Lauren Myracle, best-selling author of the Internet Girls series (ttyl, ttfn, etc.) says this about her incredible first novel Kissing Kate (recently re-issued):
“It came neither quickly nor easily. When I pick up books at the bookstore, they always seem so glossy and enticing, so polished, and sometimes, I have the despairing thought that words leapt cleanly from the author’s mind to the page—snap, just like that. This was certainly not the case for me. I mention this because some of you are writers, too. Keep plugging away, and keep the faith!”
Did she not read my mind or what? I mean, those are my exact thoughts. I expect my first drafts to come out perfect, ready to sell, already saleable and marketable. I put all kinds of pressure on myself when I write stuff I KNOW is crap, but needs to get out anyway.
When I hear of a best-selling author’s struggles, I feel so much more faith that I’m not so much different than she or he is. So I have to try to forget about their degrees from Columbia and NYU and their MFAs and concentrate on writing well. Write well. Famous words from the newly retired Miss Snark.
I can do this. I WILL do this. 🙂
As James Thurber said: Don’t get it right, get it written. Time for me to stop obsessing over perfection and sales, and time to focus on telling an amazing, captivating story.
Can we drown ourselves in margarita’s and chocolate cake when one of us does get The Call?
I am right with ya, girlfriend!
Struggling to finish a whole new draft, rushing the ending so that I can ‘catch’ a wave with some publicity groups looming in my future (2k8 and a possible speaking engagement at a megaconference next spring), I’ve just recently realized I’m putting the cart before the horse. If I write it fast instead of well, all I’ll end up with is a bad book, sooner.
How dumb is that?
Yes, write well.
Write well:)
Thanks for that.
i fairly recently (within past few months) read Kissing Kate because it touches upon the theme for my WIP, and I remember being so inspired by that blurb by Lauren Myracle as well. It’s so easy to get blocked by attempts to make things perfect instead of just letting the words flow first, isn’t it? You can do it!! 🙂
Great stuff, Ronni. I’m glad you posted this inspirational post, ’cause it really speaks to me, too. Do you have a link for Lauren Myracle’s interview/article? I’d love to read the whole thing.
It’s on the back cover of her book “Kissing Kate.” 🙂
Timely comments for me. Thank you. 🙂
I just finished Kissing Kate and I thought how great it was that she made her bio into a place to give other writers a boost!
This is exactly what I needed to read right now. Thanks! I need to change my focus, too. 🙂