This is a book I pull out and re-read regularly. It’s full of wisdom and encouragement, and deals with the reality that we keep taking the same steps, over and over, just in different ways. It’s part of the process.
Something I got reminded of this time is that sometimes ideas need time to simmer and sometimes the well of words needs time to refill. It’s become sort of the expectation (or maybe this is only in the romance genre) that a pro can whip out a book to order in a few weeks or a few months, consistently, to a set schedule. But it doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes, yes, the book comes fast and furious. Other times, it comes at a snail’s pace.
Sometimes you aren’t stalled at all, you’re just waiting. Waiting for the story to simmer, waiting for the words to well up. There’s a difference between this kind of pause and procrastination or a failing of craft or technique or not knowing what happens next.
I hate the pause. I hate waiting. I’m impatient. I like to see results. But sometimes the results are too deep underground to see, like roots growing and spreading. And without those roots, you can’t support the story trunk.
Most times mine comes at a snails pace. I have to say I miss the days when it used to come fast 🙁 And some days I got nothing. As a writer, I struggle with not being too hard on myself, with telling myself it’s okay to not write, or it’s okay to take a month off (OMG YES I did), or even it’s okay to not work on a particular project because I feel more driven to work on something else entirely.
I also think a part of that month off was accepting the fact that I knew I wasn’t going to purse another contract (right now) in the genre I’ve been writing in. There’s such an OMGIHAVETOBECONTRACTEDORISUCK mentality that I’ve had to fight with–HARD! But I think I’ve finally reached (the very edge of) a happy place. 😀
It is hard not to tie your worth to your contract, or your book’s performance, etc. But unless we can keep those things separate, I think it’s a pretty straight trip to Crazyville.
I do wonder if slowing down is part of maturing as a writer. Interesting.
I’ve been at a pause with a book I’m working on. I think it’s because it’s not a contracted work. I’m trying to let it breathe and just be what it wants to be.
I’m about 25K in and still don’t feel like I’ve found my rhythm. I love the premise of the book and the characters, but the pacing is throwing me off. It’s unfolding a bit slower than my usual books. But I’m determined to just let it be what it is. I can always fix whatever needs fixing when I get to the rewriting process.
Good for you, NJ. Some books go in a fairly straight line, some don’t. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
I’ve never read the book, but I think our process is always growing and shifting as we continue to grow and change as writers.
I need to believe this to keep myself going. *grin* And I think we need to accept that some of us have been pounding out the stories, and a break is not a bad thing. Remember, there are authors out there who think writing a book a year is too much. Some stories do take time to cook, sometimes WE just need to time to relax so that we can get to work with true positive energy.
Sasha, I think we’ve been pounding out at about the same rate. And it’s not a bad thing to take some time to relax. I just need to find some time. ; )