It’s Friday: More Revision Progess
It’s Friday and what a week it’s been!Β I hate the thought that there may be more earthquake drama to come, but since I have absolutely no control over the earth moving at all, let alone the way in which it moves, I have decided to focus on things over which I have more influence.
Like writing my books, for example.
In fact I’m thinking I’ll give you update reports as I strive to stave off aftershocks and liquefaction, power cuts and the need to either boil or add bleach to everything (ie a teaspoon or two of household bleach makes the laundry ‘go down’ a whole lot better—well, more hygienically, at any rate) to make that 1 July deadline.
So why does 1 July matter so much? Well, it will make my publishers happy and that makes me reasonably happy, too.:) Mostly though, it means I will get the next book to you in March next year—and it does really matter to me to get the books to you as soon as I humanly can, given The Wall of Night series is an ongoing story. To me that’s a kind of unwritten contract between writer and reader, a sort of noblesse oblige I guess: you’ve invested time and energy in reading me and I want to honour that commitment and deliver on the story.
I also very much care that the story you get should be ‘right’: ie if you’re going to invest time and energy again, then I want to do my level best to ensure that the story is as good if not better than the preceding book.
And I want to honour the story as well, by not stinting on the quality of the telling.
So somewhere in all that, I walk the authorial tightrope, because if you bend too far one way or t’other you will surely fall …
And if I do make 1 July maybe we’ll have another blog party, to coincide with the Grand Giveaway (details here.) π
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Anyway, here it is, Completed Today—the first of the Great Revision Updates:
- 6 previously rewritten pages reviewed and revised;
- 4 pages of new material inserted;
- 15 further pages of manuscript rewritten;
- Total Pages Until Completion: 129 plus Glossary.
Helen, you are awesome! I don’t know how you do it, but you are so strong!
Giada–thank you, but mostly I just feel like an ‘ordinary gal’ trying to take each day as it comes and get by. And when you commit to a series then I really do think you have to commit to getting it done in a timely fashion—or as timely as possible even when real life happens along the way.
I do want to read the book but I want it to be the best story you can tell.
So don’t stress if things get pushed back again.
Your fans will wait.
Thank you, Jan—I really want it to be that story, too, an dby 1 July, so keep your fingers crossed for me on both the writing and earthquake fronts.
I agree with Giada. You’re doing amazing to keep going and demanding quality of yourself under these conditions!
Wen, as no one knows better than you and your family, sometimes keeping going is all you can do …:)
There is nothing like a deadline – real or self imposed to sharpen the concentration π Seriously though, I think it is amazing you can keep on going with all that is happening at the moment. If you need to get away, I have a spare room that doesn’t shake and two small dogs to keep you company
Well, this one is pretty real at present–I think if it was only me involved on the deadline side I would be out digging mud and trying to scrape a few non-slippery routes to front and back doors and other key spots around the section. And thank you for the offer of the respite room — I was definitely planning on a holiday when the book is done but the trouble with respite time out is that you then have to go back to a situation that is unchanged and that is actually harder after you had the opportunity to re-experience what ‘real’ life can be. I do very much appreciate the offer though.
If it takes a little longer, it takes a little longer. Us readers just want what you feel is the best story you could put out at that time. Although we also really appreciate you trying to keep the deadline so there is not such a long wait between books.
Thank you so much, Donna!
Helen
You are inspiring me. I received the electronic files for the next text book rewrite back from the publishers two weeks ago. I’ve not been able to bring myself to look at these, despite the publisher’s request that I complete these revisions by the end of June.. sigh!! (I have to say there was whjat felt like a small degree of bullying involved from the publishers in getting me to undertake this 3rd Edition of my textbook, it has been a good seller). I can easily blame the EQ, and also.. psychologically, my mind feels that, with two previous editions under my belt, I’ve done this.. and want to move on.
But ..
You JUST have to START!!! And your comments might just prompt me to start this weekend.
Thanks
Robin
Well, a good seller can be good to keep going although I would hope that the edit timeframe takes some cognizance of what earthquake actually means right now, especially on the ‘east side.’ But yes, making oneself start and doing that all over again each day is what gets the job done. This is what I got in my latest fortune cookie and it felt very apt:
“Confucius say: It does no matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” So there you are: it’s official! π
March? Okay, I’m gonna mark that on my calender .
In shiny red letters, with gingerbread edging and sparklers! π
Musta missed this yesterday! Anyway, I’m sending good writing vibes your way ><
Those were the good writing vibes. Did they get to you? π
They sure did–and thank you: I don’t think any author can ever have too many good writing vibes coming their way! π