Great Writing ... and Not so Great Writing

The thing about reading a really great book is that it makes me realize just how far I have to go to improve my own writing. I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job and then I go and read something really wonderfully and richly written, like Deborah Harkness' "Shadow of Night" and I think that maybe I should just give up on my own writing altogether, because I'll never be that good.

But then, when I really think about it, most writers who are fortunate enough to get their work published are not nearly as good as Deborah Harkness at putting you so deeply into the sights, sounds, smells, feel and taste of a story's characters, time and place.

It's kind of like how I try to remind myself when I'm at the beach in my conservative bathing suit, wishing for even more fabric to cover my flabby thighs, that I am not the worst-looking woman chasing after her child in the sand that day. And all I really have to do to feel better about myself at the beach is keep exercising, attempt to eat better and/or buy a more flattering bathing suit.

So, I guess that means I'll keep going, keep practicing my "show, don't tell" writing, and hope for the best.

Finally, Some Inspiration

For the first time in a while, I thought of a new book idea that feels like it has some promise. I know, I know, I need to concentrate on my two books that are finished, but still in need of editing.

As I've noted several times here in the past few months since I started my new job, motivation has been lacking for me to focus on my two completed novels, even though I really want to finish editing them each one last time and send the first few chapters off to some of the agents and editors I met at a writing conference in January. Yes, yes -- tick, tock, tick, tock. They've probably long forgotten that they met me, I know.

But I had a breakthrough today after I thought up a new book idea, so I sat down and wrote, almost non-stop, for two or three hours. It felt good. Really good. I got eight reasonably strong pages written (about 3,000 words, I think). I'm going to let them sit and few days and see how they look after I've had time to think about the story a little more. I don't write with an outline. I jot down notes (mentally and physically) then dive in to the story and see where the characters take me.

So, I'm feeling pretty good. Almost sad that tomorrow I'll be away from my computer most of the day. But it'll be nice to get out of the house and spend some time with friends and family. And I already feel a little lighter having the weight of a long break from writing lifted from my shoulders.

Now, on to spend some time reading "Shadow of Night," Deborah Harkness' sequel to "A Discovery of Witches," as a little reward for my effort today.