First thing, I’ve discovered that the last thing you want to think when you wake up is, “The bed must have a slow leak.” Not something I want to deal with tonight, but probably will. More likely it’ll be something I have to do this weekend.
Not a lot of fun, let me tell you.
So many thing to keep me busy last night, not the least of which is getting back into an edit. Her Demonic Majesty has been due for a finishing for some time, and this is that time. The first two chapters are out of the way, and I’m thinking–yeah, I can how I wrote it pretty fast, and at least these first couple of chapters had some really doggy things going on in them. I’ve straightened them out, but what’s next? Doesn’t matter. I’ll get them fixed.
I was given some very good advice last night from The Muse. I mean, that’s what she does, doesn’t she? I confused her, first of all, by calling my most current published work, “My new book,” and she’s all like, “What new book? What are you working on?” As she told me, calling something she’s known about for a long time as “new” was pretty much spinning her head about. Can’t say I blame her. After all, when we speak about these things, it’s going to be worse than a get together of the local TARDIS Club. ”So where were you last night, Smith?” ”I popped up the line to the 38th Century. There was a hell of a cook-out–but that’s not last week, I’m doing it next–” ”You haven’t left yet?” ”No, doing that next week–” ”So you’re here now, right?” ”No, for this I’m popping up from six weeks ago–”
Yeah, madness.
But her advice was simple: I have things to work on now. I have promotions to consider, interviews to do, books to give away. Don’t get bogged down in a lot of other crazy shit. Concentrate on the now. And work on getting your butt out there for people to see.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was concerned for me.
I have, of late, seen a few people commiserate about their lot in the writing life. I know what that’s like, because I do it myself. Every so often I’ll see, “Do you feel like you’re getting in over your head?’ or, “Do you ever feel like it’s getting tot be too much?”
Yes, I have been there. Sometimes when I sit and think about what I’ve to do, it does drive me a little crazy. I have a number of stories running about in my head, and I need to make certain I get them written down before I loose those memories. I have so much to do with editing, and with finding a publisher, and . . .
Time to stop bitching about it. This is the business we decided we wanted to get into, and it’s a lot of work, like it or not. Writing, editing, marketing, sell–it’s all crazy, and it should keep us busy. It’s easy to get lost and feel like it’s all too much.
Until you sell a book. Then there is no torment.
At least, until it comes time to work on your next story . . .
