Writing, It′s Like a War, but Not Really
December 21, 2016 | Back
It looks like I′m going to get to wind down a little this weekend finally, and just in time for Christmas too. One would think that once you finish writing a book you′re done, that all is good and everything just goes on from there naturally. Haha. No.
The writing process is much more, and while it can be hectic at times, I love it. Writing that book is only the first battle. If we look at each book as a series of wars (not my favorite analogy, but oh well), writing the first draft is like winning the first big battle after a few small skirmishes, a.k.a. character drafting, chapter planning and so forth. While eventually you win that first battle, it′s pretty certain that every author also will lose several skirmishes along the way while they write too; if you don′t lose any then maybe, you′re not looking close enough. Either way, finishing that first draft is a big breath of fresh air.
Of course, the first draft is rarely the final draft. Simply put you will lose the war in the end if it′s your final draft. After a few editing rounds and revisions it′s like winning another glorious battle when the final draft peeks around the corner at you and you realize you did it, you finally did it. Then it hits you that before you can do that victory dance you′re so excited about that you have several more skirmishes to attend to before your final battle, aka release day (release day really isn′t even the end to be honest, but we′ll leave it at that for the sake of simplicity today).
As for those other skirmishes, that′s about where I just left, or at least were I′m cresting the field. It′s the planning of the book′s release, making sure the cover is perfect, getting the right marketing materials, choosing who to distribute the book, and formatting the book, (it doesn′t do itself). I′ve finally fought my last skirmish, approving the hardback version of my new book To Watch You Bleed, and now it′s just a waiting game for its release date on January 10, 2017 to roll around. Of course, the war so-to-say never ends, as then it′s a game of marketing, attending festivals to promote the book and other events, but the biggest victory comes on release day (until you hit the bestseller′s list of course).
So it′s time to sit down and resupply with a great weekend at my family′s up in the North Carolina foothills for Christmas. I′ll have plenty of time to prep for the final victory on release day (have no fear, I won′t try a victory dance). Of course, I am already working on the next book, the second in the Ethan Shaw series, so the next war has already begun.
So until next time, Merry Christmas!
P.P.S. By using the war analogy, I in no way intend to make light of such a horrible scourge. My dad and older brother are Marines, I know the sacrifice and honor it. My analogy is nothing more than a way of showing the process.
