No, I haven't consumed too much coffee. Or had too many cupcakes -- yet.But I'm feeling twitchy because the e-book release of The Hating Game is getting ever closer, and I'm getting ever more nervous. Today my publisher sent me over the final cover (a few minor changes, but FINAL!) and the penny dropped. This is it. My fiction will be out there. And soon!
I'm still doing some tweaks here and there, but it's now too late for major revisions. And with every sentence I read, I wonder: will people like this? Will they think I'm a bad writer? Will they ever want to read anything I write again?
It's the most nerve-wracking time of my life -- even more than the first day of junior high (because at least then I had cool deck shoes and rolled-up jeans). Yes, I have non-fiction published and I did a little bit of stressing over that, but this is different. This is my creation; my world. And I want people to love it.
I know not everyone will -- that's the nature of books. It's subjective. But what if no-one does? What if I get slated?
Ahhhhhh! Give me some wine!
How do you cope with the stress of showing others your writing?
and i thot only moustaches twitched. You will be fine think of this as pre publishing jitters or whatever its called. If no one would like it you would have never sold the book to any publishing house.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to see you go through this journey, just relax and you will be fine :)
Stress... Some people deal with it through displacement activity others through ego.
ReplyDeleteAhh, good grief, what are they going to think? Oh well, I guess I should repaint/write another book/knit/exercise/fix that broken chair/save the world/sort the books by size/sort the records by date of aquisition.
Ahh, good grief, what are they going to think? They're going to love it because i'm great!
I tend to deconstruct things rationally until stress loses its meaning...
Whatever works for you. : j
I try not to think about what others might think of my novel and start on the next one. Oh, and eat chocolate.
ReplyDeleteYes, eat chocolate and drink wine, lots of wine.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteTrust me, it's going to do well. You'll be looking back on this post in a few months and thinking, Why, why did I say that? ;)
best
F
If I'm facing a stressful situation I imagine myself on the other side of it, once it's over. I say to myself: this time next week you will be relaxing in the pub with your friends and you will never have to worry about exams ever EVER again. That makes me feel more relaxed.
ReplyDeleteObviously in your case there will be a second book and a third book, so you would be lying to yourself to say you will never ever have to worry about a book release again. However, if it makes you feel better, drink a bottle of wine and lie your pants off.
Thank you everyone! I like the thought of wine. And of imagining myself when it's over... with positve results!
ReplyDeleteDrink wine. Then drink some more wine. It is definitely a scary time, but you will be FINE! Try to enjoy the excitement rather than freaking out (easier said than done, I know!). Good luck!
ReplyDeleteKeep topping up the wine glass until you remember, or don't care, that your agent and publisher love it and they are the ones that are supposed to know about these things.
ReplyDeleteThen strap on your seatbelt and enjoy the ride. Oh, and don't forget to tell us what you see on the way. x
Expect some bad reviews. No matter how popular you are, you will get some bad results but I think you won't get anything from your friends.
ReplyDeleteI have a book coming out sometimes soon (I hope) and I know that it won't do as much as I hope but I think I worry about that more than I worry about bad reviews because I know not everyone will like what I wrote.
Blah, blah, blah, what I'm trying to say is: You'll do great!
CD
I just read my last comment and realized: It makes no sense whatsoever!
ReplyDeleteI'm sick, bear with me.
CD
That's what it's all about, that connection! Your words meeting up with the reader ... A very exciting time, enjoy this part of the journey :)
ReplyDeleteChocolate, cigarettes, coffee and wine.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I missed something but did you say when it is availible as an ebook? I am looking forward to downloading it to my Kindle and curling up with your story.
ReplyDeleteWine might not do the trick at this stage of the game. This is exactly why tequila was invented...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will be a success,I wish you the best of luck.
ReplyDeleteWhen my poetry book was published and they sent me a copy of it I was overwhelmed.
Have a lovely day.
Yvonne.
The best way to get over it is to get that first bad review. And then another. After that, you'll be fine and ready to write the next book.
ReplyDeleteYou have such an eye-catching cover. Don't be twitchy. I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteI had a curly mullet, blue eyeliner, and frosted pink lips. How bad could your first day have been in comparison with mine? Should I mention it was the '80s, I was 84 pounds, five feet, and the rage was shoulder pads and huge sweaters? It's amazing I didn't date more.
by the time I finished editing my book and making all the little corrections - I hated it. I wanted the book to be done so I could ignore it for awhile. Once completed and out there I began to love it again as it had taken on its own life, a total separation from me. Which is good - I would have hated going on in life dreading these poems.
ReplyDeleteI bet it will be amazing! Sit back and just enjoy it!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you and am sure everything will go smoothly and everyone will love your book. Deep breaths, oh and wine of course.x
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine that feeling! But I bet it's awesome--best of luck~ :o)
ReplyDeleteI know that twitchy feeling!!
ReplyDeleteI just keep reminding myself that not everyone is going to like it. But it helps to hear when someone does! Last night I got an email from one of my tour hosts who's finished reading the review copy in just TWO days. (And I made her cry - told her I was sorry!)
Lovely cover!
ReplyDeleteThe ones who'll like it will like it. The ones who won't, don't worry about (but do your best to become a better writer through the more constructive criticisms of those who might dislike it).
Thank you so much, everyone! Consensus seems to be that wine helps! That, and I just need to roll with it.
ReplyDeleteYay for bloggers - you've made me feel so much better!
Take a deep breath and enjoy another cupcake :) People are going to love it I bet!!
ReplyDelete*passes you bottle of wine*
You're braver than I am, because I've only showed my writing to a few people. My blog was my first real attempt to share my writing with other people.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure people will love your book! I'm going to buy a copy as soon as it comes out.
