« The Time Traveler's Wife -- Audrey Niffenegger ***** | Main | elves to the rescue »
things to be thankful for, and stuff I'm worried about
I have book contracts. I am thankful for those contracts, because they mean that publishers have faith in my ability to write a novel and tell a story that people will want to read.
My book contracts worry me. For example: My publisher handed me a large amount of money (a respectable six figure sum) for Queen of Swords. That money has already been divided up between mortgage and utility bills and college saving plans, and now I must deliver a book that is between 250,000 and 300,000 words long. By October 1, or thereabouts.
I am thankful for the work and for the money and the confidence, and I am worried. I am always worried. Can I pull it off this time, and what if I can't?
The answer: I have to.
Four times in the past I have managed to do what needed to be done. Each time it felt harder and more of a hurdle. This time, the fifth book in the Wilderness series, is worse. Sometimes it feels like I'm hiking up Everest with a piano on my back. I think it is harder this time because it may be the last book in the series, which means I have to bring everything to a close that will satisfy me, and the publisher, and the readers.
I am thankful for my readers, and to be truthful: you scare me.
So I'll push on tomorrow, and hope for a thousand or two or three thousand solid words, and hope for the best. With any luck the next time you check back here you'll find me in a more optimistic, cheerful mood. I'll do my best.
May 2, 2005 07:25 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.tiedtothetracks.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-t.cgi/427
Comments
Sara,
I'm certain you will be able to pull off another wonderful book. It makes me a bit sad that this may be the last one...I feel like I know your characters and I would like to keep reading more and more about them. But we will always have them to reread I guess. Best wishes,
Carolyn
Posted by: Carolyn at May 3, 2005 05:25 AM