I recently finished a new book. Well, “finished” is a bit generous. I should say, I turned in a new book to my editor, and with her expert eye and assistance, I will be able to finish it during the editing process. (Thank God for editors!!)
At my BSF class this week, someone asked me if I’d finished my book. These wonderful ladies have been praying for me, and since I hadn’t seen them since mid-December, they wanted an update. I told them yes, and then admitted that I was wearing make-up for the first time in days and days. I also mentioned that I’d had a number of nights where I was writing until 2 AM and then got up at 6 AM to go at it again. When I at last sent the manuscript file off to my editor and staggered out of my office, my DH said, “You look exhausted.” I’m pretty sure that translates to “Man, you look old and haggard.” One of the gals laughed and said she’d always thought being a writer sounded glamorous. Yeah, right.
Back in the early 1980’s, around the time I sold my first book, I read an article about a conference where someone interviewed the spouses of the attending writers, asking, “What’s it like to be married to a writer?” One husband answered, “Have you smelled a writer on deadline?” Okay, I can laugh at that, but there is truth there. I made a mental note: No matter what hours I’m working, don’t forget to shower.
Remember the opening scene in Romancing the Stone, where the romance writer finishes her book, then staggers out of her office to find she has nothing to eat in the fridge and no toilet paper, etc.? Yeah, it really is like that. I confess that one of the greatest blessings I have is a DH who is willing to do the grocery shopping. Otherwise, in the time crunch of deadlines, we could quite possibly discover ourselves without food or TP.
The book I just finished was troublesome. I missed my original deadline. That means I’m beginning the next book already behind schedule. Groan! So, after a few days of cleaning the office, paying bills, and hopefully taking care of any other important matters, I have begun the preliminary work on my next WIP. Yesterday, I named my hero and began to discover his backstory. I love the beginning stages of a book when anything and everything is possible. At this point, I can imagine this will be an extraordinary book where I will do everything right.
Well, I guess I’d better close this blog post and return to my glamorous life. A new heroine and hero await me.
~robin
