Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Feeling overwhelmed :(

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with writing a novel.  Will it all come together?  Do I have enough description of scenes?  Enough Dialogue?  Are my characters interesting enough?
     Some days I approach the keyboard of my computer with total confidence.  I CAN do this...this is something that I love to do.  I have read enough books, that I should know how it's done.  My family is very supportive.
     Then there are the days where I drag myself to the computer and I feel so inadequate.  My self esteem is at an all time low.  I feel there is no way that I will be good enough...after all this is a very competitive business.  No one will want to read my book. 
     Today is one of those days where I am overwhelmed.  I am spending each day writing my manuscript and several hours devoted to learning the craft.  Will I ever make it??? 
     Don't get me wrong ....I LOVE writing and even learning the craft of writing, but I want to be a published writer...that is my goal.  But then again, isn't that every writers goal?  I don't write because I want to be famous....actually that is the part that is least appealing to me.  I hate the thought of being on national television promoting my book.  I see myself as a very private author...who just enjoys the art of WRITING!  I do realize that book signings and promotions are part of the package of being an author, but that is not why I want to be successful.
     I have a real passion to write books that are very clean.  I know that in this day and time I need to  clarify what I mean by clean.  Clean= no profanity and no explicit scenes (if you know what I mean).  I become so frustrated with all the wonderful authors out there that write beautifully (and who I use to read, before the Lord convicted me to set higher standards of what I should allow my eyes to take in) but they have incorporated so much profanity and graphic scenes that it ruins the story.
     Don't authors realize that if they cleaned up their books that they could sell more of them.  There are Christians out there that have set high standards and refuse to read such books.  Could it be that they are feeling pressure from the publishers to put certain things in to sell the book?  I don't know the answers but my plan (Lord willing) is to write top quality suspense novels that you can read without worrying about what is in it.  My goal is to write in the secular market, and hopefully have an impact on other authors to "clean" up the books that are being published.
     I have not decided exactly how my suspense will play out as far as being a Cozy, Mystery, or Thriller type book.  I am very interested in forensics and murders and how crimes are solved so my books would not be suitable for children.
    I do picture my books having humor in them as a balance with the suspense....I do not like gory, novels that are on the "dark" side....my books will be "edge of your seat" with some funny stuff thrown in here and there.
    Well I guess I have rambled on enough.....now back to writing. :)
   

4 comments:

Frisbee Girl said...

I know how that is... You'll do fine. You can do it!!! I can't wait til your book is done and I can read it! :) Even though my book still has a ways to go, I'm looking into publishers already. (when I'm not in a creative writing spurt, I research publishers :) I was looking at approximately how many of the manuscripts that one company receives get published, and they said they only publish about 3% of all the ones they receive. But they're looking like they'd be my first pick. Do you have a preferred one picked out, or have you not started looking yet? I've also been looking into the possibility of getting a literary agent...I found one up in Nashville, but that wouldn't be on the top of my list.

Now you've got me wanting to go write... lol

Love,
Sarah

Pamela said...

Hey Sarah I'm glad I inspired you to go write...I too get excited about writing when I hear someone talking about writing. I have not even looked at any publishers. I know some authors will start putting their partial manuscripts out there hoping if they get accepted they can hurry and finish their manuscript in time..I just don't want that kind of pressure so I am going to finish my whole manuscript before seeing a publishing house. I hope that by the end of summer I will be ready to start looking for an agent. I start a critique group orientation the first of this month. I'm nervous but I think it will be lots of fun.
Blessings, Pamela

Deborah M said...

Hi Pam,

Thank you for stopping by my blog Butterfly Journey. I've signed up as a follower on you blog also. We don't live to far from each other. I know what you mean about writing. I had a completed manuscript, but when I realized how much work it was going to take, I became overwhelmed. I haven't given up yet, just slowed down at bit. LOL
Visit me anytime.
Deborah M.
deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com
debbiejeanm[at]gmail[dot]com

Pamela said...

Hey Deborah, Thanks for visiting my blog. I really enjoyed reading your blog and found it very informative. I am thinking about joining the critique group on ACFW now that I have several chapters completed of my manuscript. How do you feel about the critique group?Hugs, Pamela