Welcome to another meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group - sign up here to join this lovely group - IWSG !
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!
This month's question is "What was the most inspiring feedback you received including agents, editors and beta readers?"
Hmm... that is hard to answer in some ways. It is so topical for me right now as my new novel Little Birds was released a couple of weeks ago and I'm starting to hear from those who have been reading it. I have to say though that the response that has really stuck for me came after my first book The Crooked Knife was released. It came from one of my closest friends and it was really her look of surprise when she contacted me and said how good it was. I laughed and said she must have been worried that it would be bad and she'd have to make shit up. Exactly! she replied. She never was any good at lying. The other feedback that really encouraged me was from the book-clubs that I attended and finding out how deeply they read and what they were curious about. Very thrilling.
I had the same editor for both books and her feedback was positive without being remotely gushing. From the publisher of my first book - nothing. He probably didn't read it. I remember talking to him early on and getting off the phone and saying to my husband that I didn't know why he'd decided to take it on he was so bored with the whole thing. Ha. This is one of the fabulous things about being a rather aged author - I really don't care - as long as my copyeditor (my husband) likes it and I like it - well the rest is up to the gods.
While we're on the topic of releases - do any of you experience a sort of post-partum depression when a book comes out? I'm feeling very blah and not sure if it is the world in general, finishing a big project, or you know - hating publicizing said book. What do you think?
10 comments:
Your first publisher sounds terrible. It's great that you've gotten such great feedback from the book club. They're often real lovers of books.
I purchased and read The Crooked Knife and Little Birds and read them both over a few days. I spent much more time in my reading chair than anticipated last week, because your writing and the stories inspired me to continue. Truly, I did not want to stop. Each book taught me about topics/situations I didn’t know much about, and gave me great pause for thought. I loved Nell’s voice, her sincerity, her inward humor, and her struggle to find a balance between “political” correctness in her job, and doing what is right. I also loved your descriptive imagery and thought, gosh, maybe I want to go to Labrador. I finished Little Birds and was left hoping the book you’re working on now is another Nell Monroe mystery. Congratulations Jan. Thank you for two excellent reads.
So odd your publisher seemed bored! Why on earth did he pick your book then? Doesn't matter - he did.
Interesting comments, each and every. I loved the friend you liked the book, sounded surprise, and you gave the honest response that had she been afraid "she'd have to make shit up" Ha!
Oh man, I get that. After any BIG release, there is a drop. After our musical reading last year, it spanned around a month and whew! I was glad to step out of that phase. When you are running, running, running and suddenly no longer running, there is going to be some fallout, eh?
Congratulations on the book.
Have to make shit up - LOL! Don't we all know that feeling?
Liminal spaces are tough.
Your response to my books is just what I'm after. Thanks so much! If you would copy and paste this on to Amazon reviews I'd be chuffed to bits! The neediness of the writer is never assuaged.
Happy IWSG Day, Jan. I hope all is well with you.
Congratulations on the book release. Sorry about the post pardom after the book.
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