So, a couple of days ago, I went back to the beginning of my manuscript and started to read it again. I got a few chapters in and totally freaked out. I mean, I went into a state of paler-than-white panic and screamed inside myself, “MY WRITING IS CRAP! MY BOOK IS CRAP! I’M A TERRIBLE WRITER!”
Yeah, so I went there. In a Ferrari, with both feet on the gas pedal.
Then yesterday, I returned to the offending chapter, and realized all I had to do was fill out my paragraphs so my style of narrative was consistent. It really wasn’t a big deal at all. Now, I am motivated to continue the story.
But why did I flip my wig?
Apparently, this is a common condition for authors, and even almost-authors like myself. Just growing pains that one goes through when putting a story together. So far, I had been immersed in happy-wordsmith-wonderland and did not experience the lows of writing. After speaking with another author yesterday, it seems I’m a perfectly normal abnormal writer. I breathed a sigh of relief.
And now I have to press on with my mantra:
- Write to please myself.
- Have fun.
- Have fun.
- Have fun.
It seems to me that writing a book is like entering a new relationship. There’s the honeymoon phase, the doubting phase, the make-up sex phase, and the comfortable sigh of relief phase, knowing you’re a part of each other.
Now excuse me while I have make-up sex with my book.
What? It’s a metaphor. Sheesh, you people.
/cg
Cait Gordon has been a senior technical writer in high tech and government organizations. She is currently a Web Developer consultant for Dynamic Canvas Inc., and assistant to the Executive Director at H’Art of Ottawa. She also enjoys her crafting business, Cait Cards.
Cait Gordon—author and editor 