Admire Authors

I used to wonder why it took so long to get the next book in a series from one of my favorite authors?  I would impatiently wait for their next book to come out, wondering what could take so long?  It would take me maybe a week to read their newest masterpiece once it was published.  Having written two books now and still in the final stages of formatting my first book to E-publish it (hopefully within the week), I have the corrections back from my editor to begin the first edit/rewrite of my second book.  I am barely able to continue writing my third book because I have been so busy with the first two. 

Any author who is turning out two novels a year plus holding down a day job to pay the bills is working two full time jobs and is very busy indeed.  More than that and the author would be undergoing psychological help and facing burnout, take it from somebody who is definitely paying his dues and learning the ropes.  I totally understand when I read about authors who have somebody approach them with a story idea and suggest, "Hey, if you write this story we can split the profits!"  HA.  The Story ideas are the easy part!!  I got story ideas to keep me busy for twenty years, that I will be lucky if I ever get them all written and edited.  It is 2% inspiration and 98% perspiration (Edison said that) with stories, just as it is with inventions.  Let me tell you I hate Editing and Formatting!!!!  I enjoy writing when I get to.  It took me longer to edit my first book than it did to write it. 

I am not complaining!  I want to be a published author and would do all this if I get paid or not, it is truly what I was meant to do.  I am sorry it took me 44 years to figure that out.  But now that I am started it will be my passion until I die.  If nobody ever buys a book I write or reads any of my stories, I will still write them and publish them.  I know from the people who have read my work that even my first effort is good.  I know it is not great but I am getting better at the craft every day and I am purposefully saving my best stories until I find my style and groove and get close to the elusive 1 million word mark.  That is the point, according to several authors whose work I admire greatly, that it takes to make a decent writer if you are going to be one.  Before that point it will be pretty much polished crap, but we all have to start somewhere.

I only say all this to encourage other writers who may follow my blog and inform them of the reality of the task at hand.  I plan to continually update this blog with aspects and insights into the world of writing and publishing as I work my way through the system and process.  To discuss elements of writing, style, characterization, plots, time lines, story ideas, editing tips, English tips (the language I speak and write in), formatting tips, and encouragement for fellow authors.  So please stay tuned.  If you have any questions or areas of interest please comment and I will do what I can to help.