I have been working diligently on the first and second drafts of my new Regency romance and I am happy to say that the third draft is now in the hands of my lovely editor. Now comes the time every author both loves and dreads: the moment of completion coupled with the long wait.
No matter how long I write, I always wonder: do I still have the touch? Can I still tell a good story that readers want to hear, and develop characters that they hopefully will love? I love my book in the third draft stage, but I always wonder if anyon else will. Neurosis will always be a part of my writerly make-up. But I accept that about myself. Self-doubt comes with the territory. I think a healthy does of self-doubt makes me more vigilant toward quality, trying always to make each book, each draft, better than the last. That’s the goal: to always tell a better story than I did before. And striving toward that goal is reward in itself.
I find it very interesting that many writers blog about self-doubt. Makes me feel less alone. 🙂
Angelina,I think we are all in the same boat, hoping it won’t capsize. 🙂 All we can do is have faith that as we work hard, we get better. And remind ourselves of the good days when the work is flowing, and of all the reasons we love it.
Hi, Christy. I am almost finished with my 3rd draft of my YA novel entitled ‘Early’. I need to find an editor. There are a couple of neighbors, one a retired librarian, the other a retired teacher. It’s getting scary thinking about someone else handling my ‘baby’.
Of course you still have “the touch,” and your touch is getting better with each manuscript, each edited proof returned, each finished product.
As an editor (hello, Gary Upton!!), I keep wishing I could change my own published books with new-found research, or a tweak of a phrase here and there.
The answer is to leave them and move on to a new microcosm of characters and plots. As you say, “tell a better story than I did before.”
Gary and Christy I am glad you could meet on my blog 🙂 Gary, here’s one fabulous editor for you 🙂 Thank you both for your sweet comments. I love the work more and more with each book, so hopefully they will keep getting better. God knows, I have more and more fun each time. Practice may not lead to perfection, but it sure does lead to more joy. 🙂