So what am I insecure about this month? That's easy. I just finished Camp NaNoWriMo and my 50k words in a month. My novel isn't done, maybe another 10-15k words to go. When I started on August first, I had a twenty-year old dead body, a location setting and a couple of roughed out characters. I've always been a detailed planner but I pantsed it 99% on this one.....and had a blast!
My insecurity comes in with what comes next. The edit. All I've published prior to this have been flash fiction and short stories. Easy to edit and proof-read. I'll have about 40 chapters and 60-65k words to plow through this time. I wish I had the money for a professional editor but going to have to rely on friends for this first book.
My other fear is whether anyone will enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm not a complex writer. I don't write "literature". I read for escapism and I write for the same. You won't have to hunt for hidden meanings in my words, just the right suspect (at least in this mystery).
Oh well, time will tell....I'll just keep on writing, because I HAVE to!
Congrats on completing Camp NaNoWriMo and your 50K month. That is a wonderful accomplishment and notch on your keyboard. I just recently discovered Margie Lawson's Deep Edit: EDIT System. Check it out - you may come to love the edit process too.
ReplyDeleteSince I already know it will be good, I have this on my list of future reads even though you haven't finished writing it yet.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely going to check that out. I just ran my current work through the free program SmartEdit which really streamlines finding some of the common misuses of works, overused cliches and overused words. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, thank you, Linda!!
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you. I am certainly not writing the next Austen classic. My work is far from deep, but I enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, have about 10,000 more words on my Camp WiP and also editing my June project right now. I am going to get it as clean as I can and still employ a professional editor. It's an investment, but one I want to give this story. Because I love it.
I am a planner and approached editing the same way. Careful checklist.
First I didn't succeed in camp :-( My dad was in the hospital. He's out now and doing well. But congrats to you! I did NaNoWriMo last November had a blast and finally published the ebook on July 20th, 2012. Not to scare you, but the edits just about drove me crazy! And I couldn't afford the professional editor either, but was happy with the story. I still haven't put out the paperback and am thinking I might have an editor read through it before I hit that part of the publish button.
ReplyDeleteCongrats once again and enjoy the RV rally! One day I might get around to one!
Well done on completing CampNaNo, Donna, that's impressive! :) I feel your pain, I am hitting the wall with my editing too. Don't worry about whether people will like it or not, just write it for yourself. If it becomes something you'd like to read, it will surely be the same for others :)
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