I've been working on one particular novel off and on for about four and a half years. It's given me more fits than any one novel should be allowed, but I'm delighted to say that I finished it last night. It's been e-mailed off to my second round readers, and once I get their feedback, I'll make the changes it needs before it's submitted.
I've been trying to analyze why this book was so hard to write. It did require a lot of research. It's also the longest book I've written so far, coming in at 89,044 words. I did cover some extremely difficult aspects of history. But I've researched and written difficult things before -- why was this one so hard?
Could it be that I've got another child that I didn't have while Nothing to Regret and Strength to Endure were being written? Very possible. It could also be that my children are working on harder subjects in our homeschool, and that I've started my own business in the meantime. But what I'm beginning to fear is that I'm burned out on research and need to take a break from it for a while.
And I think I can do that and remain productive. I've got two novels finished that I'd like to polish up a bit and get ready to submit. One is a contemporary romance/suspense/mystery called Faith Beyond Fear, and it will only take me about a month to get it where I want it. The other is a historical, based on the love letters my grandparents exchanged while they were courting, and is called Test of Time. I imagine I could have both of those ready to submit by Thanksgiving. I also have an idea for another contemporary novel and I've outlined it already, so I could be working on that.
But historical fiction will always be my first love. I feel most in my element when I'm writing it. Maybe by the end of this year, I'll be ready to dive back in. I just wish I didn't feel like so much of a failure when I contemplate taking a break. I'm just too compulsive, I think.
8 comments:
Hope you enjoyed your 'day off' on Thursday. We all need to do that for ourselves! Need to keep filling the cup.
The book about your grandparents sounds like a good one. How great that you have their letters. Not many families have that kind of legacy.
Congratulations! Four and a half years! Those are some mighty long labor pains.
I'm excited for you. So is there a let down when you finish a book, especially after four+ years? Or are you just elated? The other two you mentioned sound good as well.
Hey Karen,
I did have a good day off. It actually only worked out to four hours, but I went and got myself some new pants and then came home and scrapbooked. Shopping and scrapbooking are always really relaxing for me. And I think that book is a good one -- but I could be biased. :)
Janette,
Yes!! Very long labor pains. But I give credit to Josi for telling me that I was only having Braxton Hicks there for the first little while. :)
Framed,
I'm pretty excited for me too! It's a relief, definitely. This book is the second in a trilogy, so there's one more go-round with these characters. My second novel was a stand-alone, so there was some let-down there because I felt like I was saying goodbye.
Tristi, I am so dang proud of you! Really, it is a feat to stick to a project that is THAT in depth and to get it right. In addition to the buisness and the child, you also went through your mother's cancer, a move, started blogging for families.com and were the main, or key, person for 4 writers conference. And then there were all those tall buildings you were leaping in a single bound :-) Way to go!
Yeah, I have a tendency to forget those tall buildings in all the hustle and bustle. :)
Woo hoo! I can't wait to read it. Congrats on the perserverance. now kicj me in the behind and get me moving will you? I talked to your husband after you had your four hours off and we agreed that you need the rest.
Keith Fisher
Okay, Keith, here's a cyber kick. Kick! Kick! :)
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