Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Contrary to what you might think...

it doesn't get any easier. Of course, logic says it should, and because of this you remain optimistic that writing the next book will be a cake walk, that your ideas will flow through your fingers onto the page with such ease and clarity you'll soon be spinning out 2-3 novels per year!

Well, I'm currently writing my fourth novel and this magical shift still hasn't happened. However, I'm happy to report that other authors I know (some who've published ten or more novels) agree with me on this point: the process itself doesn't get any easier, though with each finished novel an author's growth inevitably shines through -- improvement in the writing, confidence on the page, style, structure, tone, etc.

So for those teenagers writing short stories for the competition I sponsored this spring... don't give up, and remember, the best writing is always done in the rewriting.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank u 4 encouraging us!
My story sucked but it is getting better I think

Ramona said...

I read this all the time, how hard it is to write a novel, and I didn't believe how tuff it was till last yr when I *tried* to write my grandma's story for her about being a nurse in the war.
So. Not. For. Me.

Jessie Oliveros said...

Yes, thank you for the rewriting comment. This has been on my mind because my first draft is so ugly. I have to keep telling myself that the real book will be the rewrite.

Patti said...

You mean it doesn't get easier, Ug!!

ORION said...

yeah I'm here to verify that Holly is right...it DOESN'T get easier...but you write in spite of that...

Nadine said...

I loved your first book and then your second and lastly your third so I cannot wait to read the next one. Your writing gets stronger all the time!

Anonymous said...

It may not get any easier but I hope you never quit writing your stories. they are great.

Victoria said...

Isn't it true though that a real writer can't not write even if the writing is bad? Did you say that once or someone else?