What is the hardest writing-related thing you've ever done?
Coping with the daily ups and downs of writing is one thing, but sometimes there are really big things that are hard. Like having to rewrite an entire novel that you've already revised a few times. Or trying to cut out, say, 20,000 words from something that's too long.
I thnk my second hardest writing challenge was(is) struggling with the premise behind Novel #3, with 2 alternating POVs. Still not resolved, but hopefully I'll come up with a solution one day.
My first and hardest writing-related challenge? Putting my first, completed novel (The Toad's Kiss) in a drawer, after having no glimmer of interest at all to the many queries I sent out.
Riding out the surprises of publishing in this economy has been my biggest challenge so far.
ReplyDeleteLike you, one of the hardest things was putting away a book. I've been thinking of returning to it, but now I realize that book was written to teach me lessons about writing. It will probably never see the light of day again.
ReplyDeleteAnd most recently in 2009, taking a book and throwing it out and starting over again in 2010 -- but it's much stronger now so it was worth it.
Oh, I feel the pain of shelving your novel. I've had to do that too. It's hard. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's the constant rollercoastering I seem to be doing. Up one day, down the next. Sometimes it varies from hour to hour.
I remember Beverly Cleary's answer to that question: "Typing." Oh joy that we don't have to TYPE anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing seems to be getting my head into my story as continuously as I'd like to.
Oh Andrea. I know. Do I ever know. Right now the hardest thing is actually getting up early in the morning to write. I'm always so tired with this new job. Hang in there girl.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Elena - the ups and downs!
ReplyDeleteCaroline, interesting response. I'm going to have to come over to your blog more often and read about those surprises!
ReplyDeleteKaren,I can't imagine throwing out an entire novel, but I've come close. I always stick them in a drawer and come back to do extensive rewriting.
Elana and Susanna, the ups and downs get to me too, but I always know that in a couple of days I'll be on an up, so I keep at it.
It's so hard to keep a story in my head when there are many other things in my life, Marcia. I think the fact that I've dedicated at least an hour or two every morning to writing helps (because I'm able to work half-time).
Christy, I wish I didn't wake up so early! I'm now waking up at 5:00 or 5:30 every morning - that's when I do critiques. But I'd love a bit more sleep!!
It's not easy. I've done it too. Though, when I'm into another project and excited about it - it makes it a little easier. So many aspects of it are hard - rejection on fulls and not knowing why they were rejected? That's def. one. I'd say no part of the journey is easy!
ReplyDeleteI'm another person who had to put away my first novel. I slaved over that thing for years, and revised it more times than I can count. Maybe one day I'll come back to it...
ReplyDeleteAnna, all the time I spent on mine made me feel so attached to it. But then I wonder, too, if I didn't just revise all the life out of it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Laura, pretty much all of writing is hard. But then, there are the good moments, too.