Depressingly hopeful

[pjthompson]

There's some interesting stats posted by arcaedia for March 25. All about the number of novels some writers completed before selling one.

I actually find these kinds of stats comforting (and Anne Perry's statement in interview that she wrote 20 novels before making a sale). They don't necessarily translate into me eventually selling a novel, but since I'm going to keep cranking them out whether I sell them or not (translate that as "have no choice") I choose to take comfort from the idea that sometimes persistence pays off.

I've got three finished and a fourth well on its way and I know I understand a lot more about the process than I ever did before. I have long since stopped thinking of these novels as make-or-break. Sure, it's depressing as hell when they don't sell and sometimes I get in a major funk about it. Ultimately, though, I realize the journey wasn't wasted because each time I write The End I have conquered a whole new universe of learning. I've freed myself once again from the doomsayers of doubt in the hind end of my brain. And there's always that next novel waiting to be written...

It's all a learning process—and sometimes learning is painful. But sometimes it's a joy. So I'll keep filling the filing cabinet for now, and keep sending them out, trying to maintain a zen attitude of pessimistic hopefulness. And knowing I won't always succeed even at that.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

To offer a minor bit of solace -- SUMMER COUNTRY was my sixth completed novel, first sale, and I'd actually finished and revised DRAGON'S EYE before selling SUMMER COUNTRY. Life's like that.

"They" say the first half million words are just practice.

[pjthompson]

SUMMER COUNTRY was my sixth completed novel, first sale

Thanks--there is something "comforting" about that. And Summer Country was definitely worth the wait.

"They" say the first half million words are just practice.

And I think They are right.