Writing is hard.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing it, or how much you love it. I’ve been writing in one form or another since 12, and it never gets easier.
Writing novels might be the hardest.
When I’m not chasing down stories or covering events for The Lincoln CountyNews,I’mathome, writing mystery/thrillers. I love crafting stories full of twists and turns, and yes, murder. About five or six years ago, I could sit down and pop out a full, 90,000word novel in about two to three months. Even with a full-time job, hobbies and more.
Not so much anymore.
It’s not that I’m busier, but more so because the more I learn about the craft of creative writing and editing, the more I realize how naive and messy I was (am?) as a writer. I do far more editing now, which means a lot of starting and stopping.Alot of time spent on outlines and character backgrounds before I even start writing Chapter One.
I’m releasing my third book this week on July 24. It’s my third time selfpublishing. My first Young Adult book. And there are many times over the past two years that I’ve been working on it that I nearly threw it out.
I initially wrote the book over the span of a fewmonths, but nothing felt right. There was too much exposition. Some of the characters weren’t fleshed out the way I wanted or felt flat. The stakes for other characters didn’t seem to fit. I’ve re-written it at least three different times, changing the point of view from third to first. The first chapter alone went through several versions before I got to something I’m happy with.
I wanted it to be my first traditionally published book. YA is a difficult demographic to self-publish and self-market. But after trying the querying route, I realized that this wasn’t going to be that book. I had two options -- I could let it go (for now) and focus on another book that might be better suited for agents and publishers. Or I could self-publish.
I was going to put it aside, but then my best friend wouldn’t let me.
She’s been with me the whole way, from the moment I came up with the idea, until now, helping me to brainstorm and edit. Listening to me as I tried to pinpoint what was wrong and how to fix it. Giving advice on characters and motivations. Even going through and doing line editing.
She told me “Everyone Talks” deserves to get out there. It deserves to be on bookshelves and available for teen girls to read, encouraging me to selfpublish (at the very least) one more time.
I’m also a very, “Let’s try it and see how it goes,” kind of person. Worst case, it does about as well as my other two books -- namely, not that well at all. I learn from it and do better on the next one. Or maybe it does well, in which case, I can still learn from it and do better with the next one.
Whatever happens, I feel like it’s worth it. It’s one step closer to my dream of someday being a fulltime novelist. It’s another chance to learn. It’s another way to get my writing out there. To share my passion with others.
Writing is never easy, even when it seems like it is. But wow, is it still worth every rewrite, every edit, every tear and self-doubt, to hold that first printed copy in your hand. To see it, smell it, flip through it and think, “I did this.”
I hope readers enjoy it. I hope they find something in “Everyone Talks” to relate to. At the very least, I hope they find solving a crime with my main character, Nellie Castle, a wild ride.
Writing this book was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve done recently, but that will never stop me from writing.