Yesterday I received an email from someone who wrote: "I miss Virginia Kate. I wish the second book was already out...."
Do you know what this feels like? To have someone actually miss your character? These are the kinds of comments that make me want to grin and cry all at the same time. That and "I couldn't put it down," or "I didn't want it to end."
Which is why yesterday, I highlighted and deleted 30,000 words from VKBook2 -- that's a lotta words, friends. But, they were not our Virginia Kate's words. Writer, get out of the way. So, I got out of the way. But, 30,000 words! Oh Geez, get crackin, Kat.
See, I love Virginia Kate, too - and I want her to have her own voice. When you all pick up VKBook2 and read, I want it to BE Virginia kate again; I don't want you to be disappointed. I don't want book2 to be second rate to book 1. It must feel seamless, as if you just kept reading from book 1 into book 2 without hardly taking a breath. That's what I want - and it is worth the "sacrifice" of taking out those 30,000 words and going from where that LINE I told you all about is to forward. That free feeling tells me I did the right thing, as I also have said.
30,000 words - think about it.
But what I want to stress here to you who write is: There are ALWAYS MORE WORDS! Don't be afraid to write crap *laughing* -- what I mean is, write it all down, write write write, because later you can cut and paste and cut and not paste and put in and take out and rearrange and etc etc etc! There are always more words! You won't dry up! Don't be afraid to take chances with words and language!
When I wrote that original manuscript, and then split it in half, I never knew what would stay and what would go, what would change in the original half that would affect the second half. You have to just trust the process. You have to trust yourself. You have to trust your character's journey. You have to be FEARLESS sometimes!
You have to be able to delete sometimes. And you have to know there are always more words. Maybe I am being too simplistic. Maybe for some writers it comes more naturally, more "easily" -- maybe you are thinking: It would take me months and months to get 30,000 words! Okay, I understand this. Every person is different, every writer different - every journey different. Take from this what fits you. I never tell writers: "You aren't a writer if you....." I hate it when writers do that....as if there is a club and you have to have secret passwords, or special handshakes, or certain credentials to join this club. We're all lovers of books and words and language. We all have our own journey to take how we will take it. What separates success from "not success" is the ability to Keep Going. No matter what: you keep going. Do you think I'm not terrified? Even with a book out I am terrified sometimes....but, I love what I do. I love books, language, words, my characters, the feeling of someone out there reading my words....I put aside that fear and just plow forward.
But what I want you to take from this is sometimes you have to be fearless. Sometimes you just have to do what is best for your Character's Journey. Sometimes you have to quiet that voice that says, "But what if I don't have anything else to say?" You will always have something to say. If you feel as if you do not, it is because you are self-editing yourself, you are getting in your own way. Yes, somtimes being fearless and just vomiting out words will mean more work....but better more work than to present something to the world that isn't your best.
Maybe when book2 comes out, people will still love book1 better - maybe not - I can't predict that. But, when book2 is completed, I will know that I was true to Virginia Kate and her journey. At the cost of thousands of words....but new thousands of words will come and they will be Virginia Kate's voice...not some shadow of her.
If you delete delete delete - you can always retrieve it by pasting it somewhere else - just try it and see if by deleting something it makes you feel "Free" to create or if it does not.
Now, go be fearless! In whatever you do. Trust your instincts. Do what feels right to you.
11 comments:
Kat....I think sometimes readers love the first book best,that is if the characters are the same, because it is the first meeting with the character,it's where they fell in love with the character!
It doesn't mean the second is not as good! I say, let VK have her way, have her say!
xoxo,
Carol
*Hey, Carol, up there above me!*
Very important posting, Kat. We all need to be fearless, else we lose out to Mr. Regret.
As for 30,000 words cut...eeek...but you are exactly right to honor VK and to let her continue her story. Besides that, shoot, 30K words = 2 flapping jaws on a drive through Waynesville + lots of purty purty shiny thangs. LOL
Speedy fingers to ya, and hugs too.
You are so inspiring Kat! Thank you for your honesty and for sharing this journey of yours. Your words permeate my soul today as I work to find my words, that are screaming to come out. In the craziness that is my life right now, I wish there was a "delete" button that I could push. I wish that I could say that I am fearless as I face my giants. I am scared to death most days but yet it does feel so right to be here in this spot.
"There are ALWAYS MORE WORDS!"
This is an important lesson. If we keep this in mind, we can free ourselves to just get the story out.
Thank you! And best as you let VK back in to once again tell her story.
Thank you for this post. :-) I needed it.
I feel stuck right now and wasn't writing much because I didn't want to go in the wrong direction. But if I have to cut, I will, because like you said, there's more where that came from. LOL
Congrats on the compliments. :-)
I just have such unending confidence and faith in you. You could delete the whole thing and I'd still know you would meet your deadline with the story that is meant to be written and read.
That is one inspiring post, Kathryn. Thank you.
Well put, Carol. You are exactly right. I think everyone who fell in love with Virginia Kate will continue to love her (probably even more) in VK2. I miss her, too.
Hi Kat. Oh boy, oh boy! Tomorrow I can get my copy of tg and get to know your beloved Virginia Kate!! I am excited. I also am so happy for you. Your blog oozes excitement and it's very infectious!!! Have a wonderful afternoon and evening.
As usual, your blog not only has me thinking, but it's inspiring me too! While I would probably never lay claim to currently being a writer, I remember as a child I used to want to be nothing else. I would make up stories about John Wayne and myself( I'll tell you about that sometime), my imaginary horse that I rode around on, or anything that came to mind. I remember I stopped writing because I got to a point where I felt that everything I had to say was too contrived and I missed the simple enjoyment and flow that came to me, as a young girl. You've inspired me to once more take up pen and paper and just let whatever is there to shine through. Thanks so much Kathryn!
Love your process and the way you share it. Love that you're really working on book 2. I'm not a very good waiter and I'm really ready for more VK (and hopefully Adin).
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