two steps forward, one stagger back...

[lagilman]

Remember last book, when I was kvelling over the fact that I finally had a handle on How I Work, and how much easier it was to deal with my usual writerly insecurities once I had that handle (okay, stranglehold)?

Right. That, as they say, was then. This is now.

The past week I've been really struggling with what needs to be done, and I'd look at the 80% of the manuscript that's done and think "OMG this is DREK, this SUCKS, there's no way I can send this to Madame Editrix, she will think I've lost it entirely."

And yet, I'm pretty sure I haven't lost any significant portion of my brain or talent, and these are the same characters, the same setting, the same world... why the sudden difficulty, book 6 rather than the relative ease of book 5?

Yesterday, it hit me in the face (much like a salmon, yes). Book 1 was a long time ago, and it was First Novel, so my brainset was, well, weird. Books 2-5 were part of a larger story arc, even as each book stands alone, and by the time I got to FREE FALL (#5) I was in the downward slope of a damned big mountain, where my main concern was keeping everything on track and not picking up too much speed. That's one kind of difficult, but I understood it.

BLOOD FROM STONE, on the other hand, is yes, the 6th book in a series. But it's also a true stand-alone -- with the attendant weight of five previous books of history behind it. So I-as-writer an being asked to a) create a story that established readers can fall into with a sense of "ohhh! old friends, new story!" while also b) create a book new readers can approach with confidence that they won't be sideswiped with Expectation of Previous Knowledge or swamped with Too Much Information, but will be able to pick things up as needed and only what is needed.

In other words, I'm overthinking the book. And I have to, at this stage, overthink it. Even if it means I drive myself crazy. Once it's all done, and Madame Editrix has done her thing on it, then I can go over the story again with less stress and more fun. I hope. In the end, it will all be well, and I will be happy (as happy as I ever am, anyway) with the result.

But damn, this stage is making me nucking futz.

Comments

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

sending soothing noises

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Sit down and have a nice glass of wine. Don't do whiskey cuz I think you need soothing. Now, turn on a jazz station on the radio. Breathe…sip…breathe…sip…breathe…sip There! Don't you feel better.

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

In other words, I'm overthinking the book. And I have to, at this stage, overthink it. Even if it means I drive myself crazy.

I was guilty of that very thing last night, trying to build a new MtG deck.

Mark told me 'KISS', Keep it simple stupid, and well... I CAN'T, cause then it becomes HIS deck and not mine.

So yeah...I'm overthinking how I want the deck to work and ending up with a monster of a deck instead of a nice streamlined deck.

Different settings, same analogy.}:)

[lagilman]

well, the difference is that I get to rewrite it later, once I've overthought it all the way through, and have fun with it... :-D

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

Not much of a differnce really, as I'll be able to play the deck, see what works and what doesn't, and rework it.}:P

Different medium, same concept.LOL.

[ex-fashioni.livejournal.com]

In other words, I'm overthinking the book. And I have to, at this stage, overthink it. Even if it means I drive myself crazy.

But damn, this stage is making me nucking futz.

Yes. This. This is where I am on the revisions for Carmen. I know what needs to be done—hell, I've even been looking forward to what needs to be done to make this book better. So explain to me why I'm staring at the screen in a cold sweat?

*looks up*

Yep. Right.

Nucking futz about sums it up. I just wanna run away to a cabin somewhere very remote. Preferably with a cabana boy who will keep me supplied with food and drink while I figure this out.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

*pets*

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

I so totally get it. I'm with you--struggling with similar problem. But can I just tell you how ironic I find that you're having this particular trouble with a novel titled Blood From Stone? I mean, c'mon . . . don't you think the universe is just laughing its ass off at you?

[lagilman]

pbbbtttthhht.


(amusingly enough, the actual reference means something somewhat different and more positive in the book)

[chickwriter.livejournal.com]

This:
"OMG this is DREK, this SUCKS, there's no way I can send this to Madame Editrix, she will think I've lost it entirely."

is totally where I am right now on my manuscript. I know it's a stage, but it's a tough one.

::sends you loads of empathy and sympathy::

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

*raises a cheer for the fucking nuts*

[lagilman]

Seems to be a lot of it going around. I wonder why that is?

Oh yeah, right. So we get on-delivery payments in January. *innocent look*

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

Not that we're panicked and desperately short of money, or anything...

(BTW, how's the house going?)

[greeneyedkzin.livejournal.com]

They say that the military learns to fight the -last- war.

I am convinced that writers learn to write the -last- book and encounter totally new and fun problems in the next one. The one after will, no doubt, throw you an entirely different curve ball.