Writing a novel is about telling a story; about creating characters and making them real, three-dimensional. The process, I assume, is a lot like pregnancy. You spend months and months getting ready for the manuscript to be completed. You worry about it while you are writing. You try to feed your imagination with with relevant and inspiring thoughts during the process.
You can't help be prepare for the potential results of the finished product. Envisioning book covers; winning awards and hitting coast-to-coast bestseller lists. Your dream and dream as the page and word count grows and grows.
Let's not forget worrying, too. Authors do that. A lot. Before beginning to write. While writing. And once the work is actually published and for sale. Oh, the worrying. It never, never ends. You think it might. You say you won't be "One of those authors," but once the book hits store shelves. You are. You become "One of those authors."
Before writing, you take notes. You make lists. Pro's and Con's to telling the story. You wonder, aren't there already enough stories? Do I really have any business bringing another into this world?
While writing, you are nothing but preoccupied with plot, and setting. With dialogue and ensuring every word moves the story forward. Does the opening grab the reader? Is the middle fluff-less? Is the ending a surprise, and unexpected?
Will people even care what happens to my characters, the way I care!
It's enough to have you pull hair off your head! Have Mercy!
Then, once the book is on sale, and your are in a bookstore, you want to take your novel off a bottom shelf and insert it eye-level next to James Patterson and Stephen King books. It's what's best for your book. Why wouldn't you? You're only trying to be a supportive author. You're only attempting to ensure your novel gets a fair shake at being bought ... by a stranger!
A stranger! If someone you don't know buys and reads your book, you feel like you might throw-up!
This isn't your Mom. Your Wife. Your Kids!
This is a stranger.
They might not like it! They might actually tell you they don't like it!
Worse--they could post a review, publicly, and tell EVERYONE they don't like it!
And yet, despite all the pre- and post-fears of writing, we do it anyway. We know we may never sell the manuscript. Or that the book might not be well received. Or critically destroyed. That doesn't stop us. Because the story is still inside. And needs to be told, for whatever reason.
Writers write.
Have an awesome day,
Phillip Tomasso
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Okay, well, childbirth is more painful, ha ha, but just like sending our children out into the world we send our books, hoping they'll be accepted into society and they won't end up in jail someday...but I digress.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, no one will ever love our children as much as we, the parent, do. (Yes, I am waning metaphoric here.) We are the ones who spent every free moment shaping and molding our characters. Getting them into trouble, getting them out of trouble. Everyone else gets to have them after the work is finished.
So I love your analogy, not only because it works, but because I get to tell everyone once again: childbirth hurts. A lot.
But when it's over and done, the greatest gift will be before you, screaming its fool head off.
I'm not sure that you really know what you are talking about with the childbirth thing LOL. I am a female, but, I never had children, so I can't say either.
ReplyDeleteBut, I do know this. Writing is like reaching inside you and trying to put a deep piece of yourself out there for the world to judge. It can be life changing, just the process itself. The rewards, however, are so worth whatever pain you suffer. However you describe it! Good luck and sell a ton1!!