A non-writing friend of mine posted a meme on my Facebook timeline: “Things That Make Writers Cry” from the Writers Write blog. I’d insert the meme here, but I’m too lazy to get permission, so go ahead and check it out. I’ll wait.
**Sandy whistles Player’s 70’s
song “Baby, Come Back” while she’s waiting. Yes, she’s that old, but don’t
mention it in the comments. The woman is sensitive.**
Ooh, baby, you came back!
So out of the nine items listed, some
were humorous and some serious, right? However, they held a good bit of truth
for those of us who struggle to get the appropriate words on the page and books
into the possession of readers.
For instance, take number five: when
the coffee/chocolate/wine is gone. Ha! My mornings run on coffee. When the pot
is empty…well, it isn’t a pretty sight. And I always try to keep a stash of
chocolate, though I’m stingier in doling it out to myself. Sitting all day and
chocolate don’t combine for a pretty sight either, especially from the rear.
I’ve never fallen in love with a
character I’ve had to kill off (number seven), though there have been a few
I’ve wanted to shake until their fictional teeth rattled. My favorite times are
those when I’ve written a scene that tightens my own throat. Since I’m a rare crier,
it gives me the hope that more sensitive readers will bawl their eyes out. I
guess I’m cruel that way.
Then there’s number one. How many
times have I written brilliant prose one day and wanted to wad up my computer
and toss it into the trash the next? That’s a rhetorical question, so don’t try
it at home.
In my response to my friend, I said
I could probably add a few things to the list, so let’s get to it.
10. Lately, I’ve noticed a number
of one-star reviews on Amazon book pages that simply say “I haven’t read the
book”.
**Here is where we ALL partake in
a dumbfounded pause to let that sink in.**
Authors beg for reviews and
appreciate each one, but common sense says read the book BEFORE posting the review.
11. There are times I’ve slogged my way
to the halfway point in my book and it suddenly hits me…I still have TWICE that
many words to write! Whether you’re a plotter or pantser, sometimes creating
the story is like walking barefoot five miles in hot tar—uphill both ways. Our
brains are tired. Our fingers ache. We just want to chuck writing the second
half and go straight to the HEA. For writers, that HEA consists of two precious
words: The End. Regrettably, if we gave in to our inclination, readers would
chuck the book.
12. Time spent marketing our brilliant works.
** sigh ** I’m not talking about the effort of marketing itself, but the time
it takes away from writing even more brilliant works. Yes, it’s necessary and, yes,
we can’t ignore it, but we must also write additional stories.
13. Then there are those (hopefully few) royalty
statements that….
**And here is where Sandy wisely shuts up.**
