I have just finished going through my American proofs.
Now it is onto the UK ones.
I dunno, reading my book over and over again, personally makes me more and more insecure about it. It's seriously tough looking at it with fresh eyes. Okay let's be honest, it's impossible. And when you know each plot development, and really each sentence off by heart, it's hard to get of sense of what the story is like as, well, a story. I know I wrote that post about perfection a few entries ago, but I can't help but wonder at moments like these, do other authors start to feel this way too? Does, for example, Guy Gavriel Kay ever think when re-reading his stuff, "Man, is this any good, I really can't tell anymore"?
How do you guys handle it?
9 comments:
By the time Ripples on the Lake was sent off to the printer I'm sure I had read it through thousands of times. And by that point it read like total garbage to me!
Try not to stress on it, Adrienne. It is simply impossible for that fresh exciting prose to remain like that for you - but it will be for others.
Writing is a religious experience. You just gotta have faith.
I think you should complain less about your massive success. Plenty of others love to be plagued by our problems.
Like Tevya begging God to blight him with just such a curse...
Dawn - I know, I know, deep down. My dad is so sweet, he and my mom are going through the proofs as well (Team Kress) and he stopped by this afternoon and told me that because of the different typeface and layout he really felt like he was reading the book fresh again and that he really enjoyed it again. It made me feel much better. By the way, I love the title "Ripples on the Lake"
snarkfodder - I like that saying very much!
JMM - I don't think I have been complaining all that much, if anything I would've thought I've been bragging a little excessively. I know what you are getting at though. Every day I count my lucky stars. And to be honest I can't quite believe all of this is happening to me.
I know this isn't the worst of problems, but I think it would be disingenuous of me to only ever post the happy go lucky things that go on. Writing is a tough business, more so than many people think. It drains you emotionally, and oddly also physically (see post on having to purchase the proper chair and keyboard so as not to, you know, die). And while it is also a totally awesome business to be in, there are always bumps in the road. Nonetheless, I am so grateful for everything that has happened to me, I have no doubt this whole process has not only made me a stronger writer, but also a stronger person.
Besides, wouldn't I be just intolerable if I just sang and skipped my way through life? Well maybe only to me. I need a bit of cynicism now and then.
Writing is a tough business. You're putting yourself out there for evaluation and it feels as if one misplaced comma will confirm to the world your total ineptitude as a writer.
And you, poor darling, can't escape it in your 'other role' as an actress. Banana skins abound!
Just dropped by from AW and wanted to say that I love the cover of your book. And the description sounds hilarious. Definately something I would pick up.
blah. i´m just grumpy. unfortunately i grumped my way over someone else´s blog.
this reminds me of a very joke from ALF.
"How do you know an elephant has been in your refrigerator?
"His footprint´s in the cheesecake!"
that is quite nearly related to what´s going on.
still, the only thing worse than all the copyediting of proofs is the lack thereof.
i miss editing proofs. i want to edit more. lots more.
it´s better than all this laundry and cleaning and packing and moving and flying and etc.
Well I'm not at that point yet: I still have a few projects that I'm obsessively tweaking before I send them off (again). But I can relate because I swear if I have to read it one more time I'll barf.
I would love to know what Guy Gavriel Kay is thinking when he's proof reading...
Having just finished with my copyedits, I know precisely how you feel!
My eyes are glazed and I'd be happy to not see the book again until next January when it goes on sale here!
But I fear there's a proofreading pass or two yet ahead...
Dawn's advice sounds very good to me. :)
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