Okay, I’m not altogether sure that I should be saying this on the blog. Like maybe some blog-police fairy is going to show up and snap me in cuffs. But the truth of the matter is I hate every book by the time I finish it. My October release, RIPPED, is no exception. By the time I turned it in, I sincerely never wanted to see it again. It’s not that I don’t enjoy writing the scenes, that I don’t love the characters but I’m usually just tired of trying to live up to my own neurotic Virgo perfectionist tendancies. Given my choice and no deadline, I’d drive myself insane by “tweaking” a story until one of us — either me or the story — expired.
And then a couple…or several…months pass and my advance copies arrive. I’ve had some distance. I’ve started and finished yet another book. I’ve gained perspective. So, I open that shipment of advance copies and read the story that just a few short months ago I hated.
I’m pleased to say that at that juncture I can almost always say, “I like you now.” Once again, RIPPED is no exception. I can’t imagine writing Lt. Colonel Mitch Dugan or Eden Walters any differently than they show up on the page. And I know that Eden is exactly what hard-core paratrooper Mitch needs and vice versa. (Good thing, too, considering this is romance I’m writing.(H) )
So, while everyone’s busy running around on this Labor Day weekend or maybe you’re stretched out on a pool or beach or your couch at home reading, take a second to say “I like it now” about whatever your latest labor of love has been.
Have a good one and if you’re traveling, here’s hoping you travel safe.
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Yeah, I’m getting to that point right now. It’s good to know that I’ll like it again eventually. Have a happy holiday!
Bailey, I swear you will…eventually. (if this shows up twice — forgive me, the blog seems to have eaten my earlier responses).
Hey Jennifer, I like what you had to say. I am no where near that point yet, but I have had a couple of fits and starts. Have a wonderful Labour Day! I will be on the lookout for “Ripped”. It sounds like my kind of book.
Hi Bailey, long time no see.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Jennifer,
It sounds like it will be a great book. I can’t wait to read it.
I have that very problem with something I am trying to write right now. Maybe someday I will figure out how to not grow to hate my characters when I hit a mental block that I just can’t seem to go around.
-Pam
I always like your books and I can’t wait to read this one. I hope you have a great Labor Day.
I agree with you Jennifer! I have a good friend at this point and will be showing her this post.
Hope you have a great Labor Day! Can’t wait to read this one!
Bailey, I swear you will…eventually.
Paula, I’ve also been know to have “fits and starts” (hey, I like that term). Honestly, it was so traumatizing, I’ve blocked which book it was, but one book I wrote the first 100 pages 4 different times. I figured by the time I was through, I’d in actuality written a 600+ page novel if you factored in the false starts.
Pamela, it will perhaps sound as if I’m being flippant, but I’m not. When I’m at the point that I hate my characters and just want to kill them off but can’t, I just write it down. I write the most outrageous, outlandish, it’ll-never-work scene/dialogue. Just go ahead and do it. You have a delete key on your keyboard. You’ll be amazed at how empowering it is — it’ll move you beyond your block.
Thank you, Linda! Hope you’ve had a lovely day!
Misty, hope it makes her feel better — the whole misery loving company thing.
Hey Jen, I like the idea of writing the most outlandish scene/dialogue, then deleting it. You know, that dialogue could come in handy one day, so I would probably save it in a separate file wiht all the ohter outlandish moments occur when you have “fits and starts” (That does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?).
Peace and love,
Paula R.