Weren’t we taught that one is the lonliest number (oh grand, now we’re stuck with the song in our head)? Yet it’s two that makes us want to throw ourselves off a cliff. Okay, not really — we don’t believe pain is ever an answer, no matter what the question. There are all sort of reasons why your second novel hurts so much (including the very helpful notion that every novel after the first is your second novel…gee, that makes us want to write!), but the bottom line is, hmmm, there is no bottom line. However, we wouldn’t be us if we didn’t offer advice, and so we shall: skip your second novel. Don’t start it, don’t waste time, don’t suffer for a moment. Toss it aside and start novel number three. We promise you’ll be much happier. And so will your friends, family, agent, and publisher.
AKA Sophomore Slump
June 2nd, 2004 · 1 Comment
by Booksquare
File Under: Square Pegs
1 response so far ↓
Lorra // Jun 9, 2004 at 12:03 pm
Yowzers! I’m not alone. Just came in from hours of sweating in a very hot and humid garden that really didn’t need any more pampering – anything to avoid starting another chapter in this, my second novel.
I couldn’t keep my hands off the first one; still like tweeking the thing since I love the story so dearly. This one is so different – not personal at all – and so very, very difficult to write. I’m pretty sure it’s a pile of crizap. But what the heck, I still have to write it just to get it out of the way.
I’m switching over to WORD as we speak; not picking my head up until the next chapter has been blabbered into the computer; doesn’t matter how rough it is, just so it’s ready to rewrite since that’s so much easier than trying to think of what to say next.