I'm going to give you NaNoWriMo advice since it is November and the month of NaNoWriMo. Iike your book so far, I saw the image and I thought this was the next chapter, so I wanted to read it. So I think your book is engaging and I think it should probably be an effort that gets traditionally published at some point.
Having said that (the NaNoWriMo advice), go ahead and keep publishing chapters to Substack as you see fit. Experiment with it. Change things up. Use this as your first draft and don't look back to edit anything (that's the main NaNo advice, don't look back to edit, keep pushing forward so you pass 50k words for the month or in this case you finish the book). Once you have the completed first draft, doesn't matter how it looks, then you go into your first edit and start straightening out sections and tailoring it to the voice that you want to give it. Editing in any way is the downfall of writers everywhere. Complete it and then polish it.
This is exactly the type of advice I needed to hear today. I think that because I'm posting it publicly, I'm trying to edit too much and keep the tone consistent, when it is a first draft and all of that will inevitably need to be ironed out later.
Also, sorry to fake you out with the cover photo (but I'm glad that it made you want to read—that's the single greatest piece of encouragement I could've heard). Maybe I will take your advice and pitch some agents about it.
Now I know why people like to rush past foreplay, haha!
Thanks, Michael. I’ll try to be kinder as far as the time is concerned (I’m a bit too ‘all or nothing’ about deadlines). Identifying a ‘moral of the story’ of every chapter might help—I’ve haven’t stopped thinking about your advice regarding the Hero’s Journey, which has guided a lot of this (even though it’s gotten away from me a bit).
This has made me a lot more optimistic. I don't know if I’ll blow it through the roof, but I’ll definitely try!
It's an interesting rabbit hole, Jacintha's sister, I think, had some comments on her book after her death and there a letters or references to such twix Jacintha and Eric around.
Very interesting! I've always thought that Orwell's own account of his childhood lacked something (not that he wrote much about it at all). Maybe this will fill in the gaps.
Judging from your thoughts here I would say you know your own habits and issues pretty well. I would say keep it simple and write what interests you, if it is a thought that you find intriguing and inspiring it will likely resonate that way with readers too. Do not get bogged down in the academic details.
That being said, if there is a certain amount of academic drudgery that needs to be done, might I suggest you set aside a specific day for the 'boring work' and not let that infect your enthusiasm for the stream of consciousness that occurs when you write from the heart with no filter. Treat the academic work like a house chore that you do to declutter your mind.
But then again, what do I know, I've never written a book in my life. Lol
For what it is worth I have been enjoying the series so far.
I like this idea! I think setting aside one day for it is a good way to not get too bogged down (as opposed to what I've been doing, which is trying to tackle both the 'boring work' and the creative work at once).
Thanks so much (and you enjoying the series is worth a lot).
Thanks, Will. I think you have the right outlook (and I think the problem I've been having is that I spend too much time worrying about the 'finished product' instead of just writing for myself). Thanks for slogging through the academic stuff and reading! :)
I'm going to give you NaNoWriMo advice since it is November and the month of NaNoWriMo. Iike your book so far, I saw the image and I thought this was the next chapter, so I wanted to read it. So I think your book is engaging and I think it should probably be an effort that gets traditionally published at some point.
Having said that (the NaNoWriMo advice), go ahead and keep publishing chapters to Substack as you see fit. Experiment with it. Change things up. Use this as your first draft and don't look back to edit anything (that's the main NaNo advice, don't look back to edit, keep pushing forward so you pass 50k words for the month or in this case you finish the book). Once you have the completed first draft, doesn't matter how it looks, then you go into your first edit and start straightening out sections and tailoring it to the voice that you want to give it. Editing in any way is the downfall of writers everywhere. Complete it and then polish it.
This is exactly the type of advice I needed to hear today. I think that because I'm posting it publicly, I'm trying to edit too much and keep the tone consistent, when it is a first draft and all of that will inevitably need to be ironed out later.
Also, sorry to fake you out with the cover photo (but I'm glad that it made you want to read—that's the single greatest piece of encouragement I could've heard). Maybe I will take your advice and pitch some agents about it.
Thank you for your honesty.
Melissa I suggest:
Go with your Heart and Mind.
Cut through all the unnecessary stuff and get to the Essence.
Stay Confident and Disciplined (without getting to crazy with it).
You are an excellent writer whose generous Heart and Mind comes strongly through your writings.
Go for it!
Thank you so much, Albert—for the kind words and the advice. I will definitely keep all of these in mind.
Really solid reminders and advice.
Wishing you the best of luck with this important project Melissa. My two cents:
1. It’s too ‘scholarly.’
For me, good scholarship is the best mental foreplay that exists.
2. It’s too ‘sprawling.’
A mental note to have a “moral to the story” at the end of each chapter helps clean up irrelevant details.
3. Deadlines have been too relaxed.
Be kind to yourself and allow generous blocks of time, good rule of thumb is that it will take 10x’s more time than what you hope.
4. Expectations are too high.
Ha! Just blow it through the roof!
Now I know why people like to rush past foreplay, haha!
Thanks, Michael. I’ll try to be kinder as far as the time is concerned (I’m a bit too ‘all or nothing’ about deadlines). Identifying a ‘moral of the story’ of every chapter might help—I’ve haven’t stopped thinking about your advice regarding the Hero’s Journey, which has guided a lot of this (even though it’s gotten away from me a bit).
This has made me a lot more optimistic. I don't know if I’ll blow it through the roof, but I’ll definitely try!
Is Jacintha Buddicom's Eric & Us part of your research?
I had never heard of it, but now it definitely will be! Thanks so much, Jim.
It's an interesting rabbit hole, Jacintha's sister, I think, had some comments on her book after her death and there a letters or references to such twix Jacintha and Eric around.
Very interesting! I've always thought that Orwell's own account of his childhood lacked something (not that he wrote much about it at all). Maybe this will fill in the gaps.
Judging from your thoughts here I would say you know your own habits and issues pretty well. I would say keep it simple and write what interests you, if it is a thought that you find intriguing and inspiring it will likely resonate that way with readers too. Do not get bogged down in the academic details.
That being said, if there is a certain amount of academic drudgery that needs to be done, might I suggest you set aside a specific day for the 'boring work' and not let that infect your enthusiasm for the stream of consciousness that occurs when you write from the heart with no filter. Treat the academic work like a house chore that you do to declutter your mind.
But then again, what do I know, I've never written a book in my life. Lol
For what it is worth I have been enjoying the series so far.
I like this idea! I think setting aside one day for it is a good way to not get too bogged down (as opposed to what I've been doing, which is trying to tackle both the 'boring work' and the creative work at once).
Thanks so much (and you enjoying the series is worth a lot).
Yea Melissa, what Bro Jim sez!
Ask I Ching?
Thanks, Will. I think you have the right outlook (and I think the problem I've been having is that I spend too much time worrying about the 'finished product' instead of just writing for myself). Thanks for slogging through the academic stuff and reading! :)