A wonderful thing about writing is how we love and rant about it all the time, usually in the same breath.
I do this about types of sandwiches too. It’s honestly very soothing to make favourite vs least favourite lists for just about anything. Although honestly, you could threaten to toss me into a black hole in space and I still would not eat grated soggy carrot on a sandwich. Do I look like a monster with no standards.
Now since I have a book coming out (hOW iS it onLY 13 MOrE DayS) I thought it’d be prudent to talk about what I LOVE vs DISLIKE about the author life! This gives you a great opportunity to get to know more of my utterly professional writing life and not get worried that I wrote my book out of crumbs and crayons while shrieking back at the whispers in the trees.
Haha, I did not. Don’t regret your preorders. Please. I love you.
☆ THAT BRILLIANT BURST OF INSPIRATION
Okay so “brilliant” might be my humble * side coming out, but I can’t even describe the satisfaction that comes when you smack through a plot problem or just get that sliver of an idea that’ll tie two pieces of plot together. And my feelings are just: !!!!!! Seriously, if exclamation marks were a feeling, IT’D BE ME. Those moments are what makes me fall sparkly-eyed in love with writing.
* LMAO WHAT IS THAT. DO I HAVE ONE.
☆ REREADING YOUR WORK AND ACTUAL LIKING IT
It took me yeeeears to get there, but HEY. I have arrived. First drafts are still dubious but I actually genuinely love my work and this is so satisfying.
☆ WHEN YOUR HUMOUR IS ACTUALLY FUNNY
I swear writing humour is like having someone stand 12ft away away and throw an egg in your mouth. IT’S SO HARD TO MAKE IT WORK. Like: am I sleep deprived or is this brilliant wit??? And half the time my book’s humour is like I just wrote the blooper reel into the book. (I may or may not have a scene in A Thousand Perfect Notes where a “big secret” is revealed and instead of kindness, the love interest just laughs and laughs and laughs. So supportive. Much kind.) But when you know you got that scene’s humour right?? BREAK OUT THE CAKE FOR I AM SKILLZ.
☆ WRITING EASTER EGGS
Whyyy did no one never mention how fun this is!?? My book’s are actual minefields of references, sometimes to fandoms or things I like or a meme (or even my blogggg!). But the best is when I can reference my own books. I knoooow. Small things amuse small minds but I get such pleasure out of this.
Although lowkey disappointed that “writing easter eggs” does not involve, in fact, any chocolate eggs. Sometimes the world fails us in the most horrible ways.
☆ WRITING HIGHLY-STRUNG EMOTIONAL SCENES
I insert a deviously malicious smiley face here. HA. I love writing those moments where everything and everyone is just breaking, and maybe nearly-crying or fighting emotions or losing their mind over something terrible happening. THIS IS MY MOMENT. I also actually do a lot of unique-formatting with my words too. This pleases me.
THIS IS FROM A WORK-IN-PROGRESS.
☆ BEGINNINGS
Bring me the BEGINNING this is where I thrive! Or, well, where I cry marginally less. OK actually in the last fantasy book I wrote I wanted to stab my book’s opening. But usually the beginnings are my favourite because there’s lots of banter and not everyone is DEAD YET.
☆ WHEN SOMEONE ELSE LOVES YOUR BOOK.
THIS GOES WITHOUT SAYING. BUT IT IS THE FREAKING BEST THING IN THE WORLD AND I CAN’T EVEN. Also making people cry? Right up there too.
Um, yeah, I am a nice person. I return my library books on time, I pet my dog, I often vacuum the whole house for my family. And I thrive on the dark glory of making people cry when reading my books. I don’t know what else to tell you. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
☆ HOLDING YOUR BOOK AND KNOWING YOU NEVER HAVE TO READ IT AGAIN.
Hah haha hahha. I’m so sorry. But it is such a beautiful moment…like omg look at YOUR SON. It’s all grown up and wearing clothes a cover now and has hopefully no typos and is ready to trot off into the world and and offend someone probably be loved by all.
I LOVE HOLDING MY BOOK. LOVE IT.
☆ WAITING…AND WAITING…AAAAND WAITING
The road to being an author is 67% waiting and thinking about cheesecake. Let no one tell you differently. This has me shrieking constantly and I’m pretty sure they hear me in Peru and everyone there is just crossing fingers and hoping I pass out at some point to give them a break. BUT I SWEAR, WAITING NEVER GETS EASIER.
☆ THE FIRST TIME YOU LET YOUR NEW BABY PROJECT OUT INTO THE WORLD FOR HUMAN EYE CONSUMPTION.
Ughhh I swear this is why I procrastinate so much. It’s that moment when you have to go: “OK someone else is going to read my book for the first time and prOBABLY HATE IT and I will die a quiet slow death in the mountains with only a goat and a square of cheese to last out my final hours before the bog mires take me.”
I mean, that’s literally never happened. But my brain assures me the next time will be it.
☆ COPY EDITING
Because it’s hard!! By this point I’ve read my book 500 times and I want to put in a pot with a few stones and when the stones are soft, that’s when I feel like looking at my manuscript again. (lol lol what a roast…what a pot roast.) (YEAH OK I’LL STOP NOW.) But I also am just terrified of typos getting through. I’m a little dyslexic so spelling is…haha. What is that.
☆ FINISHING A PROJECT AND ENTERING THE VOID
I need to be working!! Always !! working !! And if I finish a project with nothing immediately to move onto…
This is me 1000% in gif format.
“Take a break!” they say. “It’ll recharge you they say!” WELL I’D RATHER PANIC, THANKS. I like to always be stewing on something, so if I’m in a void where I’m either (a) blocked, or (b) super blocked, or (c) bLocKEd and WaiTING and bLOCKED = then expect me to just stand there shrieking. Forever.
