I’m re-reading Stephen King’s On Writing. Again. There’s always good stuff in there. Today I read that “stopping a piece of work just because it’s hard, emotionally or creatively, is a bad idea.” Very timely since I am writing a book that is hard, both emotionally and creatively. We’re talking hard, hard, hard. But good.
This has been my year of very hard books, and I’m so tired. Miss Lonely Hearts and Satisfaction Guaranteed were also very hard to write, and now there’s this last book to finish and it’s the hardest of them all. I’ve actually analyzed why these books were so hard and I can see how to make life easier for myself in future, but meanwhile, the book. It is hard. It is also good, maybe the best I’ve written. And you know, it’s nice to know I’m in good company. If Carrie was hard for Stephen King, hey, it paid off. If nothing else, this book is paying off in lessons learned.
So. If anybody else Sweating with Sven is finding it hard going, you’re not alone. Sometimes it’s hard. That doesn’t mean we should quit.
I love On Writing. The info in there is worth its weight in gold. I hear you on having a rough writing year. It’s nice when there is an occasional ‘easy’ book tossed in there, but I think as your skills develop the writing just gets harder. Instead of having easy books, you get moments of ease. Got to take that comfort where you can get it. 🙂
On Writing is one of my top 10 books on the the art and craft and business. I go back to it often.
Moments of ease, I like that. *g* I do think there are ways to make it easier. Like building more time into the schedule for non-writing activities. There’s a real danger of doing what Lawrence Block calls “burning the raft at both ends” the more successful you become, because you keep writing more and doing less of other things and your material is getting burned up.
I think that’s why your year has been a rough one, Charli. Because of your hectic schedule, due to contracts, you haven’t had time to do enough of the “non-writing stuff. Hopefully next year will be different.
In the meantime, I hope this book works itself out and gets a bit easier for you.
NJ, I knew I had a problem when I literally didn’t have time to color my hair. *g* I took time to go for a jog this morning. It felt great. I am shifting my schedule next year to something that allows more downtime. And I’m over the hump with the book; I’ll be sending it to you for another read, there’s a complex dynamic I want a second opinion on. But it’s really come together.
I remember way back when, an author saying that it got “easier” the more books you got under your belt. I remember being skeptical, but now I just think she was smoking crack 😉
Every book for me is harder than the last. It’s because I get pickier, I learn more with each book, I won’t settle, I strive to MAKE it better. I agonize over each and every word. When I first started out? I just bled all over the page and called it brilliant then wondered why no one wanted to give me the time of day lololol
I had my break, I suppose, this past summer, but now I’ll be writing my ass off for the next ten months. As much as I might bitch and whine, I feel comfortable with a hectic schedule. Because the alternative isn’t something I want to contemplate 🙂
Yes, she needs to put down the crack pipe! It’s true, the more you learn, the more you apply, you raise the bar. Although experience makes some things easier.
I love Stephen King’s book too.
I thought this writing gig would get easier too, with more books under my belt. HAH!
My year’s sort of been like yours, Charli, and 2008 looks to be the same. But like Sharon, I’m not complaining, I worked damn hard to get to this point. I might whine a little now and then, though 🙂
Lori, I’ll take a full schedule over an empty one any day. There’s no other job that would work for me like this one does. But it is sad that more experience doesn’t just translate to, “I’m a pro, I can do this standing on my head now!” Then again, every other job I’ve had bored me in two weeks. Writing a hard book? Way better than dying of boredom.
I think King’s book is one of the best out there.
And yes, sometimes certain books are just hard, every word takes so much effort. And yet, when I look back, those books are the ones I cherish the most. Not at the time of course, snort.
I bet, Lauren! You’re right, though, the ones you really fight for you appreciate every bit of.