I have three more chapters before I reach the end of romance six–at least, the first draft. I’m happy with the book, the story and characters, but I hate it right now. I’m so sick of writing it, and so ready for the next book, I can hardly stand it. Every writer is different, but until I can hardly stomach a book, I figure something’s wrong with it.
I had this book so plotted out, I thought for sure it would have to behave. But I’m here to tell you, you can plot out events in a book, but once a character comes to life, you’ve lost leverage. He or she might do what’s in your outline, but the whys and wherefores get bent beyond recognition. And darn it all, you end up liking a character who started out as a pill. Two of my characters switched sides on me in this book, and a new character wriggled into the story and made herself at home. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but people who tell me that if they plot, it ruins the surprise of writing the story, must be better at discipline than I am.
Oh, well, this is a shorter post than usual, because if I were to give anyone advice on writing right now, it would be DON’T DO IT. Even though, a week from now, I’ll be all gung-ho again. So I’ll spare everyone my end-of-book blues and hope that YOUR writing is going swimmingly well!
My webpage: just posted chapter 22 & 23: http://www.judithpostswritingmusings.com/
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Twitter: @judypost
Judi Lynn 
This is SO you at the end of every book. Get it done and to me. I bet it’s terrific. And don’t underestimate those pushy characters. They are sometimes needed and can always be hacked out if of no use. (Bet you love the hacking out bit.)
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It is so me! That’s why I need you to look at it. John got bored with me plopping my fanny in my chair to write, so I didn’t get as much done as I wanted to. But John is a little bit more fun than writing sometimes:) I tried for 70,000 words this time, and I’m there, so I can hack away if I need to.
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I was feeling like that with the last book in my Point Pleasant trilogy, Judi. I was sooo sick of working on it, and characters weren’t behaving the way I intended. Once I had some time to step back from it, I decided I really liked the way it turned out. I’m sure your latest is wonderful. Sometimes writers just get caught up in the forest-for-the-trees way of looking at things 🙂
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This happens to me almost all the time, and it takes me a while to like my writing again. I even think of all different ways to change my style, and then when the book’s actually done, I still don’t like it for a while, but I settle down:)
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I loved your little “tirade” because everyone has a unique reaction to writing THE END. When I finish a book, I can’t even think about writing another one. That’s lasts about a week, but it’s very real when it’s there. On the other hand, I can’t wait to start the editing process. It’s so much easier for me than the actual writing, and I love the fine tuning, especially of the language. http://www.elizabethvollstadt.blogspot.com.
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Thanks for sharing your technique with me. I have a friend who has trouble letting go of books, just keeps editing them until her writer friends say, “Enough! Let it go. Move on.” Writers have so many things in common, and so many things unique to us. It’s so much fun getting together to talk shop:)
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