☆ WORRY THAT MY CHARACTERS OR IDEAS ARE TOO SIMILAR
Nothing’s more fun than self-plagiarising. OF COURSE. And I’ve written thirty-drafts of novels so it’s up to the point where I am like, “IS THIS NEW GENIUS OR STOLEN GENIUS FROM ANOTHER OF MY BOOKS.” Mostly I just shriek and eat ice cream. There is no cure. There is only dOOM.
☆ NEGATIVE REVIEWS
I mean. Obviously. And look I learned my lesson! I read a bunch of negative reviews about two months ago and I have not looked at ANY reviews since. (Except for some super lovely ones people sent me.) Although lowkey d y i n g that I’ve been tagged in some negative reviews. Like I do not expect everyone to love my book, but reviews aren’t for the author so leeeeeave me out of it.
☆ ALL THE GENERAL HARD STUFF
Like when you have to rewrite THE WHOLE BOOK. Or you’re absolutely blocked on solving a problem. Or you’re sick of your book. Or if you read super good books by other authors and despair of ever being good enough. Rejection! Forgetting how to use words! Spilling crumbs over your laptop! Chewing through a brick wall! Forgetting your characters’ names! nOT BEING SURE WHAT YOUR BOOK IS ABOUT!
BEING TOLD YOU ONLY GOT A BOOK DEAL BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF FOLLOWERS. (This is so so unfair lol lol.)
All that stuff.
So fun. Much hard. It makes me all shriek.
And yet somehow it doesn’t outweigh the good stuff?! It absolutely just does not. As hard as writing is (and it is hard and I’ve put absolutely thousands of hours into it), it is still my favourite thing and I will be an unashamed sap here and just say:
i really love the magic of telling stories and i can never never stop
reading your blog honestly makes me want to write, but idk i am so terrified of failure? writing block 24×7? having so many ideas that simply are not being put down on paper? idk what i am doing welp!
also! SO! EXCITED! FOR! YOUR! BOOK!
i can’t wait until someone lets me buy one more book this year because yours is totally the next one on my list!!!!
Thank you so much for being excited about my book!! I truly appreciate it!! 💛 And I mean writing isn’t easy, but it definitely gets more comfortable the more you do it! Just don’t expect yourself to be perfect to start. 😉
My favorite parts is emotional scenes, typing “the end,” getting to write snappy dialogue, and knowing that other people are reading and loving my book. My least favorite part is meeting deadlines, being expected to focus, and having to write action sequences.
AND MY BRAIN DOES NOT TAKE BREAKS. I HAVE ENOUGH PLOT IDEAS TO LAST ME FIVE LIFETIMES, AND KENDEARIA *STILL* KEEPS BRINGING ME MORE.
AHH! We’ve got so many favourites in common! Snappy dialogue is so fun, right?! Makes up for the fact that I personally get my witty comebacks like 9 hours late ha. Okay but focusing is hard too…if I get into hyper focus it’s fine, but like look at me right now. 😂 I should be editing but I’m blogging instead.
BREAKS ARE OBVIOUSLY OVERRATED WHEN WE CAN WORK OURSELVES INTO THE VOID.
Well, I should be sleeping but instead, I’m blogging, so…
I mean who REALLY needs sleep anyway. *flings confetti and runs screaming into the night*
Okay, I was having a lot of fun with this post (#relateable) but exSCUE ME who the fuck told you you only got a book deal because of your followers because I will go and stone them right now. RIGHT NOW. Also about that negative reviews tagging you–are you serious??? I only tag authors when my review is mostly positive or hella positive. Otherwise, no way in hell, I’m not here to depress anyone and I’m not pretentious enough to think my scathing review is what will make the author “write better” next time–mostly because it’s such a subjective thing and I have written scathing reviews for books other people have looooved so clearly I’m not the authority on anything and you do you.
Seriously, I’ve been triggered lol
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS SO ME! Expect that I kind of beg people to read my stuff throughout the writing process because I need the feedback and also if the thing is good I need someone to ask for more so I’ll keep writing through all of the health issues and the inspiration issues. And I haven’t gotten through some of the bigger milestones yet like the edits so the pain is relatively minuscule at this point but I really want to get there because that will mean something will work even if it will hurt lol
Duuuude, I know. I can’t believe someone said that.😂 People can be so demeaning?! And like all over twitter I see people (unpublished, figures) say that book deals are PURELY luck. And I’m like, no!? I mean, yes timing and luck CAN play a part in it. But actually most of us work our absolute brains out just trying to get here!!
And books aren’t ever going to suit everyone but apparently readers think that authors will change to suit them.😂Righto.
Your comment makes me feel so much better though hahaha, I was really bothered about this negative review someone sent me the other day.😂They tagged me on instagram AND twitter for it and I’m just like…mate. No.😂
WRITING IS SO HARD WITH FEEDBACK THOUGH. Like we need it and it’s also so terrifying?! Wait till you get to editing. PURE joy. *chokes and dies* 😂
Like, nope. Nopidy nopido no. All the nopes. People are so bitter and are so happy to bring others down it makes me sick… Luck and timing is essential in everything in life, but that doesn’t mean you don’t work hard, don’t deserve it and also… you kind of make your own luck by working hard all the time. That’s just life. I feel like people are just bitter when they see someone succeed where they have yet to :/ GO MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK AND STOP DISSING OTHER PEOPLE’S HARD WORK!
Honestly, I despair of humanity on occasion… The ABCs of reviewing is not to tag an author in a bad review. You don’t need to hide your negative reviews and opinions, just don’t push it at the author. Y’all see the bad reviews even without us tagging and I’m sure its discouraging enough without having it pushed to you like “read it read it”. URG.
