By Julie, enjoying the waning days of summer in Somerville
I am days away from the deadline of my first Clock Shop Mystery. As I make that final lap of revisions and rethinking, I can’t help but remember that a year ago tomorrow I got the phone call that put this whole adventure in motion. In this year, I have signed a three-book deal, picked out a pseudonym, and am close to hitting send on my first manuscript. It is all, quite literally, a dream come true.
Thanks to my Wicked Cozy sistahs, I knew what to expect. And I have a cheering section in place for constant support. But there have been a few unexpected lessons along the way.
Just because it is a dream, that doesn’t make it easy.Writing a book is a challenging process. And all the advice in the world doesn’t get the word count to rise.
Writing needs breathing room. With a deadline months away, it is very tempting to let writing goals slip. But that is a mistake. Finishing a draft, and leaving time to take a breath before going back in is a necessary luxury.
It is easy to get lost in your book. After a few rounds of edits, I got turned around. What was the name of the guy with the hat? Is his backstory the same all the way through? This is when I brought in a ringer, aka a first reader. Jason Allen-Forrest is a cozy reader, a good friend, and an excellent reader. He gave me confidence to keep slogging through the next round of edits.
Every day, I remind myself how lucky I am. I am living the dream. How blessed am I?
Gentle readers, what lessons have you learned while living your dream?