I finished my book contract last month. All three books in the Time of Transition trilogy are done and turned in (heck, The Wish List is available right now at a book store near you). The dedicated author (That would be I) now needs to start on the next project. The idea has been brewing for a while. But along with the excitement and thrill of starting a new book comes the fear.
We writers are a neurotic group (I don't mean to speak for everyone, so consider that corrected to "I am neurotic"). The fear arises from so many different areas. Is the new idea at all good? What if it's stupid? Can I even finish another book again (the idea of writing 400 manuscript pages is daunting)? And if I finish it, can I even sell it? And if I sell on proposal, can I finish it in time? And if I sell it and finish it, what if no one likes it?
It's not like having books on the shelves is any easier. The first book of the trilogy is out and received mostly good reviews, but... "Will anyone like AS YOU WISH(the second book)? Will it have a good cover? Will it have good distribution? What if no one likes it? And the third book--I just turned it in and am still too close to it to make any judgments. What if it sucks? What if none of the book sell well enough for my publisher to want anything else from me? What if this is the death of my career?
Yeah, I can't concentrate on the good stuff--like the five heart review from The Romance Reader, like the positive review in PW, like the many readers I've heard from who loved the book. Nope, I focus on the negative possibilities--not even the realities.
The craziest thing of all? I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing than writing.
--Gabi
Books I'm reading now:
Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran
Wizard Squared by KE Mills
The next idea will be great. It will do well. Relax and let go to the process.
ReplyDeleteBelle
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Ahh, it's so nice to hear somebody else with the same doubts! That being said, THE WISH LIST was awesome with extra awesomesauce and I know anything you write is going to be even better.
ReplyDeleteThank you, both of you. Fear is so stupid, but it's there. Especially now with the shakeup at Tor. I think I wshall take Star Trek's words to heart...to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before
ReplyDeleteIf I can just fake the boldly part I'll be good.
I hear you about the fear. That could be why I haven't finished a manuscript yet.
ReplyDeleteI for one love your writing and will pimp you out to the best of my ability.
I have "is this even any good?" on constant replay.
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