Feedback is terrifying but my friends are too nice so I kind of have to yell at them to tell me the bad things too… I’m like “I don’t need positive affirmations, I NEED TO KNOW WHERE I SUCK”.
Yes it is VERY true and very frustrating honestly, how people think. 😭 I worked soooo hard for sooo long for this and I’m not the magic story of getting an agent in a week and selling a novel in like 3 days. (Those stories are CRAZY but I’m really happy for those people!)
And yes exactly! I definitely am not asking everyone to love my book just lmao discuss it amongst yourselves.😂 I think being a book blogger makes this a bit hard too because like I SEE EVERYTHING. 😭😂😂😂
THE FAVOURITE’S LIST IS ME. I don’t think I’ve ever done easter eggs but yes, very disappointed I DONT ACTUALLY GET A CHOCOLATE EGG. sometimes life is so unfair! But YEs, reading back over old work…and thinking “Woah? I WROTE THIS?!” and then feeling so inspired to spew some more words out. And sometimes, I find bits in my WIP I totally forgot I wrote and THEY ARE SO HILARIOUS. Like I’m sure I was about to fall asleep writing half my novel bc I was writing so late but wow, gosh, SOMETIMES THIS WORKS. But ha, I’ve also found super cringey jokes in my WIP so yeah. I LOVE WRITING EMOTIONAL SCENES. I have these whole 2 chapters in my book just where EVERYTHING is breaking and going to pieces and death and suffocating and all the good stuff and they ARE SO FUN TO WRITE I LOVE TORTURING MY CHARACTERS.
I mean, I’m fine SHARING SNIPPETS of my writing. That’s fine bc I get to choose the nice good bits and pretend my WIP is good. But I am kinda still getting to terms with OTHER PEOPLE READING IT HOLY HECK. But I’m hoping after some more editing, I AM going to let some people read it but IM TERRIFIED?!
Look I HAVE to make an “Easter Egg” in one of my books someday that genuinely references chocolate Easter Eggs and it’ll be like Easter egg inception. Also how do I even have a career in this.😂 I’m terrible ahhhem.
Oh! I love that moment when you read something back expecting it to be horrible and it’s actually kind of good?! Wow @ past me, you did a good job for once.😂 And yessss to those emotional scenes. Like when you get to just BREAK everyone. So sweet. So lovely. Bookworm me would HATE writer me but oh well. *flips hair*
Just wait till you get to send your baby off into the world.😂I think there’s like a whole mental shift we have to do that, to remind ourselves feedback DOESN’T equal “hate”. I still struggle with that honestly and I’ve been writing like a fiend for 7 years. Being able to improve doesn’t mean we’ve failed!
The brilliant-flashes-of-inspiration thing- YES. That’s the ACTUAL BEST. Especially when you realize that your brilliant flash for one book will actually solve a major issue in another book and it’s like HALLELUJAH. Also when you reread your work and you’re like “Huh, some of this is actually really good!”
Problems . . . rereading your work and realizing that your characters are all illogical balls of angst and idiocy. It’s very frustrating. I run into it a lot.
Great post!
IT IS!!😍I can’t get over how much I love that! Like this is obviously the TRUE way to get an adrenaline rush. 😂😂
And yesss, haha, reading back and wondering what on EARTH your characters are doing here is the…worst.😂
I agree to ALL OF THIS. You’re SO right! I was watching a documentary on Netflix last night about toys and someone said that it’s an amazing feeling to be able to hold something you worked so many years on designing and making and have it mean so much to people you don’t even know. And I was like YES. That’s exactly what I want! To be able to hold something you’ve worked so long and so hard on, must be SUCH an amazing feeling. To know you created something that means something to people. That’s exactly what I imagine it must be like holding your own book. I love writing, even with it’s ups and downs. I love creating stories and getting to know my characters and discover who they are and what their life is like. I love imagining how the inside of my book will look like. Will it have special formatting in some parts? What will the cover look like? Will there be something gorgeous hidden beneath the dust jacket? Writing is something so magical to me and even with how much it frustrates me sometimes, I still love it so much.
YES YES THAT FEELING!! IT’S RIDICULOUS! And like after editing and rewriting and EDITING MORE…and then finally you actually hold your book and it’s DONE?!??! It’s incredible. Just that feeling of being so so done. Ahhh. (And I know you’ll be doing this someday soon too!!) And honestly I want to kick writing a lot but it’s worth it.😂Even between all the screaming and self-doubt (which I think is honestly the hardest part of being a writer.)
Writing is pure magic.😍😍
lol, I love this post! I claim guilty of being completely overflowing with joy when two things make sense together!!! Every point here is perfect. XD
It is the BEST feeling ever!! ADRENALINE RUSH OF GLORY.😂
I spent 7 years working as an acquisitions editor for literary journals, so I understand the waiting part. I’d get emails from authors that were like, “I sent you a story last week and haven’t heard back yet. Have you read it?” Then I’d have to send the professional version of an email that basically said, “Um . . . Dude, I’m still swamped with stuff from 9 months ago. If you want to be an author, you need to learn to chill.” I don’t think authors realize how much stuff gets submitted to publishers. It’s intense.
Ohhh yes exactly!! It’s so hard to keep up right?! And I fully know that but I’m still refreshing my inbox like 1 day after I send things to my agent.😂For being such an impatient person, I just shake my head at myself for my career choices.😂
I am an ending writer! I always write the end of a draft and then I have to go and plot it. Which is weird? but I take my book idea, and write the end. Which is usually very emotionally charged and heartbreaking. It feels like I’ve grabbed unto the characters emotions? So then, I go and plot the entire thing and start writing from the beginning.
