Love this, it's very relatable. At the end of the day, it's always just you and the 'ol open Word doc, same as it ever was, and that is actually the thing that is the most long-lasting. Regardless, congratulations on your novel and everything that has happened from it!
Really love this. A perceptive, powerful reminder that there is no "right" way to be a writer, no set path, no final destination, which I think is part of why we're drawn to it in the first place. Something I try to remind myself often.
Your piece really spoke to me. It's crucial for writers, I think, to appreciate just how fundamentally not alone we are in these endeavors. Thank you! (btw also a big Mets fan)
Primes you for life, honestly. I'm indoctrinating my kids to be fans for this very reason. I can think of nothing better to teach them about how to navigate the highs and lows!
I'm back in the lab experimenting with my next project and everything you've written in this post checks out. I'm baffled daily and asking myself questions like, "How did I do this before?" and "Why doesn't this seem easier?" Nature of the game.
Nonetheless, congrats on an awesome debut! It's been very cool to follow your journey this past year and I'm looking forward to seeing what you cook up next.
Nature of the game indeed my brother. Thank you, and I'm looking forward to the world receiving your novel Leverage soon. You're smart to get back on the saddle, too. Best thing you can do at this point---during this long ass publishing waiting period---is just distract yourself by writing something else.
It's awesome that you have this healthy approach to your first book out there. I've read a book or two that encourage that route to artists of all kinds. You do what you do and move on because, while most of us need the money, the main reason we're doing it is to create what we're created to create.
True words. It's interesting to think, then, of that analogy people sometimes use about books being their babies or children. In that way, each book will have its own personality, story, and purpose in the world. It doesn't need to look like what came last time. The connective tissue will always be the DNA of words and obsessions and style that the author can't help but write. I love the chase! May you find this season of cracking open the new story and the what's next exhilarating, Andrew.
Thank you very much, Annelies! I appreciate you reading. And I love this thought: "The connective tissue will always be the DNA of the words and obsessions and style that the author can't help but write." Rings true.
I like this a lot. It’s always you and you, and that’s a relief, actually.
That said, I believe getting to “the end” of my own work will change me in a way… but that’s more to do with just getting to a complete act of self-expression, rather than “publishing” per se.
Good point. I probably should have noted that, but I agree. One change is that I guess I feel a bit more confident. In the basic sense that, I've done this once before, so I can probably do this again. Thanks for reading, Alex.
Writing the second one is so difficult. I really empathized with the famous writer, whose name I forget, who said she still didn't know how to write a book--with every one she had to relearn it anew.
Love this, it's very relatable. At the end of the day, it's always just you and the 'ol open Word doc, same as it ever was, and that is actually the thing that is the most long-lasting. Regardless, congratulations on your novel and everything that has happened from it!
Thank you very much, Kristen! I appreciate the kind words, and I'm so happy you got something out of this post. Happy writing.
Really love this. A perceptive, powerful reminder that there is no "right" way to be a writer, no set path, no final destination, which I think is part of why we're drawn to it in the first place. Something I try to remind myself often.
Amen to that. Thanks for reading, Michael.
Your piece really spoke to me. It's crucial for writers, I think, to appreciate just how fundamentally not alone we are in these endeavors. Thank you! (btw also a big Mets fan)
Happy it did speak to you. And also happy you're part of our unique, insufferable tribe. Ya Gotta Believe!
Yes - but boooooy does that team test one's faith! Being a Mets fan really primes you to be a writer - all about patience, endurance, irrationality.
Primes you for life, honestly. I'm indoctrinating my kids to be fans for this very reason. I can think of nothing better to teach them about how to navigate the highs and lows!
I'm back in the lab experimenting with my next project and everything you've written in this post checks out. I'm baffled daily and asking myself questions like, "How did I do this before?" and "Why doesn't this seem easier?" Nature of the game.
Nonetheless, congrats on an awesome debut! It's been very cool to follow your journey this past year and I'm looking forward to seeing what you cook up next.
Nature of the game indeed my brother. Thank you, and I'm looking forward to the world receiving your novel Leverage soon. You're smart to get back on the saddle, too. Best thing you can do at this point---during this long ass publishing waiting period---is just distract yourself by writing something else.
I haven't published a book yet, but I still needed to hear this. 💜 Thank you.
Thank you, Meg! Glad to hear that it resonated with you.
Thank you for writing this. And congratulations!
Appreciate you reading it, and thank you!
It's awesome that you have this healthy approach to your first book out there. I've read a book or two that encourage that route to artists of all kinds. You do what you do and move on because, while most of us need the money, the main reason we're doing it is to create what we're created to create.
Yup, exactly. Thank you for reading, Jordan!
True words. It's interesting to think, then, of that analogy people sometimes use about books being their babies or children. In that way, each book will have its own personality, story, and purpose in the world. It doesn't need to look like what came last time. The connective tissue will always be the DNA of words and obsessions and style that the author can't help but write. I love the chase! May you find this season of cracking open the new story and the what's next exhilarating, Andrew.
Thank you very much, Annelies! I appreciate you reading. And I love this thought: "The connective tissue will always be the DNA of the words and obsessions and style that the author can't help but write." Rings true.
I like this a lot. It’s always you and you, and that’s a relief, actually.
That said, I believe getting to “the end” of my own work will change me in a way… but that’s more to do with just getting to a complete act of self-expression, rather than “publishing” per se.
Good point. I probably should have noted that, but I agree. One change is that I guess I feel a bit more confident. In the basic sense that, I've done this once before, so I can probably do this again. Thanks for reading, Alex.
Writing the second one is so difficult. I really empathized with the famous writer, whose name I forget, who said she still didn't know how to write a book--with every one she had to relearn it anew.
Yep. I'm starting to get the sense that is just how it goes! Thanks for reading, Naomi.
Nice post
Thank you, Sam!