Some time back I announced I had finished a draft of my next novel, ‘Billy Corass’s Finishing Kick.’ This was true, but now, a year later that novel has a different name. This is evidence of the impatience to be finished that writers, me especially, are prone to suffer. I mean, it is a long process. From idea to outline into first draft, editing, second draft, editing … until that ready for print final formatted version is achieved. That first draft had a longer journey ahead before becoming “Forever Young, a novel”.
Along our creative journey from start to finish, we go through a range of emotions. Excitement when we see that spark of possibility. Elation when the words, sentences and paragraphs come together. Frustration when the plot line falls apart or our characters are disobedient. Despair when we convince ourselves we have hit a brick wall. Finally, pride for the achievement mixed with sadness as we face separation, the moment when your work is no longer ours. It belongs to its readers. It’s the space in between the coming together of story and words and the final, publishable work that I find the most demanding. You want it done, you feel it’s almost there, but it never is quite so. This is particularly relevant if you one of the millions of writers who now independently publish their own work. Most of the effort required to achieve the finished work is invisible.
I’m all but ready to deseminate my new novel Forever Young to readers. I hope it will be a read and as it is, that readers enjoy their part in the process, but remain oblivious to the effort behind it. In this way, every part of the effort – the mystery of creation, of drawing from imagination all the way through to the pragmatic requirements of publishing – remains hidden. All I need now is my beautiful cover art and I’m there.
Wendy Glassby 