A promise

[wayfaringwordhack]

Many, many years ago, my husband agreed to let me stay home and write.  Many, many years ago, after typing "The End" on my first novel, I realized that my perfectionism was going to stand in the way of me ever getting something out the door and into the hands of a possible future agent or publisher. Still, I worked vigilantly at revising and trying to improve that manuscript, until one day I decided to heed the advice of moving on.  And move on I did, to To Be Undone, my second book. And then moving on didn't seem so hard, so before even finishing To Be Undone, I moved on to a shinier idea, The Bitter River.  And when the research proved to be intensive, too intensive for me to carry out in Mayotte, I moved on yet again to Witherwilds, a trilogy.  I seem to have escalating ambitions if not an escalating desire to finish and publish. I want to finish Witherwilds--I can finish Witherwilds--but looking at the time frame needed to do so discourages me. Not for my sake but for the sake of that patient man I mentioned in the first line, my loving, generous husband.

I fall into the category of writer who would like to be published more for the sake of others than for herself.  Yes, I'd like to get my stories out there, but I'm pretty tickled just to get feedback from betas.  I know that can't compare to having one's book out there for the whole world to stumble across and, hopefully, love, but still.  However, I want to get published for Julien. I need to get published for him, for his faith in me, for the time and financial and moral support he's given me through the years. I know that unless I go the self-publishing "indie" route, getting my book out there is not something I can control.  But I can control some things, such as finishing.

And so, on our trip to the south, I promised Julien that I would have a clean, solid draft of To Be Undone finished by September 1.  I also promised that said manuscript will be ready with a query to be sent out to at least 3 agents by November 1st.

There, I've done it. Made my promise public.  Don't hesitate to help me stick to it. 

Sorry, frigg ; looks like you'll be waiting a while longer for volume 2 of Witherwilds...

Comments

[frigg.livejournal.com]

*grin*

Yeah, I'm reading this post with mixed feelings. YAY for motivation, finishing something and sending it out, and booh for that not being Witherwilds, even though I see the logic of picking To Be Undone (which I btw. also like).

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I have evil plans for you to beta it, so you won't be completely without reading material.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Does this mean I should completely stop reading it now? I was just about to start again after my embarassingly grinding halt earlier this year.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

hehe. Only stop if you want to, but I'd like you to read it from start to finish when I've done. So, if twice doesn't bother you...

[navicat.livejournal.com]

Ok, woots for goals and finishing a MS! All of which I approve.

But Witherwilds book Two?? I wants it my preciousssss. Why are you making me wait? I want to know what happens!

*hugs* I believe in you. And if I can help (*cough* like beta-reading *cough*) you know where I am :)

[clarentine]

Determination, however you acquire it, is essential. Yay for promises!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Go for it!

I still am too fearful to make a similar declaration of my own....

yay!

[dlandon.livejournal.com]

I support this goal whole-heartedly! I also volunteer my services as a beta - I've really wanted to know how Witherwilds ended, too - over the next few months...

- D

[pjthompson]

You know, it's good to have a goal like that. I'm not being at all facetious. Deadlines, even if self-imposed, always help me organize my thoughts and time better. Good luck on your quest! :-D

[nipernaadiagain.livejournal.com]

So there is something to ask for update of on Sept 1st!

But your writing promise brought to my mind a HUGE favor I would like to ask from you. Would you read and comment on the experience of "Un roman estonien" by Katrina Kalda if I would get for you a copy of it?

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

As in do a review? I don't have any experience with that, but I would be happy to give it a shot. :) Let me know...

[nipernaadiagain.livejournal.com]

Yes, like review. Do you happen to have Amazon wishlist? That may be easiest way for me if you could put the book on your wishlist and I would buy it for you from there(and Amazon even does not show addresses of people you send gifts to - so no worry about that either)

It is this one:

http://www.amazon.fr/roman-estonien-Katrina-Kalda/dp/2070129683/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306391529&sr=8-1

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I don't like Amazon, but my husband has an account with them that I can use if you want to go that route. I added it to his wishlist. His account name is Julien Faure. If you can't find it, you can send me your email address and I can use the share the wishlist feature on Amazon to send it to you.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Consider a note to hold you to this made.