I’ve only had to change the ending significantly one time. because the first time, the characters were romantically involved? But after plotting and writing to that point, the romance wan’t happening between these two. Which is ok, because it’s actually alot better that way!
Ok, wowwowowow, I talked about that alot. But beginnings are so hard for me to write! Because they need to be super interesting and hook people and I just want people to read the beautiful end and all the work I put into a compelling ending.
And I pre-ordered ATPN, but I live in the US, and I’m afraid it’s going to take FOREVER to arrive. 🙁
That’s so cool actually!! I am the kind of person who MUST know the ending right at the beginning of when I’m even outlining. Like I can’t visualise a book until I know how the characters have to end up.😂Otherwise it gets just to be a terrifyingly messy mudslide. And I’m glad your process works really well for you, that is besssst. I think the most important part of a writer’s life is figuring out what WORKS for them. It makes things less stressful.😂
N’AWWWW I’M SO HONOURED YOU PREORDERED THANK YOU. It really means a lot!! (I hope it arrives fast though…)
So true. Though in order for me to deal with the publishing things I should probably finish a book. My attention span is too short so the power to touch your computer and immediately write an entire book would be extremely useful.
Also we heard you shrieking here in America. It interrupted our annual Hunger Games
Or if we could just like have something write out the scenes we imagine?! That’d be great.😂Super helpful. I’d get so much done.
I do send my apologies from distracting from your Hunger Games. Such a trial tho. Hope the odds are in your favour. *backs cautiously away from America*
I never once wrote a book in my life hoho. I’m sorry to say I just love reading. I love writing essays though and haikus. Just not stories and/or books. Anyway, when I write essays, I always find the beginning difficult to write. Catchy opening lines are so hard to find I still have to search the wilderness for them. When I am unsuccessful in finding a catchy opening line in the wilderness, I just take a break and hunt for chocolates.
My sister always tells me I should write more and maybe that’s one of the things that finally pushed me to publish my blog. I hope someday I will have the imagination to write a book. With the help of many chocolates, who knows?
Blogging is still definitely writing! Just like…nonfiction writing, eh?!😂I think writing stories is BEST but totally okay if it’ snot for everyone haha. And that’s awesome you do poetry…I can’t for the life of me.😂
My best parts are undoubtedly characters and world buildings, because my characters ALL get these super-extensive backstories (even That One Background Character From Chapter One Who Never Appears Again(tm)) and my worlds always have these minutiae histories that literally nobody would care about, but it supplies so much scaffolding for how the world works aND I JUST LOVE DOING THAT AND PEOPLE ALWAYS COMPLIMENT AND THEN I DIE A HAPPY BLOB.
*ahem*
I usually struggle with middles, because my brain is just like “You know how it ends, sKIP TO THE END!” and I cAn’T dO tHaT bRaIn, but I’m actually struggling with the beginning for my superhero novel because there’s so much exposition even though there’s really only subtle changes between our world and their and it HURTS.
I’m constantly thinking up ideas, but I have to force myself to take breaks so I can, y’know, LIVE. And breathe. And eat. And sleep.
I relate so much to building endless backstories and details for every character. Sometimes my stories seem to be workdbuilding simulation games. XD
Lmao it’s like “Hmm. I could write the actual story, OR I could give this one character an Extremely Traumatic Past(tm) and work on THAT for hours….”
@J.P. That’s so awesome you do a lot with the backstories!! Even if that never gets on page, I think it helps us write the character more deeply and dimensionally, right?! I’m actually terrible with backstories a lot and my betas will be like: “BUT WHY CAIT” and my go-to answer is: just because. Accept it.😂😂I’m terrible.
Middles are hard!! Like keeping the tension up/pacing/figuring out if you’re moving into the end too slow or too fast?! Stress.😂
Backstories are very hard to do sometimes, because it’ll get to a point where it’s like “Okay… if I had X event, is their past too traumatic? Or is just the right amount of traumatic? Is there realistically enough time in their life for these events to happen and still have equal effect on the character? Would they be too young to remember Y event?” and then it’s not as fun bleh.
Writing is fun, but then comes STRESS!
Ohh yes I can imagine the timelines might come back to bite you.😂Writing is so FUN. Not HARD at all.😂
Beginnings are my nightmares. It’s probably why I’ve only managed to finish two complete stories. I look forward to the day when I will finish a major project and see how I react to the Void! I’ll probably just chase a new shiny idea.
Those sparks of brilliance and liking your writing makes it all worth it though. ^.^
I mean I do agree that like those FIRST few chapters are terrifying.😂I die often. But like the first 3rd of a book is just a lot more fun because not everyone’s super traumatised yet.😂 Or maaaybe this is jus the mean things I put my characters through.😂
Yes, the first chapters mingle too much with BACKstory and formed this temporal flux of confusion that doomed me. I needed to tighten my novel up. So I did. At last! I’m finally learning to be a writer, apparently. XD
Everyone is already traumatized though. We get to launch right into the annihilation of a city (or more?) after a brief intro of the heroine. So
I’m not sure there will be ANY banter in this first book, but the sequels…People will find their snark again after the shock.
I agree with the people saying nice things about your book. A year ago, I was a silly (going with that instead of dumb…) little cabbage who shared first drafts with people. (NEVER FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE) So I was sharing my draft with some friends of mine as I wrote it, and I’m currently replotting the WhOlE tHiNg but that’s not the point. Anyway, when I shared an update once, one of them was like “Are you planning on publishing this? Because it would sell like Harry Potter.” Best compliment I’ve ever received.
