Comments on: 9 Strategies for Surviving the Second Book

By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:06:39 +0000

I’m glad this post resonated with some of you, and thanks for the great comments.

Hope101 — how do I love the TED Elizabeth Gilbert video? Let me count the ways. One of my favorite pick-me-ups.

Marybeth, yes that is a wonderful setup. Best of luck with your debut!

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By: jame

jame — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:32:23 +0000

LOVED #5!

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By: SM Blooding

SM Blooding — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:15:59 +0000

I had an easy time with my second books. It really helped that everything was already set up. I didn’t have to reinvent the characters, didn’t need to define their Voice, or get to know them. I didn’t have introduce the major multi-book plot line. I had all that, so I just picked it up and ran, this time concentrating more on having a ball.

However, I’m not published yet. Yes, I have a platform and yes I spend time growing it, but for the most part, I don’t have to spend a lot of time on that.

I am of the firm belief that things are only as hard as you make them. If you go into thinking it’ll be easy, it will be. Most times, the hardest part of anything is conquering yourself.

Frankie

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By: colin t nelson

colin t nelson — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:45:51 +0000

Therese: thanks for the words of encouragement! I’m starting…starting…starting a second book. I think Stephen King’s advice is good also: just sit down and write! Your blog brightened my day and struck a chord with me. thanks, Colin

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By: Marybeth Whalen

Marybeth Whalen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:54:48 +0000

After reading this I have decided that it’s best that I am writing my second novel before my first hits the shelves. I am still too naive to know what I am up against! (My first novel comes out June 1 and my second novel is due June 1… interesting timing, I know.)

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By: Kristina Riggle

Kristina Riggle — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:23:34 +0000

And when it sucks, you can fix it. It might nearly kill you, but it won’t literally kill you. Probably.

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By: Barbara O'Neal

Barbara O'Neal — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:17:49 +0000

As I am currently up to my eyebrows in the shitty first draft of a book that will never end, I’m firmly in the draft spelled backwards is sucks stage.

The terrible truth for me is that I ruin them the minute I begin to write.

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By: Liz Allen

Liz Allen — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:06:00 +0000

I think much of this holds true for your first book as well. There are still so many of us that are a WIP.

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By: Kristan

Kristan — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:35:06 +0000

“Draft spelled backward is Sucks. I dare you to disagree with me.”

LOL.

Great pep talk, for writers on any book or draft, really.

And congrats on the “tourney nod” (that’s an official bball term, hehehe). Good luck!
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Where the “magic” happens =-.

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By: hope101

hope101 — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:39:37 +0000

These are great tips, and I hear you about the need to relearn the same things we already know to be true. Here’s a video that has helped me when the writing feels too much like slogging:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

It’s Elizabeth Gilbert talking about how she’s coping with the stress of writing book #2.

Also, #9 is very much true for me. In the midst of a 100,000-word manuscript, progress can be hard to measure. A course can give me a sense of accomplishment and momentum that carries forward into “the work.”
.-= hope101´s last blog ..Sandman Rubs Me the Wrong Way =-.

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