Satisfaction with one’s work is probably the most difficult thing to really accomplish. As I stated a few weeks ago on here, I “finished” my next book, but I kept using quotation marks. Part of what makes it done but not done is the fact that a book never really feels finished. I’ve been pushing this book off to different readers to get some feedback, which is one of the most important parts of the process. It helps to either confirm fears or reaffirm beliefs as to what has to change in a book. For me, I have these fears about certain parts of the book and having people reading these parts is helpful.
Feedback is difficult. In a way, the feedback portion is the toughest part. It’s difficult because I have to send to people that I know and trust as well as people that I don’t know as well and might not have a profile already built in my head for their tastes when it comes to literature or their background. These are wildcards. They can provide useful insight or they can provide nothing, it’s kind of a crapshoot. Regardless, I appreciate everyone’s feedback and input into making my stuff better and more ready for primetime.
Right now is my obsessive time where I tweak, fix, delete and add into the book. It’s the time where everything is being prepared to be polished and I want to make sure that I’m not polishing a turd. Does that sound extreme? Because this whole process is kind of extreme at times and if you are a writer, even a good one, it will make you second guess yourself. It’s kind of just nature.
I’m still not sure when I’ll be able to release it into the world, but I’m thinking about January or so depending on how long it takes to get everything perfect.