Aww that is SUCh a lovely comment from your friend!!! And lol lol I have shared early drafts before and DIED so I know the feel.😂These days it’s like: “This is draft #948 and you may now look at the first sentence.”😂
CAIT THAT UNIQUE FORMATTING SNIPPET IS SO COOL LIKE I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT’S GOING ON BUT I’M EXCITED? LIKE IT’S SO GOOD?
Also who tagged you in those negative reviews I just want to talk
Ok but in all seriousness why would anyone do that??? I know it happens to many authors but like,, why do you think that’s a good idea. It’s just rude??
I definitely feel you on ‘that brilliant burst of inspiration’ – honestly it’s my favourite part of writing. It just feels SO good to come up with a brilliant idea or how to fix that plot hole you’ve been stuck on for so long. Oh and same on the worrying that you’re plagiarising yourself! I’m like ‘oh no two of these characters in two different WIPs, one of which I might never work on again, are both artists people will think I’m unorginal’ 😂
ALSO YOUR BOOK IS COMING OUT SO SOON THAT’S SO EXCITING CAIT I CAN’T WAIT TO READ IT
I’M SO HAPPYYYYY YOU LIKE UNIQE FORMATTING TOO. *flails* There’s not much in ATPN but there’s a bit more in The Boy Who Steals Houses and I am just PUMPED. It’s my dream to be able to do this!! *flails again*
Ahhghgh I know right?! Like I guess this is the awkward part of still being a book blogger + writer…people know me so they tag me and I don’t want to be ungrateful, I just doooon’t want to read reviews.😂Especially all the things they hated?! I’m fragile ok.😂
And YES, the rush/thrill of getting an idea or cracking a plot hole is amazing! I’m sure this is how all the thrill seekers get their adrenaline rush.😂
OMG yes I love hearing about this. I don’t really count as an author or a writer but OMG ATPN is going to come out!!!! And also I remember hearing about The Boy Who Steals Houses and it also sounds excellent (how close is it to being done? )
I think it’s really important to talk about the hard parts about writing, while celebrating its wonderfulness. What you can do on your blog is pretty great 😀
IT’S COMING OUT SO SOON AND I’M A LITTLE DEAD. *flails* Also it makes me ridiculously happy that you remember when The Boy Who Steals Houses was born!! It going to be 2 years old in november, aww, look at these babies grow! (And honestly I have no idea how close it is to being done lmao. I’m not up to copy edits stage so there is that.😂)
And this is yet another wonderfully amazing post! XD (I’m totally binge-ing your blog right now. #noshame) I actually agree with every single point you’ve made here. There are SOOO many things I love about the writing process, but one of my absolute favorites has to be that moment when you break through a plot hole or get a new plot bunny. Of course, with the plot bunnies, then there comes my lovely little problem of wanting to ditch my current WIP to work on the fresh, shiny new idea, but whatever I am a totally reliable chipmunk who shall not stray…. *is totally straying* AND YES TO THE WRITING HUMOR!!! I am the WORST when it comes to knowing whether my humor is on point, and usually I find it falls flatter than a pancake. But does this stop me from having my characters say extremely corny jokes and puns and trip over their own feet until they break their noses?? Of course not. Because it makes me laugh, and if it makes me laugh, then it is totally worth it, right?? Aha. Of course. XD
ALSO! What you said about reviews not being for the author??? I LOVE that. I’ve always wondered whether or not I should read reviews if/when I ever get published, and this really helped me out with that question. I’ve always sort of assumed that authors DID read the reviews, but I can only imagine how crippling some of those nasty (and completely unfounded, in some cases) reviews can be to creativity… :((
Amway, I loved this post, Cait! It’s so true and relatable, and OH MY WORD I DIED AT THE MUPPET SCREAMING GIF!!! I am sitting here alone in the dark, and I AM DYING. 😂😂😂
I’m so grateful for all the comment love, Kenzie!! THANK YOU. 😍😍 And omg isn’t it a rush to break through a plot hole?! I totally get so giddy with happiness. Like you feel so CLEVEr in that moment. 😂😂I’m sure this is a normal and average way to get a thrill. And hey at least when humour is mega corny, it’s nearly funny for being so bad?! I have some seriously corny jokes in mine.😂
I’m glad you agree about reviews-not-being-for-the-author…honestly not many bookworms get that, and it’s frustrating. They’ll be like “I hope the author learns form my review”, but noooo. That’s NOT what reviews are for! Reviews are for readers with similar taste! Like we’re never going to write a book that suits every single person. I just have to please myself + my editors at this point.😂
Ugh, I like writing but I keep avoiding it for some reason. I NEED TO STOP SABOTAGING MYSELF.
I guess I’m scared of looking at my description-less writing. I can do dialogue but, ugh description doesn’t work out well for me. I’m going to try and fix that, though so wish me luck!
And I’m glad you have finally stopped reading those negative reviews. I’m surprised people still tagged you into those as well like, what?
Goooo write all the things, Grace!! It’s hard but so satisfying hehe. And hey you don’t have to get it right the first time, just remember. I often write without a lot of description and then go back and put it in. 😀
Ha. I know right?! Some people are a bit clueless with the negative reviews. 🙊🙊
Ewwww! Grated carrots on a sandwich do not sound good at all! Who does that??
Great list! And I love that ice cream gif. That’s my daily life in a nutshell.
I know right?!? It should be ILLEGAL. Carrots do not, honestly, belong on sandwiches. (And isn’t that ice cream gift just the best?!😂Accurate representation of mood ALL the time.)
