This was so insightful, Libby, thank you for sharing your sometimes scary journey! I am way off being as successful as you (if it ever happens at all), but you've shown me I'm not alone in sometimes feeling negative and tired about a book I'm writing, and that it will eventually pass. Thank you! ☺️ x
Thank you for reading, Hemmie! You are definitely not alone. I think it's normal to feel tired of a book you're writing because book writing is tiring (as well as magical in lots of ways)! x
It is definitely a long and at times difficult process but I do love it really - and it is extremely satisfying when I finally hold my finished book in my hands! Thank you for reading!
Thank you very much for sharing this, I find it very hardening because as an aspiring author, I am going through all of these emotions as I edit my first draft. Nice to know it’s not just me as my brain tries to trick me. I also have various ideas. I want to move onto but telling myself to keep going with this one because it does mean a lot to me.
You are welcome! I work as a writing coach as well as writing novels and I try to share honestly with the writers I coach as much as possible because I think as readers we don't get to see behind the scenes of the book writing and publishing process so we assume we're alone in finding it hard when we beging to write ourselves. You are definitely not alone - it is hard! In terms of getting sidetracked by various ideas - I find it helpful to keep a record of all my ideas somewhere safe and tell myself that they won't go anywhere. They will be there waiting at the appropriate time! Good luck with your writing.
Thanks for sharing - love the honesty. It’s nice to know it’s not just me who finds the editing process hard even though it’s ultimately really satisfying!
You are welcome and you are definitely not alone! I agree that in the end it is very satisfying - it can just feel quite a long and bumpy road to get there!
I love the honesty - one minute thinking it’s terrible and wanting to give up, the next having new sparks of ideas! Do you usually send your first draft straight to your editor without any editing?
Thanks for reading! Good question. Normally I like to do a good edit myself before sending to an editor but to be completely honest sometimes due to tight deadlines this isn't possible! If you're writing your first book I would definitely recommend spending a good amount of time editing your work before sending out to agents and publishers. You need to feel confident you've done absolutely everything you can on your own to get it as good as it can be. But once you've built a relationship with an editor they might say that they are happy to receive a rougher draft as some editors like to be really involved in the book at a very early stage before you make too many changes yourself.
Thanks for taking the time to reply! I do have an agent but not yet an editor, but I always think of my first drafts as being super rough, kind of like the under-drawing beneath an oil painting, so I’ve always wondered if other people share them right away or how that process works. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Oh my goodness, Libby. Thank you for sharing this. As a new author having just gone through this process it resonated with me. All the editing makes it a much better book and it really is lots of blood, sweat and (in my case), loots of tears. 💕
Thank you for reading! I completely agree about editing - it's a lengthy process that always makes my brain hurt but it absolutely always makes it a better book!
This was so insightful, Libby, thank you for sharing your sometimes scary journey! I am way off being as successful as you (if it ever happens at all), but you've shown me I'm not alone in sometimes feeling negative and tired about a book I'm writing, and that it will eventually pass. Thank you! ☺️ x
Thank you for reading, Hemmie! You are definitely not alone. I think it's normal to feel tired of a book you're writing because book writing is tiring (as well as magical in lots of ways)! x
Wow Libby. A whole bunch of stress along the writing route but blimey it's worth every snipped word to see and read the finished book!
It is definitely a long and at times difficult process but I do love it really - and it is extremely satisfying when I finally hold my finished book in my hands! Thank you for reading!
Thank you very much for sharing this, I find it very hardening because as an aspiring author, I am going through all of these emotions as I edit my first draft. Nice to know it’s not just me as my brain tries to trick me. I also have various ideas. I want to move onto but telling myself to keep going with this one because it does mean a lot to me.
You are welcome! I work as a writing coach as well as writing novels and I try to share honestly with the writers I coach as much as possible because I think as readers we don't get to see behind the scenes of the book writing and publishing process so we assume we're alone in finding it hard when we beging to write ourselves. You are definitely not alone - it is hard! In terms of getting sidetracked by various ideas - I find it helpful to keep a record of all my ideas somewhere safe and tell myself that they won't go anywhere. They will be there waiting at the appropriate time! Good luck with your writing.
Thanks for sharing - love the honesty. It’s nice to know it’s not just me who finds the editing process hard even though it’s ultimately really satisfying!
You are welcome and you are definitely not alone! I agree that in the end it is very satisfying - it can just feel quite a long and bumpy road to get there!
I love the honesty - one minute thinking it’s terrible and wanting to give up, the next having new sparks of ideas! Do you usually send your first draft straight to your editor without any editing?
Thanks for reading! Good question. Normally I like to do a good edit myself before sending to an editor but to be completely honest sometimes due to tight deadlines this isn't possible! If you're writing your first book I would definitely recommend spending a good amount of time editing your work before sending out to agents and publishers. You need to feel confident you've done absolutely everything you can on your own to get it as good as it can be. But once you've built a relationship with an editor they might say that they are happy to receive a rougher draft as some editors like to be really involved in the book at a very early stage before you make too many changes yourself.
Thanks for taking the time to reply! I do have an agent but not yet an editor, but I always think of my first drafts as being super rough, kind of like the under-drawing beneath an oil painting, so I’ve always wondered if other people share them right away or how that process works. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Oh my goodness, Libby. Thank you for sharing this. As a new author having just gone through this process it resonated with me. All the editing makes it a much better book and it really is lots of blood, sweat and (in my case), loots of tears. 💕
Thank you for reading! I completely agree about editing - it's a lengthy process that always makes my brain hurt but it absolutely always makes it a better book!