I just reached the end of a 224 page manuscript. And...it's time to turn back to page one and begin again. I offer this stock photo as my novel is set in a high desert like this one.
That image and finishing another pass brings to mind my stages of the novel. I wonder if this is normal? I have a crazy emotional journey with each that tends to pattern like this:
1. First draft: "I'm writing an AMAZING work!"
2. Handing over the draft for a critique: "Oh, dear. It's actually stupid."
3. Listening to comments: "Maybe it's not so bad."
4. Multiple rewrites: "I'm pulling this up, and it's really not so bad."
5. Final pass: "Woohoo! This is soooo strong."
6. Sending it to my agent: "This is stupid. What was I thinking?"
7. Hearing her affirmation: "Could it be good after all?"
8. Waiting on an editor: "What was I thinking? No, wait. This is a really good work! She should buy it!"
9. Sale: "See. It is good!"
10. Waiting for reviews: "What was I thinking? It's stupid. Everyone will say so."
11. Reviews: "It is good!"
12. Starting a first draft: "I'm writing an AMAZING work!"
This is really what I go through. Oh, my. I exhaust myself. *sigh* Now back to page one.
4 comments:
I LOVED reading your pattern! Hilarious and funny.
Ah, you should count yourself lucky that you even get to do a rewrite! I've never gotten past -- what? -- 500 words?
Oh, Maya! Keep at it and you will! And they will be wonderful words to rewrite. Or at least you will think so, some of the time. :~)
This is hilarious! And awfully familiar. I'm so very excited to get to read your work, Lorie Ann. Your voice is beautiful, funny, and meaningful - never stupid.
Ah, such a very accurate depiction of the process, at least from my standpoint too. Althoug, I think you're being kind and leaving out a lot of the profanity that is typically involved...:)
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