I loved reading this, Cait. Like anything worth doing, writing is both rewarding and terrifying! I can’t wait to read your book. I have it ordered from TBD because that’s the only place I could pre-order when you first announced it, but I just ordered another copy via Amazon because I’m worried my TBD copy will take a long time to get to me. This way I’ll have a copy to give away on my blog too. 🙂
AWWW NICOLE!! I’M LITERALLY FLAILING OUT OF MY SKIN RIGHT NOW! <3 *sends you all the cake* 😍😍💛💛Your support means the world, it truly does!
ahahahAHA I’m hoping to submit my novel to agents by the end of my summer break (whY) and waiting for feedback from betas is killing me right now! This is the last round of beta stuff and I have one last big edit to do and then it’s just copy editing (ew). BUT MY BETAS TAKE SOO LONG TO RESPOND. like,,, I am aware that you have a life. I also have a life. But please, please, PLEASE tell me what you thing about my book because I am in constant existential anguish while I’m waiting!!!
AHHHHHH THAT IS FANTASTIC I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!! This is a huge step for your writing!! And honestly, why do betas have lives aside from devoting 100% of their hours to reading our books?? Pfft. It’s outrageous.😂 The waiting hurts.😂 (Although trust me, waiting for agents to get back to you is even worse lmao.)
Middles are the worst. I generally know my beginnings and ends, but it’s the middle bit that’s my big problem. My current work in progress is someone who wants to be an imagineer at Disney, and she’s saving up for a big trip which she pulls off by the end of the book but WHat acTUALLY happENS IN between?
Oh the middles can be so so tricky! Like keeping the pacing going but making it interesting?!?😂What have we signed ourselves up for haha.
I love beginnings and endings the best, middles are THE WORST. I have been stuck with my f/f fantasy WIP for ages because I have the beginning and the end and just cannot for the life of me figure out the middle. This is where being a pantser is coming back to bite me, but I’ve moved back to editing my other WIP whilst I try to figure things out and that is going much better. I’m not necessarily constantly thinking up ideas, I have enough on my plate with the two books I currently have so I’m not looking at starting anything new right now. I haven’t had to deal with a lot of stuff you’ve mentioned because I’m not anywhere near being published yet, but I will say that for me, I find it quite difficult to stay motivated when every other day it seems like the entirety of book twitter is getting book deals-especially when your family is constantly talking about how you’re going to treat them when you have a bestseller one day and you just want to shriek at them “THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS!”. I love writing humour, and dialogue, those are my favourites-although I don’t know if I’m actually as funny as I think I am in my head.
Middles are so hard! Like is the pacing right?? Is it dragging??? Is it go fast??? SOMEONE GET US ICE CREAM, THE WORLD IS A DARK AND TERRIBLE PLACE.😂
Agh yes I think it can be very hard to stay motivated when everyone seems better…but if it makes you feel better (probably won’t lol lol) I STILL feel behind even with having a book deal sometimes! 😂So I think it’s a matter of sometimes…not focusing on what everyone else is doing and just focusing on ourselves?! It’s frustrating though ,but I BELIEVE IN YOU. Just because you’re not there yet, doesn’t mean you won’t be someday!
YES, it’s like I don’t know what is going on here, I’m just stumbling around in the dark, hoping I can find the right path to get to the ending I want! It wasn’t a problem with my first novel, but this one is determined to be stubborn. No, it does make me feel better to know that other people feel that way sometimes too! Aww thank you, I hope so!
I died. Help. This was amazing and gave me the pick-me-up I needed.
So, fun news, but I’m finally planning time for writing! I’v managed to add a bunch more to my current WIP as well as plan out all the stuff that’s making me cringe and I’m so happy and overwhelmed and I need ice cream. But, at the same time, every time I get over one of these little points on my list, it makes me feel like I ran over a mountain and jumped through flaming hoops and I’m alive still somehow. I may or may not still be sitting in a corner, sobbing, holding a stuffed animal or my cat for comfort, but hey, we all have problems.
So yes, thank you for this much needed motivation that my book won’t kill me and that I am, somehow, in charge of it. I can do this. I hope. xD
Aww I’m so glad you liked this!! It was a lot of fun writing it. 😂😂 And YAY THAT YOU’RE MAKING TIME TO WRITE! It’s sometimes really hard to do that, but honestly what we have to do to get things done! (You definitely deserve ice cream btw.)
I do love writing and the Inspiration while writing is my favourite thing in the world. But the feeling of thinking that I’m not good enough or that I can’t write very well is what’s bringing me down and preventing me from writing more about the stories that I love.
Also, failing to meet self-imposed deadlines *nervous laughter*
SUPER EXCITE ABOUT ATPN !!!!!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! *runs in circles flinging confetti in peoples faces*
I totally understand! And I don’t think the self-doubt ever truly goes away, although you do have to beat it back with a stick a LOT if you want to get anywhere!!
*flings confetti and runs screaming with you*
Oh my gosh the WAITING really does kill me…. I drive myself crazy refreshing my emails every two minutes and I can’t concentrate on anything because at ANY moment an email may arrive holding the news I am dying to hear…. and then six months later…. I am still waiting.
Waiting is hard!
Also…. on a different note (Note! Notes! A Thousand Perfect Notes! Ha! You see what I did there?) I just got my hands on your book….. so I am quite excited to read it! and my cat has been posing with it for Instagram… so that is nice 🙂
I so so relate ah hahaha. I swear the waiting never ends either?! Like you get THAT EMAIL and then you’re always waiting for another.
I APPRECIATE THAT PUN. 😂 And omg!! So excited for you to read it!!
Oh god, I love those bursts of inspiration. They’re the best things ever.
And yes, writing easter eggs should definitely involve the thing that solves most of our problems – chocolate <3
Writing emotional scenes is sometimes the worst. I'm trying to bring out the best emotions so you might sometimes play it out in your head and that results in me legitimately crying. which sucks. Glad to see you feel the same way.
