As most of you know, I've been reviewing Akeldama for a while now in order to get it ready for my May 18th publication date. I've been going over(and over, and over, and over) the formatting, text, and general layout of the story for a few months, and it's beginning to get a bit tedious.
Don't get me wrong - I'm still very excited to be nearing my debut novel's release date, but I'm growing so familiar with the story that I don't even need to look at the text to understand it. I realize this makes little sense to those who don't write - after all, I write the story, so I should obviously know it inside and out - but it has become repetitive.
I'm a big fan of putting a story away after you write it and before you edit it so that you can look at it with fresh eyes. However, the work necessary to bring Akeldama to fruition won't let me put it down right now. Yes, this is a bit like complaining I have too many bills for my wallet, or that I can't decide which sports car to buy, but that doesn't make it any less real to me.
Do other writers have this issue with their stories? After so many revisions and edits and rewordings and reviews, does it get more chore-like after a time? Or am I whining over a non-issue? I find myself wishing the release date will get here just so that I can move on to a new tale. I'll always love this story, but even a person eating his or her favorite food every day will likely long for some variety.
Don't get me wrong - I'm still very excited to be nearing my debut novel's release date, but I'm growing so familiar with the story that I don't even need to look at the text to understand it. I realize this makes little sense to those who don't write - after all, I write the story, so I should obviously know it inside and out - but it has become repetitive.
I'm a big fan of putting a story away after you write it and before you edit it so that you can look at it with fresh eyes. However, the work necessary to bring Akeldama to fruition won't let me put it down right now. Yes, this is a bit like complaining I have too many bills for my wallet, or that I can't decide which sports car to buy, but that doesn't make it any less real to me.
Do other writers have this issue with their stories? After so many revisions and edits and rewordings and reviews, does it get more chore-like after a time? Or am I whining over a non-issue? I find myself wishing the release date will get here just so that I can move on to a new tale. I'll always love this story, but even a person eating his or her favorite food every day will likely long for some variety.
I read on Hugh Howey's blog back in 2013 you were writing and getting ready to publish? Seriously that's 4 years lost of potential sales and finding an audience. Pay people to format etc, just get that story written, polish it and get it out asap then repeat. It's far too easy to talk about it and think on it as the years roll by. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteHi it's me again. I hit publish a bit too early and posted that short comment above. I just wanted to add that your story exhaustion may be coming from the 9 books you have written, which you seem to keep revisiting but not finishing and publishing? The best advise I could give you is to write a short story, polish it, send it off to an editor to tweak and catch all the mistakes. Then send it off to a formatter to get it ready for publication. Then get a professional cover made. Even at this late stage (pre publication) you can still go back to your formatter and ask them to tweak some things. But above and beyond everything else get your books published one at a time. You won't find many recording artists making several albums at the same time, and there is a reason for this. Put all your creative effort into one book at a time. Write, publish then repeat. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could've started publishing before now, but life circumstances and several overseas assignments stopped me from doing so in the way I wanted. I personally don't like to do the quick publish since I don't feel that it gives me enough time to put the book away and look at it with fresh eyes, but everyone is different in that regard I suppose. I'm just naturally cautious. I hope I haven't lost too many people and can only hope that some will stick with me, along with anyone new who comes along for the ride. :-)
DeleteOn the plus side, I'm starting to move quickly on putting out several things within a relatively short time period(My first five books will be out within the next two years). And since I'm a salesman as well, if you'd like to get on my email distro list for my first novel, there will be an Amazon discount of 15% on the print copy for all those on it before the May 18th publication date - interested?
Either way, thanks for the input. The next few years will be an exciting time for me and my passion of writing, and I'd like to share it with as many people as I can.
I wish you luck with your venture and I agree it is a good idea to put a book away and revisit it with fresh eyes. However the publishing world was a little different back when Hugh published Wool. I feel (in my opinion), the market is very very saturated now. It's still possible to be a success but there are more people trying to do the same. I feel most serious writers, even those working full time doing other things like myself can get a book or two per year out. Remember Hugh had been writing for years before Wool was a success. Each book I write is my baby, I put everything into it then once published I move onto the next. You asked about fatigue? I believe writing too many stories, all of which are partly completed or need editing will cause it. It's like having 9 babies all at once. Each needs attention but you just don't have time to spend on them all. Good luck.
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