Sunday 3 April 2011

My Dilemma!


It is quite an exciting time for me at the moment, though a very busy one. I have finished the rewrites of my book 3 - Sometimes It Happens... and now working through the final edits. 
Last week I saw the mock-up for the book cover from the graphic designers. Avalon Graphics. It looks fab and I hope to be able to share this with you shortly.

As well as working on Sometimes It Happens... I have another book percolating in my head which I am anxious to start writing. So why am I not getting on with it I hear you shout! Well, notwithstanding that there are only twenty four hours in a day, I have the dilemma of my first two books: Magnolia House and Satchfield Hall. Both books have received lovely 5 star reviews, on Amazon. I have also received emails and  phone calls. But, and this is the dilemma, I have learnt so much working with my editor that I feel I need to edit these books. And maybe I have to do a little rewriting too. So now I must look at how to work my days to meet the demands of my life, finish the final touches to my lovely new novel, look at my plot for a new book and seriously look to editing /rewriting my first two books.
What to do first once Sometimes It Happens.. is released....that is my dilemma!

As I tap away at my keyboard, I feel sure I will go for tackling everything. I just need to plan the best way of optimising my time and making sure I continue to enjoy what I love, and that is writing.

14 comments:

Rosalind Adam said...

You said it in the final sentence. You have to go for what you fancy doing at the time because that will be right for you and the writing muse within your head.

My gut reaction would be to move on to the new rather than rewriting the old but if that's the advice you've been given from the professionals then you have to go with that.

Good luck and I hope other commenters (is that a word?) can be more helpful

Pauline Barclay said...

Hello Ros, thank you. My head is swimming with my new story, so in between everthing else, I will start to write it. My lovely new protagonist is a ballsey (have I spelt that correct?)lady called Sandra Dilloway....She is a already sitting down telling me her story and what a story...! Hugs xx

jolambertwriter.blog said...

My advice is don't go back. You've had very positive feedback from books 1 and 2 and together with Helen's help you should build on that and move on to book 4.

Pauline Barclay said...

Hello Ladywriter, thanks for stopping by and for your comments. I think you are right. Fingers poised to start book 4!x

Kath said...

I think book 4 is going to decide for you what you work on because it sounds as if the story's ready to be told and it won't wait while you go off and titivate up books 1 and 2. I think it's probably best to keep moving forward and write the new book. You can always go back and do revised edits of the first two once that's done.

BaggieAggie said...

As a short story writer, I know how tempting it is to look back and think, "I could do that better now." I do believe, though, that once a short or a novel has been published, it's probably best to leave well alone; move forward with what you've learned, not back. That's just my personal opinion, though, and I'm hardly an expert!

Wishing you loads of luck with your latest, hun.

Rosie. :) x

Pauline Barclay said...

Hello Kath, thanks for your comments and I think you are right, Sandra, my new character, won't wait forever...laugh! I can always return to books 1 & 2 when I have a quiet moment....laugh again! xx

Pauline Barclay said...

Hi Rosie, it is so tempting to go back and add those little extra bits you have learnt. And thanks to my lovely editor, I have learnt a lot. But onwards and upwards. Also thanks for your kind wishes of luck.I admit to being excited! Hugs xx

Anonymous said...

Not such a bad dilemma to have, Pauline! Looks like your mind is made up. But there may come a time when your first fine careless rapture with no 4 runs out of steam. In which case you can always pick up one of those other jobs. Always good to have a back-up plan!
AliB

Pauline Barclay said...

Hello AliB, thanks for stopping by and for you advice. You are right, because I will run out of steam, you always do, laugh! Hope everything is great with you! x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

There never seem to be enough hours in the day when it comes to writing. Good luck with book 4.

Pauline Barclay said...

Hello Debs, there is never enough hours in the day full stop....scary! Take care x

Unknown said...

The number one problem with writing? Time. There aren't enough hours in the day.

If your new story is screaming to be written, I'd go with that. I think we'd all like to go back and edit our earlier work but we have to move on and there's nothing more exciting than a new world to create.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Pauline Barclay said...

Hello Shirley, thanks, as you say not enough hours in the day. but I guess the plus side is we are enjoying it all! :)