And I definitely share the same feeling with regards to the OMG WHEN SOMEONE LOVES YOUR STORY!!! Aaaack.
I can't even imagine how scared you must be feeling, with your debut a few days away and so many people going to be able to read your book! But I'm so excited for you.
I personally think that the worst part of Writing, at least as an unagented author is the Waiting. Waiting to know if you're good enough, waiting to know if writing is really meant for you or not.
But everyone goes through it, I'm sure 🙂
They make us feel so clever, right?! I live for those moments when it’s like “WOW LOOK AT MY BRAIN GO.”😂😂 Also definitely am peeved Easter Eggs in books aren’t usually about chocolate and feel we need to get this fixed???
Excited AND scared so so much.😂As a bookworm/book blogger I know not everyone will love it lol lol, but it’s so scary to be on the otherside now?! I’m just going to GO HIDE.
And absolutely the waiting pre-agent is terrifying and so full of self-doubt. Also the waiting pre-getting a book deal…and then the waiting AFTER that to see if it’ll just be a fluke. I swear.😂It is torture 100% of the time.😂
If anything, this post just made me incredibly proud and happy for you, Cait! I’ve already read A THOUSAND PERFECT NOTES and loved it–August and Beck just warm my heart. T_T <3 ANYWAY! I also get THE BEST feeling whenever I reread something I wrote and not totally hate it–this goes for fiction AND homework. xD
AFdsakfdlafj I’m so happy Aimee, it truly means the world to me that you liked it!! 💛💛
Writing is soooo stressful, I think the only time I’m not completely freaking out and internally screaming is when I’m working on a books Pinterest board. Not gonna lie.
Aw reading posts like this seriouslyyyy make me want to write 600 novels in a row!!! Lovely post Hun! Oooooh and I still can’t wait for A Thousand Perfect Notes – I know it’s going to do soooo well and I can’t waittttt to read it aaaargh :0
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
Oooh I relate. 😂😂Pinterest is hugely relaxing and always makes me feel like my books are working better than they are ahhh. But YES! Go write 600 books in a row!! Let nothing stop you!!
(And thank you so so much for your nice words!! 😍😍)
I definitely struggle the most with middles. I’m really great at coming up with characters and settings but plotting is haaaaard! D: And I’m always coming up with new ideas but it’s really hard to discipline myself to actually do anything with them. :/
It is hard getting the middles! Although I find working backwards often helps! Like I know my beginnings and endings, so I just think of the ending and then keep adding scenes going backwards. Like “ok I want them to have a fight in the throne room” so how did they get there…and then I just keep layering it like that!
Ooooh, okay. That’s good advice! Thanks! 😀
I can relate to basically all of this. The unique formatting thing by the way, looks so cool! I would love to try doing something like that.
It’s super fun doing unique formatting and can add some real amazingness to a book I think!! 😍
This, and the entire comments section is SO real. I think I will quietly rest here for the next few weeks as I work on my WIP. And when I trudge through days of sleeting snow and psychotic gloom I I shall light a candle and reread posts such as this.
Haha I’m glad you enjoyed it!😂
I can’t do nothing. Like I work on multiple projects at once usually, and if I’m not writing stories/poetry/lyrics I’ll be writing blog posts, or reading or doing SOMETHING. Also writers block needs to leave, it’s honestly the most FRUSTRATING thing ever. I have worked around it though in that I just keep writing through it, knowing I’ll cut out the section I wrote later. But if I write it, it gets it out of my system and helps me move on. I think the best feeling I can remember was when I finished writing my first ever book draft I was…13? I was 13 I think when I finished it, and that feeling of finishing the draft was just…no words can describe it.
Then of course I’ve hidden that away because erm…can I reread my old stuff without cringing? No. It’s a minefield of typos, mistakes and me talking aloud to myself about ‘can you not spell?’ or ‘did you face plant the keyboard?’ Oooo thinking up character names is actually so hard for me, like…you get maybe three names down then you just get stuck thinking up other names – or is that just me?
I think a downside for me when it comes to writing, is probably that my imagination comes to life more at night, than during the day. But as I live with my parents…my mum doesn’t appreciate me being up at 2am typing away, like I’m sorry would you rather I be out at a party and being a rebel? (I hate parties…I actually regret not taking a book with me to Prom, I felt like I had no safety net but no book would fit into my stupid bag xD)
SAME THOUGH. Like how do people turn off and take long breaks?!😂Dark wizardry for sure. Hahaha. And getting blocked so you CAN’T do anything is an excruciating type of torture that makes my hair fall out.😂
And yes! I totally know what you mean about finishing that first book. And loool I actually miss the days when I started writing as a young teen and thought everything i wrote was amazing.😂But hey, we all have to start somewhere and the gnarly terrible stuff builds our way to the GOOD stuff.
Ha! Totally understand about the night-inspiration part! I’ll be up at like 11pm and totally fired up and ready to go but??? Go to sleep cait??? This is not a good idea???😂
I’m a writer. At school specifically for it, in fact, and it is always TERRIFYING to share it in workshop. Even if I know it really isn’t good and I’m trying to dispel all illusions in my mind, there’s that teeny little part of me that’s like, “maybe it’s not absolute trash?” Especially during poetry. ARRRRRRGH it’s so hard. I wrote upwards of four drafts every time.
But I’d never give it up. I love it.
I don’t think anyone should make us feel like our writing is trash! And if they do, then they’re not being very good help! Of course we need work and help and obviously we DO write rubbish at times…but you should always find a way to encourage people to write better without being awful, right?! Anyway, it’s sooo hard to share your work and take feedback (even if it IS given nicely) so I relate. *sends you cake*
Ahhh i feel like i gave you the wrong idea about my workshop!! They’re awesome and the teachers are great but also my first drafts tend to have that “great idea, meh execution” issue going for them. My first drafts are just not good. It took me around for drafts to get an acceptable poem this year!
