Glad to be of some help–and consolation.

LOL. I went back to see whether I’d said anything spectacularly soul-baring. I didn’t see it.

I guess it’s because for me this is not new. I have the same trouble with every book and I do a holy-crap-I-almost-couldn’t-manage-it report with every book.

The bad first draft thing? There is actually a school of thought called “The Sh*tty First Draft” school–or so Meredith Duran told me. Their philosophy is you just get it out, doesn’t matter how bad it is. (The funny thing is I don’t want to belong to the Sh*tty First Draft school. I’m an involuntary sh*tty first drafter!)

The hating the book during writing thing? I do not know a single writer who has not hated some book of his/hers during the writing.

What astonishes me is how often I hear writers say they hate their books–AFTER they are done writing them. Me, I really like mine. I don’t think that makes me a narcissist, it just means I write books that are to my taste.

I guess what I’ve been trying to say is that what I write here isn’t all that uncommon. In fact, many writers chronicle, in far greater detail, their frustrations with their process. Jennifer Crusie, for example. I think she and Bob Mayer did a thing where they recorded all their problems and progress on a particular book in one year–but don’t quote me on it, it was a while ago.

But, if it makes you feel less alone in your struggle, then you are very welcome.

And best of luck.

P.S. I’m not sure about wise, but I am very casual.

Again, your honesty astonishes me. Sometimes I wonder if you really see what I see, when you read what you wrote in here.

I can´t believe most authors would be so face-to-face with their difficulties and confident enough to share them with the-world !

I imagine we all can relate to what you say and how relaxing it is for me to see that all these things I feel and go through are somewhat normal.

For example, when you say…

“Combine the first two, you have a delivered first draft of somewhat questionable quality”

…it reassures me that it’s okay to have a very bad first draft, that maybe i don’t have to obsess in editing every paragraph I write, as soon as I write it ! (yes, I’m working on not being so hard on myself…) :S

Or when you wrote…

“I have hated all my books during the writing. All of them, passionately. “

…it made me relax a lot and giggle at what you just confessed publicly and I thought it was my biggest secret. lol

How many times I just hate what I wrote yesterday or how many times I’m writing something, trying my best, and it just feels shallow, and how I hate-and-love and hate again in this little struggle of mine in writing on my second language… uffff…

All of this to say, you don’t post often (at all), but when you do it’s really nice and comfy to drop by and linger on your words of wisdom and casualness.

Thanks.
Vanessa.

Glad you enjoyed the news.

Thanks for posting on your writing process! It’s really helpful for writers (and non-writers) to know how wrenching and difficult writing can be. Perseverance and humor (and great friends and supporters!) are so key for success, and you’ve got it all! Best of luck and keep us posted with news!

I guess you can look forward to one of those “Holy @#$%” posts with everyone of my books.