Before I start, I just want to ask pretty pretty please that you check out this post. A lot of you have already volunteered to help me get word out about my book, but I'd love it if I had even more places to go...
Also, I'll be putting the excerpts for Realms Faire Artists' Way up on Thursday. So if you have an excerpt, please enter it in by Midnight, Tuesday. If you want to take part in the art side of the competition, please sign up as soon as you can so that I know who you are.
Okay... now that that's out the way... (No, I promise my book has no two thats in one sentence.)
Ahem. *Gathers thoughts*
As some of you might have read yesterday, I'm trying very hard to not think of my book release. It's making me nervous in more ways than one. But that, my darlings, I'll face tomorrow.
In the mean time, I'm kicking back. I'm reading. I'm stroking my kitties. (Pictures in yesterday's post.) I'm about finished with my quilt. I'm doing everything possible to distract myself from the release.
Except for writing.
The reason for this is simple: I finished the Birds vs. Bastards rewrite a few days ago, so it makes sense for me to rest up before moving on to the next project(s). After all, the last thing I want is a burn-out. Especially since it's so close to NaNo. And ESPECIALLY because I'll be NaNo'ing along with hosting a huge blogfest, along with marketing The Vanished Knight. If I'm to survive at all, I'm going to need to be nice and calm and rested.
The problem is, the whole time I'm not writing, it feels like I should be. Maybe it means that I'm actually not all that tired of writing. Or maybe it's just the fact that I keep feeling time ticking away. I keep having this sense that by next year, I won't have this sort of writing time on my hands.
I have way too much to do and not enough time in which to do it.
My dilemma is this. If it's this panicky feeling that's pushing me to write, I shouldn't or I'm going to burn out. If it's just me being creative, I should be writing. But how on earth am I supposed to know the difference?
I know exactly how you feel. I get incredibly anxious and uptight if I don't write regularly. As it is I can't afford my regular writing time, and everything has been on the backburner for the last three weeks.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything you can sacrifice just to get in a little writing time?
Yeah I have time, just not sure if I should be writing at all. :-/
DeleteIf you have the time, why not? Think of it as a reward for all your other hard work.
DeleteI'm trying to rest up and pace myself. Muse has other ideas, though.
DeleteI always feel like I should be writing! And yes, I get in a bad space when I can't.
ReplyDeleteSo do I.
DeleteI find just taking small steps--writing little things every day--sometimes helps with the anxiety. I have the same anxiety about my upcoming book release. It's exciting...but the fear is always there, no matter how much experience we get in this field. I wonder how many people take October off because they don't want to start anything new before NaNoWriMo?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. Maybe I should just do prompts for a few days and see if I feel better. :-)
DeleteI know how you feel. Whenever I'm not writing, I feel that I should. I especially feel this way when I'm in a writer's block and I attempt to force myself to write something, which doesn't work ^^;
ReplyDeleteI feel that way too! I wouldn't force myself to write if I didn't want to. But I'm sort of stuck now, wondering if I really should be wanting to and that the break is unnecessary.
Deleteabout the anxiousness: it doesn't really ever go away. Once you are in a place with expectations, there will always be that sort of guilt craze. Learn to give it the finger and go catch up on Dancing with the Stars. Sometimes we write ourselves dry and we have to wait for the rain before we can do it again. You'll know the difference because you won't be able to think about anything else, and you'll be excited to write.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, once you're under contract, there is a certain grind to writing that you'll need to work out. It's not easy, but there is balance in creativity under contract. So yes, there will be some writing because of anxious-nervous-OMG-The-Deadline, but there will also be "I cannot wait to get started today!" You know, just like every other job on the planet. This one just has prettier paint because so many people put writing on a pedestal.
So true. I don't really have writing deadlines at this stage, but I do feel a certain responsibility as a writer now, because I have to assume that my pub house will want the sequel to my second book at some point.
DeleteI think if you're feeling an urge to write then you should write. Resisting the urge will just kill it.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I'm thinking of just writing some short bits to stay in the mood while resting.
DeleteI saw give yourself 48 hours. If after that you still have the urge to write and you don't think you're too exhausted. Go for it. Remember that there's no such thing as 'workers block'. My date is set so good luck getting more stops.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteThat's a good idea. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteLOL. You train your brain. Whatever habits you're accustomed to keeping, your brain believes you should be keeping. I say if you feel like writing, write--but just play around. Write something fun. A short story. A poem. A mock-letter. Scribbles across a page. *shrugs* Looking forward to your release!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely giving this a try tomorrow. Just a few prompts to see if I'm up to writing something bigger yet.
DeleteDon't forget you have guest posts to write for your tour! Oh wait, that probably didn't help...
ReplyDeleteCan you write but take it easy? Of course you don't want to burn out, but neither do you want to stop doing what you love.
ReplyDeleteHi Misha!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a dilemma. How to get time to promote yet keep on writing? After all the next book should speak for itself.
All the best!
Nas
Well, if you feel the need to write, do so. One thing I've feared myself is burning out. Thing is, I take a break and I'm right back to it. I can't stay away from it. It's like a drug. I usually do end up burning myself out a bit, but I also try to stop before I get that burned out feeling. Sometimes, that's difficult to do. But if the desire is there, don't smother it.
ReplyDeleteAs for your book promotion, what do I need to do? I can help!
If you truly feel the NEED to write then you probably should do it. Keep doing it until it feels like Work. I read in the previous comments that you are thinking of occupying yourself with Short Stories... that sounds like a reasonable compromise to me!
ReplyDeleteRead. It's research for your craft, so in a way you aren't getting away from writing all together. And if you are really itching to write, allow yourself to write a short story or something different for a nice change of pace.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend sitting down and opening a new document page. If that plain white sheet on the screen makes you nervous or anxious, it's a panicky feeling and you should probably rest. However, if you get excited and eager, than go for it!
ReplyDeleteI completely sympathize. I'm feeling the same thing these days. I'm doing my tour, organizing giveaways and blog posts, promoting, but not writing. So much to do and so little time. Yet I feel I need to write. If you can find a few minutes, sit and see what your muse can do. If you find a way to make it work, let me know!
ReplyDeleteWow, some really great advice here! The writing community is truly awesome, isn't it? :) Misha, go with your gut. I think the open a new document file is a good idea. Or try writing a short story, a flash fiction piece perhaps? Or like Alex pointed out, the guest posts for your tour. Watch a movie and pick it apart into scenes, arcs etc. Or read a new author in a different genre. Challenge yourself. Either way, the launch will be splendid. As will your book. :)
ReplyDeleteShah X
http://wp.me/p2rnfx-2sC
Enjoy your free time, but at the same time I know that stress of thinking you should utilise every available moment, and the regret of not having time and thinking you should have put out words while you could :) tomorrow is the futures problem, do what you want!
ReplyDelete