proofs!

I received the proofs for shake down the stars this week. The copyeditor, who was ruthless and very helpful, has already gone through it with me.

Now I’m allowed fifty corrections and no more.  Even though I’ve gone over the book several times, it’s still difficult not to want to rewrite the entire thing. Ah well…

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quote from charlie

“If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery–isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.”  charles bukowski

surrender

My friend and writing sister Nichelle Tramble Spellman suggested my writing group come up with a word to focus on for the year.  I chose “surrender. “  I learned after please please please was published that I have no real control over how my books will do or what reviewers will say.  We can think this in theory, but it’s something different when you’re reading reviews on Amazon or walking into a bookstore and seeing that your book is just one of MANY books on the shelves.  It’s probably like letting your child go off into the world.  In a word, it was stressful.

Now that years have passed since please please please I have a new attitude.  I can do my best to promote my books, but at a certain point, it doesn’t feel all that healthy to obsess over sales or take a bad review as though it’s an attack on my personal character. I’m starting to think that novels are a gift, and the user can do with them what they will.  I do hope people like shake down the stars, but I also plan on letting go of the outcome and all the other stuff out of my control as much as I can.

We’ll see how I do.

What’s what your word?

p.s. LOVED this video, and she says it so much better than I do…

oprah winfrey’s thoughts on what it means to surrender