THE INSPIRATION IS EVERYTHING, especially bc I don’t have it always, we must push ourselves to work every single day and eat a lot of cookies (cake in your case) to find the streght to fight with our characters cuz we want them to do something and they’re like….no.
I’ve only felt that with my FOURTH draft…. but yes, I believe if I keep doing this for another eight years, I shall like my writing someday lol
I’M WORKING SO HARD BUT I’VE WRITTEN ONE SCENE (it’s more a dialogue, or even a headcanon of my own book, than a detailed-written scene, I’m sooo professional) THAT “COULD” BE FUNNY…..
In case you’d interested (just kidding, I just need more writer friends to tell me how bad my writing is……..):
Carina: Why do you hate me?
Kersten: He doesn’t hate you, dummy. He’s just teasing you
Carina: Then why he only teases me?
Krzyz: ‘Cause he finds you attractive. He has a really bad taste
Izden: Very funny, Krzyz. Maybe I’ll ask her out after you kiss Kersten
Kersten: If someone dares to kiss me, I’ll gut him
Krzyz: *to Izden* You heard her. Kiss her
Anyhoo.
I looooooooooooooove it ! too! when writing a emotional scene ! everyone’s crying ! and I’m crying ! but at the same time I’m soooo happy ! and excited ! Ooooohhhh, that snippet reminds me of The Princess Bride
I hate beginnings. I think I know what’s going to happen but then….no. I start writing and everything turns into a mess. Not feeling miserable about it at all, sure
YES. PEOPLE LOVING MY WORK IS AMAZING, IT DOESN’T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME SO YES, IT’S AMAZING !!
I’M SO GLAD YOU GOT TO HOLD YOUR BOOK CAIT
Waiting is the worst. Showing someone your work is the worst (even though I just said I loved it when someone liked your work…………it’s sooo hard to share cuz #selfdoubt #nervous #holycakehelpme). Self-plagiarising is the WORSE.
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???? you’re being tagged in negative reviews???? what a mean world…. want some cookies? *offers you a bag of cookies*
I still don’t know why I like to write but here we are, suffering every time I have a new story idea. I struggle with all of it, beginning, middle and end. Especially the end. I’ve been procrastinating the end of my April Camp NaNo project even though I DID meet my goal and I felt so proud cuz I wrote 60k words in A MONTH (which is a lot for me). And NO, I cannot take breaks, I always have to work on something. It’s too hard already to have to work on ONE project at a time, I usually want to work on five projects the same day.
Do you know that feeling when you want to work and work and work, not bc you have to but bc you WANT to, buuuuuuut at the same time you don’t want to do anything cuz your brain is sooo freaking tired and you think you need a nap? or maybe to sleep for three thousand hours perhaps?
I absolutely relate to the last paragraph a LOT.😂 Half of my writing life is being so super stoked and keen to work but…being tired. And drained. And needing a long 900 year nap.😂
Sooo true! Editing is always so hard for me, and even though I say I love feedback, getting it is honestly a horror movie. Like once I published a draft of my book online, and someone gave me a list of 5 detailed things that were wrong with it, and I literally killed everyone with my shrieks. This other person said that it was really cool, and I couldn’t believe it was real. I thought it was a virus, or some kind of automatic spam machine. And I always end up rushing drafts. I published 4 chapters of my book online, and the next day I woke up with the horrible feeling that EVERYTHING was wrong! So I rushed to my computer, deleted the chapters, and ended up late.
But still, WRITING IS LIFE!
Euphrasie Daae
Ah haha I totally relate! Even though I’ve edited a LOT with my editors/agents now…every time I get feedback, I still cry.😂Every time. It’s like I know what’s coming and it’s not even bad?!? BUT I STILL CRY.😂
I recently found your website and I’m obsessed. Just one question; you do traditional publishing right? How much control do you have over things, like book covers and blurbs and the layout and design and things, do you get any input? Also, working with editors is a two way thing right, if they find something they don’t like but you like (because people are always going to have different opinions) how does that work? These are a couple of my biggest fears, I’d love to get it traditionally published but if, in a couple of decades lol, I ever get this far, I’d hate to be disappointed with a cover and disagree with an editor.
I love your posts a lot I’m literally binge reading and I’m having a blast. I’m a baby blogger and a toddler writer (that’s weird but hopefully you get it) and these posts are helpful and so fun to read <3
Yes I’m traditionally published with Hachette UK.
So it’s a working relationship. My publisher has bought my book, aka, they own it now and I’m working for them to make it the best it can be. It depends and differs on publishers as to what they ask/expect from you, of course! I haven’t had input with the design of my book so far, but I haven’t really asked? I’m happy with what they do.
For edits: of COURSE they don’t want to destroy your book or your vision. I get frustrated with all the rumours that publishers are out to “change” everything! They do change things, of course, because they’re professionals (and we’re not lmao) and they can see from angles we (who are too close to our work) can’t. It’s amazing and helpful how they’ll hone and polish our work to be the actual best it can be. So it’d be pointless going into traditional publishing if you weren’t, I guess, willing to learn and change? But if there’s disagreements I’ve also found my publishers listen! (Ex: they wanted to cut a chapter I wanted to keep. We compromised on thinning it down!)
Anyway hope this helps and THANK YOU for reading my blog!!
My favorite thing about writing is the world you get to create while the worst thing is revising and editing the whole thing. By the way, your personality shines through this post… really well.