Wow, it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post already!
This month's questions asks:
As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?
I'm pretty happy with the past year other than one small endeavor in dealing with a small local publisher. If I had a do over, I would have listened to my gut and avoided that whole interaction. There was no contract and no money involved so no real losses other than one more thing to be annoyed about. Disappointed, sums it up nicely, I guess.
Without getting into specifics, because I'm not here to bash anyone and other authors seem to love these people, when your gut tells you to keep walking, even when your friends tell you to stop and check it out, listen to your gut. It's there for a reason. When a publisher will not answer emails, update you the status of the project, produces one of the worst covers and blurbs I've seen (and I've lurked on those lousy cover sites), and runs a six month and counting pre-order with no publish date in sight, it's time to walk away and maybe buy your gut an apology gift - like maybe a big chocolate shake or some cheesecake.
Enough about failures, let's talk about success, because I wouldn't do that differently. NaNoWriMo just wrapped up and it was a great November. I wrote 60,000 words (my highest single month word production) and reached 50K five days earlier than ever before. Year twelve of doing NaNo was fantastic! The story isn't done yet, I'm still writing. Though, not at the manic November pace. I do try to get 500 words a day or so to keep working toward the end.
I hope you had a great 2017 or at least a year to learn from if it didn't go so great. I suppose, with the new year approaching it's time to start pondering what my one word will be for 2018.
That sucks about the small press--it might have taken you a while, but you did walk away! (some folks still would be hanging on ;)). Happy IWSG day!
ReplyDeleteHey, you cut your losses and all it cost you was time and a few headaches. Sometimes you gotta go with your gut, and sometimes it takes a while for you to really hear what it's telling you. I did something similar the other day when I bought a Christmas present I knew I really shouldn't have (it wasn't what I wanted and cost 3x as much as I intended to spend), but somehow the salesperson talked me into it. I was half-way home and I couldn't do it; I had to turn around and bring it back, and I felt way better for doing it, despite the embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteAlso, congrats on your writing production for November! That's some serious numbers, great job!
Congrats on your writing for November. I still don't know if I could ever participate in the NaNoWriMo.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on winning Nano! I didn't do it this year, but it IS a beautiful motivator.
ReplyDeleteCongrats. It looks like another great year is in your future.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Congrats on NaNo! Sorry about that publisher. Our gut is often right when something is off or not meant to be. Cheers - Ellen
ReplyDeleteNo contract? Yikes. Not a good sign. Listening to our gut is something we should all do. Our instincts know even if our brain doesn't. ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on winning NaNo! That's a great word count.
Well done on the NaNo success. 500 words a day is my usual target. Slow but steady :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting through NaNo!
ReplyDeleteHi Jean - well done on your 60,000 - that's great and something to work with - take care and enjoy the seasonal time - cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete