In one of the best Winston Churchill Quotes I’ve seen, Winston Churchill said that writing a book goes through five phases. In phase one, it is a novelty or a toy; by phase five, it is a tyrant ruling your life, and just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him/her to the public.
Do you have a monster you need to kill? A piece of writing or work of art that you need to “fling” to the public? Or perhaps a project you need to launch? If so, I’d love to hear about it.
My novel (book #1 of a four book series) is going to be published in September, so I guess I will be flinging the monster then! I feel like my life has been totally consumed with writing this series, and now that I have all four books in draft form, it’s all about editing them with an eye to making each book good unto itself but also creating a whole story that spans all four books. I’m looking forward to getting them “out there” because I’m kind of tired of having them all “in here.” 🙂
Oh do you have my number. I am so sick of my novel that I’m seriously worried what I’m writing is no longer as good as what could be, but I’ve wrung all the juice out of it. And I have several other ideas I want to do instead. Actually there’s one short story I am going to do for a writing contest in May. It will be the first time I write as a female from the first-person point of view.
Such is the life of a working writer. Some people might think these are wonderful problems to have. Every day I get to write is another day I don’t have to work at Lowe’s. (well, you know what I mean.)
The “monster” for me is the waiting. I have one manuscript that is hanging out in agent piles (Three asked to see the complete ms. Two have had it for 5 months. One suggested rewrites).
Another manuscript is being considered seriously by a solid, mid-size press that has had it for over six months. That the executive editor has had it this long is positive. But it’s no guarantee that it’s in her stack to sell the marketing department on.
In the meantime, it’s great to hear from you.
From one of our lovely email subscribers:
“Hi Susan:
My cup literally runneth over with such monsters that I would love to sling to the public. I am just on guard, watching and waiting for the right door of opportunity to open to me, so that I can. Every day that I awaken, hope springs eternal that this will be that day.
Peace and Love,
Trelys”
I took your Churchill quote about the “monster” to my Writing and Publishing in Natural Science class today. I figured my lecturers or classmates might get a kick out of it!
I will start writing my dissertation next week, I think that will definitely what I will be throwing to the public in the future!!! I never thought of my dissertation as a toy though, but maybe I have thought of it as a mistress…
I have always liked to write, ever since I can remember. I was so excited to write down my last name for the first time on a piece of paper and have my grandfather check the spelling. I’ve written for fun, for company, to show my love and appreciation to friends and family, I’ve written down some of the dreams I’ve had at night, and morph them into short stories. I have never taken it seriously enough, until I wrote my doctoral candidacy exam, and then I met the monster. It has been a challenge, mostly because before that my writing was shared with me and people that knew me really well… so having to work under the assumption of “people are not in your head” was the most challenging (more challenging than not using my native tongue)
When writing in science one has to be clear, to allow the logical flow of ideas, to use the most precise words, to have a well rounded story, to make reading a pleasure for the peer reviewer (I must point out they usually have a lot of attitude!!!!)… now when I read books, or write a short story, or a long letter to a friend, I use what scientific writing has taught me… and I never expected science would teach me that!!!
When writing a scientific paper, I feel acquiring data is a mosnter. When I write my stories and letters, i feel my that acquiring the experience (or pushing my imagination to its very limits when I lack the experiences) is monster.
and thinking about monster, brings me to one of my favourite poems in the world…
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ithaca/
Hi Charin,
Thank you for your long and wonderful comment. I am glad you have found such pleasure in writing and I wish you the best of luck with your dissertation. I really liked the poem you sent. I think it is a great metaphor for the writing life, especially the last few lines:
Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don’t in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn’t anything else to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn’t deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you’ll have understood what these Ithakas mean.
—————–
I have been on this journey for years and it has taken me to unexpected places, but it has been a pleasure. I am happy to have met you on the journey!
From another one of our lovely email subscribers:
“At the present time I’m reconciled to servitude. But I do remember when I finished my 3rd rewrite on a novella I hated those people. I just wanted to be done with them. So I filed them to allow myself breathing space rather than continue with critiquing something that was running in my head like a “too often viewed” movie. You know what’s coming next so your eyes and your thinking almost skim across the page.
For me, I’ve found the time away allows for me to visit another place…read a book, read poetry, listen to classical music…and unleash those “people” who keep me awake at night. It works for me. I find attitudes and adjustments pop-up in some other characters, some other writing style. I make notes and continue with the novel I’m reading…or the non-fiction work I’m reading.
I file the notes in the drawer with the work, type them at the top of page one in my computer file, and after a few months, I reenter the world of the novella or novel with a new attitude adjustment.
Nancy”
Nancy is an amazing short story writer and a friend of mine. Check out her website at: http://www.nancypurcellauthor.com
Go Winston and you, Susan, for this post! I’m under a deadline right now. I’d give anything to sit on the couch and watch reruns of Dick Van Dyke. Thanks for helping me realize soon I’ll be back a the toy stage.