After the feast...

Hello again

I hope I find you well. You find me...well...sort of in between. Let me explain: I have recently completed my first novel and having set myself a finishing date of March 31st, I was doubly delighted when I plonked down the last full stop a week earlier. Huzzah! I was pleased to have accomplished what I freely acknowledge is merely a milestone on the road to getting published, but it's a big milestone nevertheless.

So why did I feel so...bleurgh? (Say it out loud - it'll make sense.) Well, now a couple of weeks have elapsed I can start to form some conclusions. Firstly, this book ("Slybacon") was a labour of love - I shed many tears writing it, and I learnt a lot about constructing a story and developing characters. (Still much, much more work to be done during editing.) And with it being my first, I suppose there can never be another 'first' - I've lost my innocence as it were and my next project will be approached in a much more structured and 'knowing' fashion. Of course one of the upsides of that is that I expect it to be completed much more quickly (but don't quote me on that, he added hastily).

Another reason for the bleurgh feeling was, having climbed one mountain I now find myself at the foot of another one - my next project. And whilst I have ideas for the plot and the characters I'm not as fired up (yet) as I want to be. If you'll excuse a rather earthy analogy: it's as if, having just had sex (and boy it was good) I'm trying to perform again soon after. I know what needs doing but...well, my ardour has diminished. (All Frankie Howerd impersonators, please step up to the microphone now!)

However I am reassured by a fellow (published) member of our writers' group that this is a totally natural reaction. Firstly, Sheila advises, I need to leave Slybacon alone for a while so that when I return to edit it, I will see it through fresh eyes - my objectivity will not be as blurred by my infatuation as it was. Secondly, I should just plough ahead with the new project 'cos - sure as eggs is eggs - as I go through the process of developing my new characters and being delighted and amazed at how their story unfolds before my very eyes, I will come to know and love them too. She's right of course.  

So for now, Slybacon can wait...my next novel awaits my loving touch. I come to that encounter a wiser man for where I have lost my innocence (sigh) I have at least gained some experience.

See you soon

Ian