Am I normal?
November 11, 2009I mean let’s be realistic, if I ask that on my FB page I’m opening myself up to a lot of sarcastic comments (I have the power of delete though). The “normal” I’m referring to is what all writers go through, I hope. So here’s a list of what I do and I need to know if you do it too?
Am I normal…
…to procrastinate finishing the last chapter of my book? I am two thousand words away and I can’t find two seconds to finish. My god man, “getter done!”
…because I’m totally freaking out/obsessing that my book is ending in the right place? I have a potential series here so where do I stop?
…if I can visualize every character, except my main man? I see every character in my book clearly, like a photograph, minus the love interest. He’s a main character for god’s sakes, I can describe every detail of his face but when he stands in front of me, it’s like his face goes all fuzzy. You know when you have a dream and you can’t quite see their facial features, that’s him. (Maybe I should look at him through my peripheral like Whitley Strieber has you do in Communion? OMG, my main man is an alien! *gasp*)
…to feel schizophrenic? One minute I think my book is a genius masterpiece and the next it’s total crap?
…to feel excited about editing, revising and rewriting my book? When I look back on the early chapters I see some really good stuff followed by a lot of immature writing. There will be a lot of work here but the potential is exciting.
…to have another book on the side that I give a little love to? Shhh, I don’t want my main book on this computer to find out that I am cheating on it.
These are just few things that drive me crazy and I need to know if you writers out there experience the same. Are you normal?
10 comments
All signs point to perfectly normal.
ReplyDeleteSounds normal to me. I'm right there with you on all counts. Number 1 is especially applicable right now. Somehow writing that last chapter is significant. You can never go back to the first draft. I have dragged my feet each time. But eventually the urge to get the manuscript all pretty and polished will push you through to the end. Then the real work begins.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I don't see anything strange here... seems like the same "crazy" every writer goes through at one point or another. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks you guys. That inner voice, let's call her Sybil, constantly tries to inflict self doubt. Glad to know we are all normally abnormal.
ReplyDeleteYup, it all sounds pretty normal to me--especially the bit about thinking it's a masterpiece one moment and crap the next. I just try to do anything that requires confidence (like querying) when it feels like a masterpiece.
ReplyDeleteGooood advice Natalie, I will totally do that next time. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm right there with ya. It took me two months to write the last chapter of my middle grade historical novel, because I didn't want to say goodbye. Talk about weird!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog - I found it through Natalie. Your profile sounds like mine. One morning I awoke with two kids, three cats, and a go-kart track in my front yard. My husband went to work and I'm like, "who am I?" This writing journey is too much fun. I look forward to reading more of your work!
Perfectly normal. So many writers go through things like this. It's fine. *g*
ReplyDeleteAmy - glad you could stop by, Natalie has good taste. It gives me warm fuzzies to know people like my blog, thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou and me, like twins. Well minus the hair color and the cats thing and well the whole go-kart in the front yard but that is just DNA and other stuff we can totally look over. We're both on the same journey so that makes us sisters. Say, seeing how we are family and all now, do you think I could send my boys over to Aunt Amy's to ride go-carts. (LOL, ok I can't keep going, I am suck a dork)
BTW...love your profile pic the whole french settee casually in a field. I love the juxtaposition of the two.
Thanks gapyeargirl, that confirms it six people say I'm normal so to heck with what those quacks say over at the asylum.
ReplyDeleteLove hearing from my friends.♥