August Rock isn't called August Rock any more...my ghost Toby isn't any more and worse of all...I'm only half way through rewriting it and I have just a month to go until deadline. I was so foolish to think I knew this book. It is changing on me daily. The problem is that I hear every criticism that was made of The Cornish House and I'm trying to make sure I don't fall into those traps again. I am cursing myself that I missed them in the first place. All of this doesn't make for a happy writer. It makes for a slow self concious one who questions everything and doubts that I'm a storyteller at all.
I know from other writer friends that this is normal for book two and beyond...
But in the meantime I've messed up my family's summer hols and made myself a wreck. I must get a grip on myself and pray that I can pull this together in time.
Please come by on Thursday and visit with Biddy...while I wallow and write in the pit of despair!
Oh, Liz, just trust your instincts and the story will be fine! As you say, you know this book best and you will feel what is right for it. Go with that and I'm sure it will be amazing! I'm doing rewrites as well at the moment and it's tough, but somehow in the end it all comes together. You can do it! <<>>
ReplyDeleteHugs lovely friend! You can do it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina...hope you're right!
ReplyDeleteThanks Biddy!
lx
You can do it, Liz. I have faith in you.
ReplyDeleteBig shakeups like this can help us become better writers. But you must do what YOU believe in and not what reviewers have been telling you to do! It's your book.
And one day you'll look back on all these doubts and see them for the crows that they are.
Liz - You did it once before, and you can do it again. We all know you can. Don't worry about whatever critisms were levelled at your first book - that's over and done with, in the past, been there blahblah, etc. - but instead concentrate on what feels right for this book.
ReplyDeleteHx
Thanks Julie!
ReplyDeleteI will try Henri!!!
lx
Just breathe, Liz. I think everyone goes through this with their second book, and for exactly the reasons you've described: we've become suddenly self-conscious, and we "freeze" in the same way we would if we entered a room and felt everyone suddenly staring.
ReplyDeleteYou HAVE to ignore them, and write the book you want to write. The only criticisms that should count, other than your own, are the ones that come from Carole and your editor, anyway, and even then you don't have to agree with them.
Just write as if no one but you will read it, and the book will turn out fine.