A Difficult Decision

As a fiction writer, most of my decisions are easy and fun. I get to create everything about a story and have it go in whatever direction I want.

As an independently published writer, I also get to choose my editors, cover designer,  interior design, publication date, price, and avenues of promotion.

All fun stuff. Well, mostly.

I've been struggling with this current manuscript for a very long time. And right now it's no longer exciting me even though I love the characters. I'm not swept away by the story that's emerging in the fourth rewrite. Yes, fourth.

Writing friends I respect, including my editor, have been advising me for months to put it away and move on. The words "failure" and "unprofessional" and (let's be honest) "pride" kept me trying to find a way to make it work. Plus, I'd already paid for a cover.

Yesterday I heard the advice one more time and it somehow felt different. It went something like, "Yeah, just shelve it for now. It'll still be there later, plus you'll have the cover."

Winston Churchill said, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

So today I'm packing up my research notes and getting organized for the next story I want to write. In the meantime I'll trust it really is an issue with this manuscript and that I haven't lost my writing mojo.



It's all better with friends.

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public." —Winston Churchill

I wish I could clearly identify where I am with my manuscript. My goal is to have the first draft completed by the time you read this post.

And then there are the rounds of edits.

And then as gory and bloody as it sounds, I will kill the monster and fling him to the public. I'll try and let you know when to duck.


It's all better with friends.