It's been over a month since I've written anything. It is driving me crazy that I've taken such a long break from writing. I didn't set out to take a break, it just sort of happened. I was busy with my latest book, and felt like things were moving along, but then I hit a bump. Something about what I was writing just didn't feel right, so I stopped. I had hoped that it would only be a break for a day or two then everything would work itself out.
It didn't.
Here it is, a month later, and I'm still not writing. Since I started writing a few years ago, I've never had such a long dry spell. I don't know what to do with myself. All of a sudden, I have a lot more free time. Unfortunately, I don't have anything to fill that time with. I'm bored and boredom does not breed creativity!
The strange thing about this dry spell, is that my mind is absolutely full of characters, dialogue, and scenes! I can't stop thinking about the characters of the current book and of future books! I've planned out whole chapters and conversations, yet I can't seem to get my fingers to type any of it. Seriously, what is wrong with me! I tried going back and reading some of my already published work, but even that hasn't helped. My next step is to try gaining inspiration from some great books written by others. Is there a new Jill Mansell book out?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Abandoning a project
*Sigh*
It pains me to admit this, but I am abandoning one of my books. I have it all planned out in my head, but I just can't seem to get it out! I've written about this particular book before, and I haven't really made any progress since then. I'd say the book is about 3/4 of the way done, but I'm just not feeling it. I want to finish it, and think that I will some day, but it's just not happening right now. Instead of forcing it and ending up with a final product that I don't like, I've decided to let it sit. I'm moving on.
Now, these new characters are having a field day with my brain right now. I'm excited about writing a female character who is nothing like any of the other leads I've written. I'm still working out all the details, but I think this one is going to be fun! I can't wait to really get into it and have some fun with the characters.
On another note, I've really been missing some of my old characters. I've been thinking about them lately. I guess I need to download the books and read them for myself!
It pains me to admit this, but I am abandoning one of my books. I have it all planned out in my head, but I just can't seem to get it out! I've written about this particular book before, and I haven't really made any progress since then. I'd say the book is about 3/4 of the way done, but I'm just not feeling it. I want to finish it, and think that I will some day, but it's just not happening right now. Instead of forcing it and ending up with a final product that I don't like, I've decided to let it sit. I'm moving on.
Now, these new characters are having a field day with my brain right now. I'm excited about writing a female character who is nothing like any of the other leads I've written. I'm still working out all the details, but I think this one is going to be fun! I can't wait to really get into it and have some fun with the characters.
On another note, I've really been missing some of my old characters. I've been thinking about them lately. I guess I need to download the books and read them for myself!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
A punch in the gut
So, this happened recently...
"Im never really prone to writing reveiws but this was my second book on my new kindle. Lacked any imagination at all and was about one rich girl in the US and one poorer one. you could see the plot a mile off. Turn up to lovely house provided by stepfather... then find two young men there.. and yes, in their 20s tops off - all decide to stay there... i ended up just flicking page after page to see if the pair that they put together actually get there. So turned off the kindle and deleted it. Had no storyline at all. Really for airhead types. Had promise though, but after about one chapter i realised it wasnt going to be that interesting. I couldnt even read it on a beach it was that bad."
http://amzn.to/zjHx3L
Ouch!
Any artist can tell you that you can't please everyone, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt when something like the above happens. I felt horrible about it for a full ten minutes, and then I decided to move on and focus on the other positive reviews.
And then I felt bad about it again.
Why is it so hard to get over criticism? I know that not everyone is going to like my books, and I'm okay with that. However, it's different when someone dislikes your work SO much that they feel compelled to write a nasty review (and even say that they don't normally write reviews)!
One reason why this stings me so much is because I try hard to take what my "fans" have said and apply it to my future work. A few people have left comments on my blog, or tweeted me, with some constructive criticism. I also read the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and use the comments to help make my work better. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to take from the review above.
Honestly, I feel better now that I've talked to you about it. I am resolved to move past this. I will not dwell on it. I will not dwell on it. I will not dwell on it.
Maybe if I keep repeating it to myself, I'll actually start living it.
"Im never really prone to writing reveiws but this was my second book on my new kindle. Lacked any imagination at all and was about one rich girl in the US and one poorer one. you could see the plot a mile off. Turn up to lovely house provided by stepfather... then find two young men there.. and yes, in their 20s tops off - all decide to stay there... i ended up just flicking page after page to see if the pair that they put together actually get there. So turned off the kindle and deleted it. Had no storyline at all. Really for airhead types. Had promise though, but after about one chapter i realised it wasnt going to be that interesting. I couldnt even read it on a beach it was that bad."
http://amzn.to/zjHx3L
Ouch!
Any artist can tell you that you can't please everyone, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt when something like the above happens. I felt horrible about it for a full ten minutes, and then I decided to move on and focus on the other positive reviews.
And then I felt bad about it again.
Why is it so hard to get over criticism? I know that not everyone is going to like my books, and I'm okay with that. However, it's different when someone dislikes your work SO much that they feel compelled to write a nasty review (and even say that they don't normally write reviews)!
One reason why this stings me so much is because I try hard to take what my "fans" have said and apply it to my future work. A few people have left comments on my blog, or tweeted me, with some constructive criticism. I also read the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and use the comments to help make my work better. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to take from the review above.
Honestly, I feel better now that I've talked to you about it. I am resolved to move past this. I will not dwell on it. I will not dwell on it. I will not dwell on it.
Maybe if I keep repeating it to myself, I'll actually start living it.
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