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It's been a crazy couple of months. Deaths in the family, some life changes, writing career choices... being a grown-up is exhausting. Where to begin?
Let's start with some awesome news. I was asked to join the board of directors for the Capital City Writers Association! Squee! I feel honored and all that. Mostly I feel completely unprepared, overwhelmed and worried that I'm gonna screw up. That usually means I'm doing the right thing.
Beyond that, I'm in a full re-write and it's crazy. I'm struggling a bit with it because I feel like I'm carving the funny out of my novel. I'm replacing it with depth but I miss the funny and I'm worried that I'm writing something more dour than I wanted. We'll see.
Speaking of this damnable book, I made a dumb decision.My heroine is a rock singer/song writer and there is a bug-fuck crazy part of me that decided I need to have a line or two from each of her songs at the beginning of each chapter. A great idea, if I were in any way talented at poetry or song-writing. But alas, I'm too long-winded and literal. But what is life without completely stressful and unnecessary challenges? So I've been writing song lyrics and I can confidently call them, "Not completely awful." So yay?
Also I found out that someone I really respect as a writer (and general smart person) has decided to self-publish. This paused me for a bit. I have no problem with self-pubbing and it was always in the back of my mind as a possibility but now I'm seriously considering it.
I absolutely believe I can get an agent and get my books published traditionally, but do I want to do that? I feel like my options are the prestige of being "chosen" or the checking account of someone actually selling books. If you have a solid business plan and do it right, you can make a living for yourself with self-publishing. Everything I've been reading and researching tells me that if you choose traditional, you'll be eatin' crackers, waiting years to see your book in print, still doing all the legwork of pimping your work and you'd be making next to nothing. But boy would people respect you more. Sadly, I cannot buy a house with the respect of my peers. I am an artist but I'm a practical one. Anyhow there's more but this is long and rambling enough. Oh yeah, check out my pretty new blog logo and template design. I did everything, including all the coding myself. Take that web designer-who-must-not-be-named. It looks a million times better. I'm so happy with it. I still have some jiggering to do, especially with my footers and my sidebar but I'll get there. Now that I don't hate looking at it, I can take some time to do it right.
How YOU doin'?
This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop. We are here, we are insecure, we are legion. Go check out some other blogs on the sign-up list and give a neurotic writers some love and support.
I love it how the authors are complaining about re-writing, correcting, troubles with characters, etc. :) Nope I do not enjoy other people suffering, I simply am thinking: wow. They have something to re-write, correct, plan the characters for. They are THERE ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of having lines from the character's songs at the beginning of every chapter, but I can see how it would be a challenge. Maybe come back and tackle that when the rest of the book is done? Or get a talented songwriter to work with you for a credit?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the book!
Sorry to hear about your losses. Being a grown-up IS exhausting. We have to make smart decisions. Yuck. Nice job on your blog design.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Diane, a fellow Michigander & IWSG #108
I love the lyric idea what a challenge.
ReplyDeleteI believe every writer longs to be traditionally published. Of course you should try. I went the boutique publisher route. I couldn't make up my mind so I chose the middle and have been extremely happy with my choice. Good Luck!
Most lyrics make little sense anyway. (Trust me, I'm a musician.)
ReplyDeleteEither path works. Depends on your reasons for taking it and personal resources. I know several very successful authors who have self-published And I know successful ones who've gone the traditional route. I don't make a living with a small press (not my goal anyway) but I know I really wouldn't have made a living self-publishing as I don't have the connections my publisher has for reviews or the money to produce promotional materials.