Some of this describes so well my own experience, it's funny. It's a relief in a way that I wasn't alone in my feelings.
My first sense of Jani was as the main character in a series of short stories. It never occurred to me to attempt a novel until I started writing, and writing, and writing. I did try a couple of short works, but never sold them. I am most comfortable in the long form, which unfortunately seems to be getting longer all the time. I never realized how easy it could be to fill 700+ manuscript pages.
The first novel I finished was the first novel I sold. No trunk novels. This was bad in a way--I think I would have felt more confident knowing that I could formulate multiple universes with their own distinct casts of characters. I didn't try to think up a non-Jani book until a few years ago, three books into the Jani series. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do it. I envy the people who can cobble a proposal in a few days and actually pull a book out of it. They possess a brand of quickness that I lack.
Each time I start a book is like the first time for me. I know I've done it in the past, but I still wonder whether I will be able to pull it off one more time. It's been getting harder, not easier. A friend told me that this is because one expects more from oneself, that one has learned more about the craft and thus raised the bar.
I have tried workshopping novel sections--maybe it was the environment but it didn't work for me. I have settled on a multiple First Reader system--they usually get the first draft in its entirety, but I have sent out sections if I'm desperate for feedback and wondering if I'm headed in the right direction. I don't enjoy constantly taking a manuscript's pulse--that way lies madness--but sometimes I still need the reassurance that I can write lucid sentences.
I keep hoping that I get over that, but I'm not holding my breath.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2004-08-20 10:29 am (UTC)My first sense of Jani was as the main character in a series of short stories. It never occurred to me to attempt a novel until I started writing, and writing, and writing. I did try a couple of short works, but never sold them. I am most comfortable in the long form, which unfortunately seems to be getting longer all the time. I never realized how easy it could be to fill 700+ manuscript pages.
The first novel I finished was the first novel I sold. No trunk novels. This was bad in a way--I think I would have felt more confident knowing that I could formulate multiple universes with their own distinct casts of characters. I didn't try to think up a non-Jani book until a few years ago, three books into the Jani series. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do it. I envy the people who can cobble a proposal in a few days and actually pull a book out of it. They possess a brand of quickness that I lack.
Each time I start a book is like the first time for me. I know I've done it in the past, but I still wonder whether I will be able to pull it off one more time. It's been getting harder, not easier. A friend told me that this is because one expects more from oneself, that one has learned more about the craft and thus raised the bar.
I have tried workshopping novel sections--maybe it was the environment but it didn't work for me. I have settled on a multiple First Reader system--they usually get the first draft in its entirety, but I have sent out sections if I'm desperate for feedback and wondering if I'm headed in the right direction. I don't enjoy constantly taking a manuscript's pulse--that way lies madness--but sometimes I still need the reassurance that I can write lucid sentences.
I keep hoping that I get over that, but I'm not holding my breath.