Awwwwwww go get wine and chocolate and have some cupcakes too!
ReplyDeleteYou and your adorable book will be just fine! Look at your shiny new book cover!! And your lovely author photo!!! You're PUBLISHED. You are a bona fide CHICKLIT AUTHOR!!! You're TALL! And you're CANADIAN!! :-)
And soon I'll be able to go to Waterstone's and under R in the fiction section - there you'll be!!! Or better still I'll just swan off to the bestselling top 10 books shelves to find you. :-)
Give yourself a great big hug!!!!
Take care
x
I really think you'll be just fine. You'll have a blast when it comes out, so if you can ride through this period of stress, things will be great. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the moment! I know, easy for me to say. :) But this is such an exciting time for you! Your novel is going to do awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteOne 1.5 litre bottle of 17.5% proof wine coming your way!
ReplyDeleteI can't even begin to imagine how nervous you are feeling and as I've never been in this postion, I can't offer any words of wisdom. So I'll just offer you a big virtual (((hug))) and say it's all going to be fine and wonderful. it will!
It looks awesome although I agree with the others, invest in a room-sized bar of dark chocolate.
ReplyDeleteOh, I left you an award on my blog. You can go there to receive it.
Go with the chocolate!
ReplyDeleteLove the cover! Looks like a great story.
ReplyDeleteCoping with stress, I'm still working on that one. ;]
No, no, forget the wine. Run outside and scream - that'll relieve the stress. Plus, people will come ask if you're okay, then you can tell them about the book. Start wearing a t-shirt that says, Ask Me About The Hating Game. Keep doing stuff like that and the nerves will disappear.
ReplyDeleteUmmm, I'd eat chocolate, have a nice mocha and get writing something else.
ReplyDeleteAre you working on something new? That'll help distract you.
The book will do wonderfully, I'm sure of it. You have so many fans already and with all the people twittering, blogging and facebooking your launch it's gonna be awesome!
So chin up and get busy! *hugs*
:D
I imagine I will stress myself into a coma! I rarely even do blogfests because I'm nervous putting my stuff out there :)
ReplyDeleteBut, I know Hating Game is going to be awesome!!!
Drink lots of wine dear but really it will work out fine just trust that :) x
ReplyDeleteI tend to pace, and express my concern to others with the help of dramatic hand gestures emphasizing my crippling frustration ;-)
ReplyDeleteGlad to have found your blog! I've got my fingers crossed that your release will go off without a hitch.
You're going to knock it out the park Talli!!!!! I'm so excited for The Hating Game, though I'll be honest I'm not an ebook reader so I'll have to be patient and wait for the release date of the actual novel but I'm looking forward to it approaching!
ReplyDeleteI brace myself... grab the bottle of wine, and ask my husband to tell me I'm wonderful. Then I blog :)
Aw, don't worry Talli. It's going to be amazing... I can just feel it! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for this book! Seriously.
ReplyDeleteYou may be super nervous, but it's exciting too, no?
ReplyDeleteJust keep telling yourself you're good, that none of your readers could write as good of a story as you, lol. ;]
Talli,
ReplyDeleteYou're doing fine. I really think you have a great cover & I'm so looking forward to reading your book. Your promo efforts are going to make your book do extremely well. You have a LOT of people out there wanting to read your book. Don't be nervous, be happy! :)
Wow, the cover looks fabulous! Of course people will love it because you are brilliant! Think positive and maybe have a little wine, too!
ReplyDeleteAll the best. I am sure it would be great.
ReplyDeleteAll the best. I am sure it would be great.
ReplyDeleteIt wont get slated and you will enjoy it. That's an order :)
ReplyDeleteWould you like red or white wine? ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's a crazy and exciting time for an author. I'm sure it will go well.
I stress even when I get short pieces published, so I can imagine how it must be for you with a novel.
ReplyDeleteWine and cupcakes could well be the answer x
You're too cute. I am so excited for you! You really deserve great success. Try not to freak out over it! =)
ReplyDeleteI know I'd be stressed to in your position! But just know it's a time, and it will pass, and enjoy the anticipation. Like your first non-fiction, this time will not come again! And know in your heart you have done your very best and that is all everyone wants from you and FOR you.
ReplyDeleteOh honey! I can't wait to read your book. I actually as excited as you sound. I'm sure if people like the genre, they're going to like your book. There are people out there who dislike chick lit kinda stuff, but that's their problem. Suck up the chick lit lovers, I say!
ReplyDeleteAh how exciting!!!!!! :):) I'll have some wine for you. Anything to help. Cos i'm nice like that :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll be fine! I'm going through the same thing at the moment (my debut novel came out two weeks ago), but I try not to think about it. Definitely eat lots of chocolate! :)
ReplyDeleteNearly 500 people love your writing or they wouldn't be here reading your blog. Get yourself back on the carbs and wine and try not to worry too much about things you can't control. It's going to be just fine, you have such a lot of people rooting for you and wanting to like your book that you're halfway there!
ReplyDeleteHi Talli .. gosh I can feel your butterflies down here .. but what a fun time ..
ReplyDeleteIt's terrible when you want to jump for joy and dash around like a lunatic .. when you know you have to keep your feet firmly on the ground, and your head straight .. to make life as easy as you can on yourself.
All will be well .. it'll be so wonderful .. happy days .. enjoy this coming week .. Hilary
You've got your answer - wine and cup cakes. :)
ReplyDeleteYou'll be fine. I'm sure you'll enjoy every minute of it.
Oh and, um *hangs head in shame* I've only just signed up for the Splash. I was convinced I'd done it before. Put it down to age.
I already like it and I haven't even read it.
ReplyDeleteChocolate and wine always help! And then I run. Seriously. Running helps.
ReplyDelete