Jennifer McKenzie
Romance--Boy meets girl. Romantic Suspense--Boy meets girl with dead bodies.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Thursday Thirteen--How Writing Is Like Motherhood
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1…. The waiting is hell. Waiting for the birth of a child? Waiting for a response from a publisher/agent? Is there a difference? Painful, uncomfortable and emotional, am I right? 2. The birth is traumatic. There is nothing that is quite the same as childbirth. The joy and the pain. Well, except having a release date and seeing your book on the front page of a publisher's website. 3. Coffee This is a given. I can't write without it and I'm not human, much less mothering, without it. 4. If you don't do it, it's tough to understand. Sympathetic friends who don't write are just like sympathetic friends with no kids. They pat your arm and say all kinds of things, but it's the one who's in it, done it and survived it that help the most. 5. Others are quick to point out your faults. Whether it's parenting style or comma placement, others are always willing to make "suggestions". Sometimes, suggestions are good. Like, "Jen, murder is not an option honey." 6. They watch what you do. My kids watch me, copy me (and their redneck father) and learn from me. Editors, publishers and agents read blogs. See? We're never safe. 7. The lack of paycheck. Do I really need to say anything? Unless you're a mommy like Martha Stewart or a writer like Nora Roberts......okay, I'm bitter, I admit it. 8. The feeling that somehow "no one loves you". "Mamma, you're mean!" or "I wantIwantIwantIwant...." isn't any easier to take then "You sold how many copies in a month?" or the crickets chipping in a chat. 9. The love you do get is a treasure. Whether it's snuggling at night, cute little five year old kisses, or the rare "thank you, mamma", it's something to cherish. Same goes for reader emails, critique partners who compliment you or good reviews. (See? I can think positively) 10. Your relationship with your editor is VERY important. In my house, my editor is my hubby. He makes "suggestions". He lets me write the story, but reserves the right to give his opinion. (I even let him. Aren't I sweet?). Editors are the same. They want to improve the book. My hubby wants to improve the kids. Of course, I'm not sleeping with my editors. LOL. 11. I do it because I love it, not because I get kudos. If motherhood or writing was based on reward, nothing would get written and no kids would be born. Both are jobs that need perseverance even in the face of discouragement. And you FEEL like murdering people, but you can't. 12. Nobody can mess with your baby. Perhaps this is why we all take reviews so hard. If you have kids, maybe you'll know what I mean when I say I can say something about my kids (or my book) but you'd better not slam them. Even if you're right. LOL. Books are like my babies. I create them, nurture them, they drive me crazy and then I have to send them out in the world to be criticized, scrutinized and loved or hated. 13. Sometimes it feels like I'm going NOWHERE and then POOF! Something amazing. LONG periods of work, work, work. Short periods of euphoric success. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
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Name:: Jennifer McKenzie Location:: California
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