Comments on: Unfinished

by: Juliet

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 01:06:56 +0000

My sympathies, Marsha, I know how it feels. Keep saying to yourself, ‘in three weeks I’ll be all finished with this.’ As professionals we just grit our teeth and get on with editorial revisions, but that doesn’t make them any less painful. These days I can use hindsight and remind myself that every single time I’ve had to wrestle with an editorial report, I have ended up with a better book after doing the work.

by: Marsha Moyer

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:34:29 +0000

Thank you all for your perceptive and sympathetic comments. They help a lot, along with a greeting card I have taped to my computer that says, “Some days it’s not even worth chewing through the restraints.” If I ever reach the point where I can’t laugh at myself I’ll know I’m really in trouble.

Onward and upward . . .

by: Eric

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:42:56 +0000

Was just stewing on this topic today. Know why I hate the expression ‘pay your dues?’ Because it implies that at some point, the dues will be fully paid and you’ll be at some point where things won’t be hard anymore.

And we all know that’s B.S.

You’re never really done paying your dues. There are always more problems to tackle, and if not more in quantity then simply bigger ones.

You either chase down that challenge, run it ragged and fight it to the death the rest of your life, or it chases you down, runs you ragged, and fights you the rest of your life.

Ah… life.

by: thea

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:26:01 +0000

there are no ‘good problems’ - you have a lot of testy work to do and you have the right to be unhappy about it. but it’s survivable. hang in there. permission to think it stinks granted.

by: Eliza

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:30:45 +0000

So…

You’re saying that having a book published will not solve all of life’s problems?

Pardon my ‘net French, but WTF?!?

Really, though, this was the post I needed to read today. Got another rejection this morning. Nice words, said the writing was good, but no, and hey, maybe for the next project. So while I’m feeling down and out, and avoiding working on another ms, I decided to check my RSSes. And there you were, talking about similar struggles and feelings. You, an author whose Lucy Hatch lives in my office, right there on the shelf!

I guess this is the life I’m signing up for with every submission, eh? The disappointments seem so many, but the high points are few. But the high points are powerful. It’s no wonder why so many writers are bipolar.

Guess all we’ve got left to do is find joy in the act of creating, since everything else about the work is so unstable.

by: Kathleen Bolton

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:51:33 +0000

I’m sending good thought vibes out your way, Marsha. Yours is a potent reminder that every book is a struggle. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll find a way to struggle through yet again. Hugs.

by: Therese Walsh

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:01:12 +0000

I can empathize somewhat as someone who has had rewrite requests from editors. But that’s nonfic work–a different vein, a much more modest scope. It’s cardboard-box comfort when you’re looking for a roof, but I am certain you’ll work it out; you have great instincts about your characters and your story.

I wish for your sake this wasn’t overlapping the release of your 3rd novel, though. Hang in there!