Letting Go Of Your Novel
Bird in Flight (Photo credit: SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent))
Anyone who reads my blog with any regularity (Thank You!) knows that I’ve been working on my novel for two years. Two years full of a wide swing of emotions. Now, as I am officially on submission, I feel…uneasy. Anxious. A little bit afraid.
For the first time, I’m nervous about simply letting it go.
When I started working on my cover art, I felt excited. When I received the first layout, my heart skipped. Mine. My words. My name.
The second layout was similar. The fourth and fifth layouts had me feeling downright overwhelmed.
When my first wave of edits rolled in, I thought, okay, this is doable. Not so bad. When the second wave of fine toothed edits came over with suggestions and corrections everywhere, I panicked.
Oh my god. I’m actually doing this?
All those little insecurities welled up again and sat there on my shoulder, taunting me.
This wasn’t the plan, you know. You were just writing….just writing. Like always. Are you sure you want to do this? You can back out. Keep this story tucked away like all the other ones. No one has to know!
Overreacting. All part of the process. I get it. I am supposed to be putting all my efforts toward TORN, the second book in the series. I am supposed to submit the first book, forget about it, and move to the next. I know.
But…this is hard.
Just saying.
</a
Laney McMann's Blog 
And probably after many submissions of your many books to come, it won’t be any easier to let your ‘babies’ go. (Sort of like the ’empty nest’ syndrome.) It IS hard, and you’ve shown how strong you can be. However, you’ve written the book that you wanted to read, and it will find its other readers. Stay strong and keep on.
August 10, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Thanks so much for your continued support, Carol. It means the world to me. 😉
August 11, 2012 at 2:00 pm
If you have finished a novel, wow. Thats an incredible achievement. Take a bow!
August 11, 2012 at 11:44 am
Thank you, Jerry. It is a huge accomplishment, and you’re right, I should take a bow (to myself) for seeing it through. I guess that’s the double edged sword in this industry. Learning how to let go of the fear and continuing to move forward. Thanks for cheering me on. 😉
August 11, 2012 at 2:05 pm