One month ago I was floating on a fluffy cloud of fairy dust.
Today...I'm slogging through the dirty sludge of my mushy spongy brain.
Still feeling pretty good...but now...I'm also feeling...DUH DUH DUHHHHH...insecure.
About what you ask?
I'll tell you. I finished my book and then my first round of edits.
Some of you might be surprised at that but my book is probably shorter than most of yours, only about 50,000 words. And, I tend to edit the entire time I write so I have a head start.
Any-hoo...I sent my book to my two favorite 'editor' peeps yesterday and this is when I start freakin' out!
Will they like it?
Will they think it sucks?
Will they rip it to shreds like Wolverine? Will it come back with more red than black? Will they come back and say I forgot to add the plot?
It's so hard, the waiting.
After I emailed it I decided to go back to the notes I took from the editing class with Angela James.
Ugh.
So, after spending countless more hours finding and replacing words that suck, the book is basically completely different anyway and the peeps are reading the old draft.
Keep my chin up. Shoulders back. Remember to breathe.
Breathe in, breathe out.
If they don't like it...well...I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
What keeps you up at night when someone else is reading your work?
How many of you thought of the Bush song Machinehead when you read the post title?
Relax - I still love it! You rock!
ReplyDeleteLove you!
K.
It will be all right! All the sucky words are gone.
ReplyDeleteMe *waves hand around* I totally thought of Machinehead. Stay strong, all will be well, like Alex said all the sucky words are gone! :)
ReplyDelete-MJ
Definitely keep breathing. I would lose my mind if I had other people marking edits while I'm changing it. For me, I need to set it aside while other people are reading it. And start something new. Your writing is wonderful, I'm sure it will be great. BTW, I like the 50K word novels. I don't know who has time to read more than that.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for feedback from trusted readers is so hard. We SO want them to like it, yet we know our drafts aren't perfect, and there will be blood...er, I mean red ink. But it's all good. It's all about improving, and it sounds like you've already started working on that part by making needed changes. Win win!
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to know someone is reading your work. Take a deep breath and try to do something fun to get your mind off of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard sending out that part of your soul. That's why I'm so scared to query! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always scary sending out your work, but don't worry, it will be good. Plus whichever way you look at it, your story will end up being better for it:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ciara--try to keep your mind off it. (I know; easier said than done...) :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dana. : )
ReplyDeleteWe all get nervous, it's a very personal thing, this writing that we decide to make public! Keep your mind off it, my hubby's been watching The Walking Dead, and I join in (then run from the room, then come back and watch, then run from the room...), now I can distract my fears of sucky writing with watching out for those apocalyptic zombies. I just know they're scraping around outside!
ReplyDeleteWell, if they have problems with the old draft, just remember that you fixed a lot of it anyways. And even though they may have harsh-sounding comments, they want the best for you and your book.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe anything keeps me up at night when someone is reading my drafts...unless, of course, it's these crazy ass roosters or stray fight club battles. lol
ReplyDeleteI see it like this, my friend, if I know I've done my best, I don't sweat it, I let it.
Besides, worrying is like rocking in a chair in that neither will get you anywhere.
Yeah, just relax. I know, easier said than done, but remember, you're still in the very early stages so it's not supposed to be perfect. That's what your peeps are for anyway. Funny though, I've done that. Revised, sent it out, then revised again before I hear back. It's hard to sit & wait. Sndvifvuou chose wisely, your peeps won't rip you to shreds. That's not what they're for. They're there to be CONstructive, not DEstructive.
ReplyDeleteSorry, damn iPhone. That' shoulda been so if you chose wisely...
DeleteBTW - I just read this from Brandon Sanderson: "Currently about 250,000 words (of 350,000) into my fourth draft of AMoL. This is the hardest of the drafts. Next one should go faster."
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy with your 50,000!!
K.
That's why you have peeps. They have your back.
ReplyDeleteK. – Love you too! Finish it already!
ReplyDeleteAlex – You’re so right. Sucky words….adios!
MJ – Thank you! Working on it!
Tonja – Well, I meant to set it aside. Really! Thank you. I’m glad to hear that.
Karen – But, I’m a control freak!
L.G. – Blood / Ink. Same thing, right? We try our best.
Ciara – Something fun. Hmmm. I’ll have to think about that!
Jemi – I’m scared too. But, I’m going to do it anyway.
tfwalsh – Absolutely right. I appreciate that.
Dana – That is the truth.
Susanne – Ha! You guys are great!
Charmaine – Zombies know better than to come to our house. Too well armed. I need a hobby!
Clarissa – They do. It’s true. I know that. I do. Sometimes.
Jeremy – Those are words to live by. Thank you, Jeremy!
Nancy – Sndvifvuou is my new favorite word! I know, you’re
right. You’re all right. I just need to believe it!
K. – Glad to hear that! FINISH!!
Carol - It's true. They are good peeps too! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHMG
hence your title...
ReplyDeletewaiting sucks, thats why we must do other things in the MEAN (waiting) time, get it?
Your peeps won't shred you. They know they're constructive help. I'm in the chute to send mine out again. When it goes, I'll switch gears and complete a couple of household projects.
ReplyDeleteTara - It sucks out loud! I'm trying. I'm really trying!
ReplyDeleteKittie - It's true. My peeps aren't that mean. A little, but not too bad.
Thanks for coming.
HMG
Totally thought of Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle, "I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breathe in and out all day long."
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Tom Hanks, another of his great movie quotes goes along with your topic quite well, "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
PS
PS - Great quote! Thank you!
ReplyDeletePerfect title for a post such as this! I breathe in and out for the same reasons that you do! Good to know I'm not the only one :)
ReplyDeleterandi lee - We are never alone. Welcome!
ReplyDeleteHeather