Fear, doubt, anxiety, and other by-products of success

I haven’t blogged about it in a while, but I’m still tweaking the new book. It’s not that the rewriting is epic in nature, it isn’t. And it’s not that I’m insanely busy with book travel at the moment, I’m not. It’s the fear of finishing.

If you ever hear of an author talking about how it took him (or her) ten years to write a book, you can rest assured that they wrote 90% of it in a year or two, and spent the rest of that time dealing with separation anxiety. It’s true. Writers have a fear of crossing the finish line—of setting everything in stone, so to speak. Some rewrite and rewrite until said book scarcely resembles what they started with. Others just keep writing as if they’ve missed their exit and are now content to drive around the world until they reach it again. While just as many slooooow the process down—like traveling near the speed of light, time is normal for the writer, but everyone around them ages considerably.

I haven’t seen or read it (it’ll be my cathartic reward for turning in the latest version of WHISPERS next week), but I hear that Michael Chabon’s, Wonder Boys, nails this phenomenon in agonizing detail.

In my case, I think I just needed a break—for clarity. It never fails. What I thought was a ginormous vortex of suck, is suddenly worth reading a few weeks later. (That trip to Hawaii didn't hurt, either).

I’m close. Now all I have to do is stop blogging and get back to writing…

Comments

[Kristan]

"It never fails. What I thought was a ginormous vortex of suck, is suddenly worth reading a few weeks later."

Thank goodness, right? I've had that realization a few times, and it's so reassuring.

"Now all I have to do is stop blogging and get back to writing…"

Lol yeah, I've had that realization too.

Also, I recall Wonder Boys being a pretty decent movie. Haven't read the book, though. But I went to school in Pittsburgh (and at Carnegie Mellon, where some of WB is filmed) so I'm slightly biased...

[Sara H.]

Wonder Boys is an excellent book, but then, Michael Chabon is one of my favorites.

And I hear you on the seperation anxiety. What I have as a finished novel has been bouncing around in various stages of infancy since 1996, but was more seriously worked on from 2006 up until not too long ago. (Now, it's just the 'getting it out into the world' problem...) But it's done, and I'm getting much better at not being afraid I'll never have decent idea again.

(Most of the time.)

[Eric Stallsworth]

Wait a minute. You're not supposed to have difficulty. You're supposed to be the awesome writer who just cranks them out and makes the rest of us look pitiful by contrast. You mean you get stuck too?

Heh heh, sarcasm aside, I'm feeling this same thing right now and you're right. We just have to get back to writing. Oh, and I actually liked the movie alot but unfortunately I had no idea it was based on a book. Since it's been forever since I watched it, maybe I should pick up the book anyway.

[Heather Moore]

So writing is really work??? LOL.

During my last WIP, I stopped about 3/4 the way through and thought, "I'm writing a tragedy. Why would anyone want to do that?" I did finish, but it was interesting to write a protagonist who was also the antagonist.

[Linda]

Your fans are anxiously awaiting. I'm one of them. Please finish soon! Besides, there's the thrill of seeing your baby in the store windows.

[Jaclyn]

As scary as it is, I love feeling so invested in my work. Good luck finishing. Can't wait to read it--