Friday, July 3, 2015

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Sophomore Slump?

http://morguefile.com/archive


I read an article the other day about having difficulty writing a second novel. In other words - sophomore slump. I've heard this term for the music industry after some one's first album is a big hit. Can they repeat the success on the second one? Or are they a one hit wonder?

Not that my first book is a huge success, but I am quite happy with it and I've received some wonderful reviews. I love the story and the characters. Maybe a little too much. I'm having a hard time loving my current work just as much. I think it's a good story but, I'm having difficulty getting anywhere with it. It just keeps churning around in circles, never coming to any conclusion. I've started and stopped it so many times, I feel like I'm on a carnival ride. Around and around I go until I either throw up or get off.

But, I don't want to get off. I want to finish this and put it out there. I want writing to be my career so I can retire from the day job. That won't happen if I'm a one hit wonder.

You may have noticed the Camp NaNo sign to the right. Yep, I'm trying again to use camp to finish this book. Will I succeed this time? You betcha! (power of positive thinking and all that jazz)

Any advice from all you writers and readers out there? Comments always appreciated.  
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , ,

6 comments:

  1. ShirleyJuly 3, 2015 at 8:14 AM

    I know the feeling, Wanda. Life gets in the way so much. Gotta get my groove back too. Good luck with yours.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wanda KayJuly 3, 2015 at 12:54 PM

    Thanks Shirley. We're both too good to stop. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa MedleyJuly 3, 2015 at 2:38 PM

    Each one of my books has been PAINFUL to write at some point. Some days it feels I'm just trudging along and writing total shit! But then, some sort of magic happens and when I go back and reread...it's NOT shit after all. I can't explain this except to keep writing even when it feels slow and painful... the end result will be worth it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wanda KayJuly 4, 2015 at 12:58 PM

    Thanks Lisa. I do admire your determination.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chuck RobertsonJuly 8, 2015 at 9:00 PM

    I hear Lisa's comment. Sometimes I feel as what I'm writing is total, uhm, excrement. But I've also heard people say you should scrap your first novel because it will be utter crap compared to what you write next. We get better the more we write, whether we see it or not.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wanda KayJuly 10, 2015 at 8:47 AM

    Good observation Chuck. Practice does help. Thanks for coming by.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)