You went back to Incarnate after 3 years?? Wow, that's really inspiring to hear! I'm sure I've banged on about it before, but my manuscript has been stuck in 'editing' for about a year now, and I do sometimes feel very disappointed in myself because of that. I read so many pieces of writing advice that tell you to move on if something's not working, so it's refreshing to hear that it is possible to return to a troublesome manuscript!
I did! Well, sort of. I had the idea for Incarnate in 2006 and wrote a few notes about it, but I had no idea how to write the book. But in 2009, feeling like I had nothing left to lose, I pulled out that old idea and started work on it.
I also have other stories that I wrote after getting my first publishing contract that have been on hold for a long time. And stories that spent years as secret side projects. And Spinning Story -- well, it'll be able to drive soon.
All stories take different amounts of time to get right. Publishing can be tough because they really do like it when you keep a schedule, but good art takes as long as it takes. And while you have the time right now, take it. Don't work on anyone else's timeline but your own. Or anyone else's process.
You went back to Incarnate after 3 years?? Wow, that's really inspiring to hear! I'm sure I've banged on about it before, but my manuscript has been stuck in 'editing' for about a year now, and I do sometimes feel very disappointed in myself because of that. I read so many pieces of writing advice that tell you to move on if something's not working, so it's refreshing to hear that it is possible to return to a troublesome manuscript!
I did! Well, sort of. I had the idea for Incarnate in 2006 and wrote a few notes about it, but I had no idea how to write the book. But in 2009, feeling like I had nothing left to lose, I pulled out that old idea and started work on it.
I also have other stories that I wrote after getting my first publishing contract that have been on hold for a long time. And stories that spent years as secret side projects. And Spinning Story -- well, it'll be able to drive soon.
All stories take different amounts of time to get right. Publishing can be tough because they really do like it when you keep a schedule, but good art takes as long as it takes. And while you have the time right now, take it. Don't work on anyone else's timeline but your own. Or anyone else's process.