you are!
But I know it's going to rock - because you're a great writer! Now you take that poor self-esteem and lash with 50 wet noodles.
I'm not even published and I can understand every one of those points on your list.
Good luck with the new book!
Ah, but Marley -- you've finished a book (a few, if I'm not mistaken) so you should indeed relate to these :)
Oh Wylie! Whaddya mean it isn't all gumdrops and sunshine once your novel is published? ;)
:::sends a chocolate fountain and coupons for sundaes:::
I can relate to all fo those, and I'm still trying to get published. :)
Ann, I'm somewhat comforted to learn that I'm not alone in my neurosis!!
Bonnie - The best time is between contract and publication date. The rest is all a verry scarry ride. Thanks for the chocolate. I'm all better now!
Nodding head. What you said. All of it. Self-doubts. Check! Neurotic. Check! Take comfort in the fact you are not alone. ;)
Wow, that does sound daunting.
I'm sending you more virtual chocolate, my friend! I'm sorry about #11 -- I'm sure should I be lucky enough to get my work out there, I'll be contending with #11 in a big way from certain quarters. It sucks, but just keep your head up, your shoulders squared, and keep on keeping on. You are a gifted writer, and I know with everything in me that LoA is gonna get great reviews! :)
I understand writing-related neurosis. I think over the last two years, particularly, I've become an expert in that field. ;)
{{{{hugs}}}}} Writing is definitely not for wimps! :-)
Hmmm ... so maybe I don't want to finish and publish a first book after all? Methinks all writers are a bit neurotic. Definitely take time to spend with those kids ;--)
Hugs and blessings,
Hey - blogger ate my response to Leah...
Leah -- not you, sweetie! In fact the people I was thinking off don't read this blog!!
Hiya Storyteller and Darla--
These pathetic neurosis are actually what keeps it 'real', you know? Otherwise we'd be so busy bouncing off the walls doing 'happy dances' and the like, we'd never write another book! :D
TL -- hey, maybe we should co-write a book for writers: Overcoming Your Neurosis!
:D
Shelley -- oh please! I don't believe someone as prolific and talented as you can relate!!
(Really??)
:D
Hey, no co-authoring without me!
I think all writers go through all this, no matter how established they are. It goes with the turf in a world where sales make or break your career.
Let's change that last part, at least. And maybe some of the others, too. We're smart people. I bet we can figure out how.
Yes, that WAS me at the game last night in white. How'd you guess?
Hey SHG -- yeah, I thought I recognized your shirt!! :D
im not a writer but i can imagine # 1. im not really fond of P-R ing.
I KNOW!! That's totally how I feel, and I never, NEVER leave Loose threads to make a sequel.
GACK!
You know how I feel about Law of Averages.:)
And you know I am neurotic!! Hence why you call me nut!! :)
I posted over at Julias!!
The dull, dull, dull life of a writer.
Oh wow...sounds painful! But worth it, right? (I hope so!)
Thanks for stopping by my first TT!
Happy TT to you :)
It actually made me happy to see #3. No, I'm not a sadist. I'm an advertising writer. I'll work on a concept, develop it to be on message, be sure it will be a success ... until the moment I'm standing in front of the client. Then I wish I had more time and only see what I could have made better. Glad to see that "real" writers suffer that same moment of doubt! (Thanks for visiting my TT)
Someday I'd like to have that problem. Happy TT.
Yep. The whole pimping the book is more stressful than editing it. Hahaha! *hugs*
I'll take all the suffering over not getting published anyday.
My TT is here.
Amen sistah.
The common response I have is whenever anyone says they've bought my book is to reread it and think "Oh NO! It totally sucks!".
Of course, it usually doesn't, but I panic. LOL.
BUT the feeling of release date totally trumps all that stuff. Although I know exactly what you're talking about.
*hands Wylie some virtual chocolate* Totally non fattening.
Excellent list. Happy TT!
Ugh. I hate having to promo, but I have noticed a difference in sales between promo and no promo. It's a necessary evil.
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