Bad Mother
I am a terrible mother. To my novels, that is.
This HAS to happen to other novelists. You're midway through a novel when you get the most FANTASTIC idea for a new novel. It's hot. You "see" it. You're passionate about the characters. And then suddenly what you're writing you feel . . . "eh" about.
That would be like a mother having one baby. And when the second and third (and in my case, fourth) came along, thinking, "This new one is MUCH better than the old ones. I can't believe I am even still SADDLED with those brats." :-)
Luckily, I know this about myself. I know this happens. I got a new book deal this week, and I am just so excited to start. But I do need to exercise a little discipline and work on a couple of projects I already have going, get them to a comfortable spot or finished, and then roll up my sleeves and dive in (which I can't wait to do).
Yup, it's like giving birth all over again. My novels. My babies.
This HAS to happen to other novelists. You're midway through a novel when you get the most FANTASTIC idea for a new novel. It's hot. You "see" it. You're passionate about the characters. And then suddenly what you're writing you feel . . . "eh" about.
That would be like a mother having one baby. And when the second and third (and in my case, fourth) came along, thinking, "This new one is MUCH better than the old ones. I can't believe I am even still SADDLED with those brats." :-)
Luckily, I know this about myself. I know this happens. I got a new book deal this week, and I am just so excited to start. But I do need to exercise a little discipline and work on a couple of projects I already have going, get them to a comfortable spot or finished, and then roll up my sleeves and dive in (which I can't wait to do).
Yup, it's like giving birth all over again. My novels. My babies.
posted by Erica Orloff at 7:09 PM
8 Comments:
Your ability to multitask (or multiwrite) is to me the most amazing thing! I can't do it -- yet. Hopefully, one of these days, I'll be able to develop this talent, but not yet. Are you talking about your Nocturne book?
Hi Karm:
I posted a little bit over on our Bombshell thread. It's about a dhampir in Prague and a woman searching for her brother--gone missing in Prague while backpacking through Europe. It's very dark, high stakes, and a think of it as a bit erotic. A very strong heroine--and a very strong male lead. He's really dark, moody. Think Ralph Fiennes in that Anthony Minghella film.
First, congratulations on the new book deal!
And second, I agree completely with Karmela--your ability to multitask is amazing. I've had the pleasure of reading your blog, as well as your thoughtful comments on my friends' blogs, and I'm truly astounded by how much you accomplish each day. I hope to get to that point one day, too. :-)
From your post (and from the amount of books you've had published!), you obviously have the discipline and focus necessary to finish those other projects, but as you complete them, do you do any work (research, notes, ect.) on the new one? Or do you set it aside and try not to think about it until you're ready to tackle it?
Love reading your entries!
Michele
Michele:
Thank you . . . that's so gracious of you to say.
You know, I think (and I read Louise's blog, so I'm very pro-"female power") that women are great multi-taskers. From the minute an infant enters your life (and I've had four enter mine), you have to figure out how to talk on the phone, fold socks, deal with the checking account, write your book, nurse the baby, supervise homework, whatever, all with this little creature attached to you like a joey in a kangaroo's pouch. Mothers can rarely just do "one thing." I can't even PEE without someone knocking on the door to ask me a question. I think once you sort of let go of that sense of unfractured time, release the residual resentment maybe that you no longer get that total "me" time, the myth of somehow having hours stretched out with nothing to fill them, and work with intensity in the spurts of quiet or relative quiet that you DO get, you learn to make the most of each minute you get to write. Plus I drink a lot of coffee. (Right, Karm?!)
As for the books--I usually have a minimum of three I am working on at once, so I do take notes and do planning and so on, and even write a chapter here or there on something new. The way it works for me is I want to write when I am "in that space" for x or y book. That way it feels like I have enthusiasm and passion for it. By getting to choose what I work on each day, I somehow, I hope, bring a real zeal to each one (with the exception of those few days here or there when I SO want to work on something new that is beckoning to me . . . in which case the fact that I have CASHED my advance check keeps me from abandoning the older book.) :-)
E
I'm happy to think of Ralph Fiennes in any film..... =)
And don't even get me started on the "new book smell" syndrome. "Ooooooh, shiny new plot? I want! I want!" My attention span is about that of a two-year-old's... if that. Good thing I'm also a bit OCD or I'd never get anything done.
Anyways, Erica, the Prague story sounds delicious!!!! Moody, dark, erotic... Can't wait!
xoxo
Hey Lori . . .
Thanks for droppin' by and enjoying some of my "new book smell" (love that, btw).
You know, I've never delved into the erotic much. Most of my books have had sexual encounters that have been pretty intense/instant attraction, and usually my books have condensed time frames and a lot going on, so there isn't a heckuva lot of time for sex. But I must admit, I am kind of looking forward to exploring a sort of darker sexuality with these two characters. Who knows? Maybe by the time I'm through, there'll be baby #5. ;-)
E
To Erica's blog readers and fans: have y'all seen her desk in Michele Hauf's blog? Love the Buddha!
Thanks, Karm:
Actually, though you can't see all of them in detail, I have 11 Buddhas up there (some are small over by the Quan Yin). The white one is new though, and he really stands out. :-)
Have a peaceful day!
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