*****************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************
Amid the flurry of activity that comes with releasing a book, I’m still writing. Not because I love it (I do), but because it calms me. Keeps me focused. Reminds me why I’m doing this.
It’s amazing and awesome to know people are reading your work and energizing to know that they already want to read the next book. That’s like inspiration on Red Bull with a blow torch for added emphasis. π It can easily become intimidating, but when I sit down to do the actual writing, all of that fades away. It’s just me, the characters, and the story I want to tell.
I love this video (via Gail Shepard) about the essence of writing and forgetting that a world exists outside the book:
When my first book came out (Life, Liberty, and Pursuit), I stopped writing for a while before and after the launch. That time was exciting and stressful, and I just couldn’t focus enough to do anything else. This time around, I’m writing (at least) a little bit every day, determined to not lose the momentum.
Open Minds started two years ago as a National Novel Writing Month novel (NaNo for short, because I just can’t deal with those last two syllables). That was my first time fast-drafting, as well as the first time sitting in a room filled with writers at the local Starbucks, each of us pounding away on our novels. It was exhilarating. There’s a certain bookend-ishness to the idea of writing the sequel Closed Hearts as a NaNo novel and the timing works out. So, this year, I’m going to be NaNo-ing. Please add me as a friend if you’re joining the highly caffeinated, slightly crazed NaNo-ites this year!
*****************************************************************************
In Open Minds news …
It’s one week to the launch, and the delightful and talented Party Hosts are getting ready with reviews, posts on #keepingOPENMINDS, and a flurry of guest posts by yours truly on everything from the Story of Open Minds to Inventing the Future: Mindjacking. And there could possibly be prizes … but you’ll have to check back on Friday to find out! π You’ll want to swing by then anyway, because I’ll be posting a …
More coolness…
- There’s an awesome contest announcement from my fellow pirates at Scribbler’s Cove to celebrate two members (myself and Darkspell author Elizabeth Mueller) who have releases next week.
- Heather McCorkle has written a sweet spotlight of Open Minds for the New Author Blog Hop (Thank you, Heather!).
- Charity over at Relentlessly Pursued has written a wonderful recommendation of Open Minds (Thanks you, Charity!).
- Erynn at Just Write has shared her experience of reading Open Minds in the early drafts … and now as an ARC before release. It’s so awesome to share this journey with my writer friends!
- Bethany at Marred and Reformed has posted her review of Open Minds and I couldn’t ask for a better analysis of Kira and the world she lives in!
*****************************************************************************
I find it so interesting that it was through NaNo you wrote this book. Makes me think I should partake, this year. I still have a bit to plan out for my current YA project. Hmm….
This is so cool. I wish I had the time and organization to take part in NaNo. Maybe some year.
I'm so excited! I can't wait to read Open Minds, Sue.
I'll be looking for you during Nano.
Totally agree with you about writing. It is exciting and relaxing to get lost in your own words/worlds.
I LOVE this post! And yes, I'm doing NaNo this year. Excited about it too
Writing relaxes me too.
That's cool that Open Minds was a NaNo project. And it's really cool that you took the time to edit it well. I'm scared at how many writers will be self publishing shortly after NaNo finishes. But not as scared as agents when it comes to their slushpiles. π
I love that this was a NaNo book. I'm participating this year and am glad I found your blog. Great motivation.
i love the idea of keeping writing to keep calm!
i don't know how to friend nano-ers, but once i figure it out, i'll be ALL about friending you miss sue!
and YAY!!!!
π
thank you for my carrot!! π
I love that the first book was a NaNo novel and that you'll be doing the sequel as a NaNo novel too. That is AWESOME. π
Random Number Generator, what happened? I thought you liked me? I thought we were close? I thought we really bonded over those enchiladas and that discussion of whether pi was a finite number. You were so cute when the cheese dribbled down your chin. What happened? I thought we had something special…
I'm so glad you've found a way to channel the jitters you get around a release into your writing. I don't have such things to worry about but I do notice when I haven't taken the time to write. I get cranky and out of sorts and as soon as I take the time to write, all is right in the world again. Happy writing and best of luck with Nano and the release!
All great stuff! I can't wait for Nano this year. Yay!!
this is my first time NaNo-ing and I'm pretty excited!
Congrats to the winners. So awesome you wrote a book in NanNo. Wish I could take part in it.
I'm so excited for your Mindjack baby, Sue! Zusack's words spoke to my soul. :o) Here's to writers who write for the joy of writing.
Good luck with Nanoeing the sequel! (I'm not joining, but we'll see if I can keep up a little anyway.)
Hugs!
First off, I had no idea that Mark Zusak was so adorable, what a bonus!
Second, I'm not participating in Nano this year because for the first time in ages, I'm not working so I have the time to write and I'm using the time to write, so I don't need the extra incentive of NaNo. Yes, I feel blessed.
However, you are brilliant for using it as the tool to keep you writing during your launch. Launches are so distracting. Hooray for you.
Great info, thanks for sharing. May be some times I might be able to enter Na No. I like to write in spurs and leave the half written work. Na No kind of puts a schedule and I am afraid that I may not be able to keep it.
Yay! I can't wait to read Open Minds – one more book to finish, and then I'm onto it! How exciting, Susan.
@Bluestocking Thanks for stopping by! I get serious writing withdrawls too. π
@prerna NaNo is pretty fun – although frenetic and bleary eyed are also good adjectives. π
I so know what you mean, Sue. I haven't done any actual creative writing since last spring, and it's killing me. Must get back in the saddle~ :o) <3
Good luck with Nano! I was going to do Nano, received an incredible beta feedback that confirmed and pulled out my deepest doubts that I was ignoring, so i'm going to be doing a bit of rewriting! π
I know I was supposed to be focused on the post but I got a bit lost in listening o his beautiful accent.
Le sigh.
Good Luck to all NaNo writers, enjoy the rush! I'll just watch, thanks.
Being a writer means you have to grab some of those Self moments, and it can be the NaNo writing surge or taking time at a retreat.
For me, it was attending a writing conference. I'll post about it after the Halloween Blogfest.
Enjoyed the post, Susan.
Ah, you pinned it for me too: writing centers me. Which explains why I get all wonky when I'm not writing. (should I google wonky to make sure its not something perverse? don't know where that word came from. Harry Potter, maybe?)
Anyhoo, love your reference to inspiration on Red Bull with a blow torch for added emphasis. π
@DG Oooh, writing retreat…love those. π Sort of the opposite of the NaNo rush!
Thank you for sharing the clip Sue. I love hearing authors talk about the initial creation process, and the fact that he has a nice accent? Yeah, it helped. So excited for you π Only 5 more days!