It
started me thinking about our writing. Is the same excitement still in our
stories after a few years? Are we still laughing, dancing, and getting to know
our characters well as we write?
One of
my fave authors for decades is still writing, but I’ve noticed I can figure out
whodunit by page ten or twenty at the most. After spending fifteen or so
dollars for her new book only to know by page ten who the culprit is, I have to
wonder if she’s just lost her excitement. Yes, a twelve million dollar contract
would rev me up, all right, but for how long? Does complacency set in for
everyone no matter the money, no matter the thousands and millions of readers
who just wait for your next book to release?
Don’t
let your stories down, don’t let yourself down, but more importantly, don’t let
your readers down when you write a new story.
Picture
yourself as a first-time college student, dancing with your hands in the air,
laughing, smiling, getting to know your new friends, your new characters.
Telling their new story.
Then dance like no one is watching and let the
excitement flow!
8 comments:
I think this is a great reminder for unpublished writers also. At some point we must move on to the next story, and we should be excited.
Thanks for the reminder!
Jackie, you are so right and wise. It doesn't pay to sit on one story and wait, but to get on with it and keep writing. Very good advice!
That excitement is so important! And it's infectious too. =]
Amen, Patty! You can feel it when your crit partners write back, or...it's just not there. And that alone is a good gauge of whether or not there's enough of a thrill in the novel!
I agree, writers need to fulfill their promise to their readers. Linda, I've been disappointed as well by a favorite author. And I can't say how many times I have heard about and experienced a client of mine laying aside that unsold manuscript only to sell first the second or sometimes even the third one they have written. Writers write.
Amen, Diana. You can't sell what you don't have!
I think you hit the nail on the head about going back to your exciting, wide eyed, days of the beginning. Great reminder to us all.
I hear ya, Raquel, it's so easy to get complacent!
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