Never Again Yes Again #amwriting

Every time I finish a book, I think, “I am never gonna write a book again!” It’s so much fun to start them out, but then it gets hard. And then you finish and you have to go back and make it make sense. And then you have to make it better. And then you have to make it better.

And then you take it to your critique group and, if they’re a good critique group, you have to fix all the goof-ups you didn’t catch. And then you have to make it better. And again. And again.

Finally, you submit it for publication. Let’s say it’s accepted. Then the editor sends it back to you all marked up, and you have to fix it. Then the editor says, “That’s the easy stuff, now let’s get serious.” So you have to make it better.

When the editor is satisfied, the book gets formatted for publication. Then it comes back to you and you have to read it again, to catch formatting errors, and also punctuation and spelling errors that got through all the previous screenings.

SoMuchFunThen it goes to electronic publication, and you have to read it again, to catch formatting errors, and also punctuation and spelling errors everybody still missed.

Then it goes to audio, and you have to read the damn thing again while listening to the recording, to catch any errors made by the reader. You’ll also catch punctuation and spelling errors, but oops! too late for that. Then you send the reader your corrections, and the reader corrects the narration, and you have to read the damn thing again while listening to the recording, to make sure it’s okay.

So by now, I’m really like, “I will never ever ever ever write another book — EVARRR!”

But I will.

Because it’s so much fun to start them out. So! Much! Fun!

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Write about a character who likes to begin things.

MA

About

I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but now live in the woods in southern Indiana. Though I only write fiction, I love to read non-fiction. The more I learn about this world, the more fantastic I see it is.

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One thought on “Never Again Yes Again #amwriting

  1. Dan

    December 21, 2015 at 7:39am

    Hmmm, it remains a dream, but I’m not sure if you’re encouraging me or warning me (or both).

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  2. Jane

    December 21, 2015 at 9:45am

    Nice touchdown celebration. That’s my view, anyway.

    I see why you write so much shorter fiction. It’s easier to proofread, if not in any other aspect.

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  3. Miguel de Luis

    December 21, 2015 at 12:33pm

    I am now writing a gamebook, and I can feel the pain multiplied tenfold. It’s not only all that but also checking on dozen stories all taking place at the same time.

    Argh!

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    • Author

      Marian Allen

      December 21, 2015 at 1:14pm

      Urgh! That sounds worse than doing a series or a set of interconnected novels! I can barely keep track of my OWN life, let alone hundreds of other people’s. :/

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  4. Mitch Mitchell

    December 21, 2015 at 12:45pm

    I say that here and there but like you, just gotta keep writing! 🙂 Course, you’re doing all that other stuff while I just finish the book, create it as a pdf and move on with life. Good for you; keep going!

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  5. mary montague sikes

    December 21, 2015 at 1:10pm

    I can so relate to this. However, the very worst part is marketing. That makes me know I will never write another book!

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  6. A.C. Flory

    December 21, 2015 at 3:20pm

    DAmmit! Why’d you have to remind me? Now Christmas is ruined…boo hoo. 😀

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  7. Damyanti

    December 22, 2015 at 10:19pm

    I’m at that ‘never again’ stage right now!

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
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