We never finish – we only ever abandon

I'm currently putting together a manual about marketing for some of the authors I've published. I'm making here a list of routines and habits I think helps us to market and publicise our books without it feeling like too onerous a task. 

Interestingly all of the topics I've written about today I've already tackled on my blog A Publisher's Perspective. I find, however, that I want to add in more material and alter the tone as I go along. This is in part because I'm talking to a slightly different audience. It is only a very slightly different audience, though. The greater reason is that in the few weeks I've been away from that text I've developed as a writer. What was acceptable then is no longer.

I'm also letting work I finished some time ago out to beta-readers. Two have responded so far. I totally get what they're saying. Yet, when I abandoned this work several months ago it was perfect.

One of my books goes out of print in December. It's tempting to just slap on a new cover, give it an extra proof read and get it out again. Or has so much happened since it came out that I'd be better forgetting it all together? Maybe divide it into three as there are three stories there anyway? 

At the weekend I did some marking for the university.  A deadline means that the students have to "abandon" their work at a given date. We give them feedback. This gives them the opportunity to adjust their texts before they let them out again. 

Thank goodness for deadlines or we would tinker forever.                

The Problem with Reading

The problem for writers about reading is that you can’t stop being a writer enough to get really absorbed into a new book. If you also happen to be teaching Creative Writing at a university as I am it gets even worse. Each book you read, you start editing and I often find I start thinking in terms of marks. I even reedit my own book as I give readings at schools and other meetings. I used to think what they said about Anthony Minghella was an exaggeration – that he never finished work he just abandoned it. Now I think I’m even worse than him.
Take the book I’m reading at the moment. It’s a typical holiday read, written by an American about American women but with much of the plot playing out in Europe. However, there is plenty of back story set in the States. I initially found several of the sentences clunky and the only character I’ve met in depth somewhat unbelievable. The technology is way out of date – no blackberries, no mobiles being used in flight mode and no wireless internet. Still, the book is only a few years old and that is how fast technology is moving.
And yet. By chapter three I’m hooked.
I feel very much the same about the Harry Potter books. I can pick lots of faults with the writing. Yet the plots are superb. Plot is King. And interestingly, Stephen King claims he does not plot but just puts characters together and sees what happens. Yet his plots are almost perfect. All this analysis, hey? Reading won’t ever be the same again, I guess.

Final Draft “Peace Child”

Yes, yet another final draft. I did make quite a major change in this. I renamed one of the characters for part of the story, which for the readers slightly disguises who she is. It gives another layer of mystery, hopefully. I was intrigued, too, to spot some really loose bits. You would have thought I’d have got those ironed out by now or be experienced enough not to have them in the first place. But there they were. I guess we do carry on growing as writers. All the time.

I discussed this with a colleague yesterday whose latest book has just come out. It looked good. He was pleased with it, and I’ll probably buy a copy. But I almost detected in him the same cringe factor I feel about looking at work that was completed a while ago. He also confessed to having moved on. That is the way of it for writers.

Indeed, the new “patch” in PC does seem to stand out. It is quite vibrant. I am pleased with it. But does that create a problem for the rest of it?

The novel has also changed its name. It is now “The Prophecy”. Part II of the trilogy will be “Babel” and the final part “Peace Child”. It will be known as the Peace Child trilogy. But yes, my husband and my PhD internal examiner were right. Would young adults want to read a book with the word “child” in the title?

I’m now going to have about ten copies made into a proper book and let a bunch of people read it again. A plain dark blue cover, I think. Good old Lightning Source. I may, that way, get some endorsements even before it goes out in the big wide world.