Right after I finish this blog post, I’m going to upload a PDF of my in-process second novel to a service that will send it out to three “beta” readers. In other words, three people who like this kind of book and don’t know me in the slightest will read it. They will then give feedback, which I will read. Then I will know more than I know now.
I have “finished” two novels. Hilarious. Because what is “finished?” For my first novel, finished meant I wrote it, friends read it, I edited it, got into a critique group, edited it again, queried ~25 agents, and realized that the concept and plot just weren’t commercial enough. I put it on the shelf. For now.
For this second novel, it means two things. First, I have done all the writing and editing I can without guidance from the outside world. My critique partners have been invaluable. Second, I believe I’m ready to query again. The beta reading service will give me a checkpoint and I’m gleeful. As I know that the feedback from strangers may break my bubble, I’m enjoying this feeling while it lasts.
Having already buried the lede, let’s unearth it. My second novel is an upmarket romance, also known as women’s fiction with romance elements. A woman widowed by Alzheimer’s has to take a holiday job at an upscale home store to make ends meet. She meets a brilliant, oddly-formal Russian millionaire, trying to help him with a pressure cooker. As all romances ask, can they/can’t they make love work?
I was trying to think of other processes like writing fiction. Rewarding, but nearly impossible. I guess it’s easier than having your first newborn, but harder than traveling alone for three months in India? Now that’s what I call calibration.
How can writing fiction be rewarding when I’ve not had anything published? Well you may ask, my friend.
I was an imaginative kid. In high school, my English teacher called me an excellent creative writer, but so erratic in analysis as to be no critic at all. College changed that. I made a conscious decision to enter the world of reason, where I remained for 30 years. To re-emerge into story-telling, even those set in a shopping mall, has felt like entering a dark but joyous forest. Treading on pine needles, mists everywhere. I didn’t know I still had it in me.
I made a witches’s scroll when I was 13. It’s in my closet.
So thank you all very much. I’d never have attempted this fiction thing without the long habit of sitting down to write here. The jump from these posts to a Word document with actual chapters was both ridiculous and necessary, and never would have happened without your kind audience. Chapters! My goodness.
Have a wonderful weekend. It maybe worth revisiting that which you gave up.
26 Responses
I never comment here, but love reading your words. I am also an avid reader and have a special fondness for contemporary romance. Approaching 50 myself, I would love to read about an older couple. Most of the romance/women’s fiction centers on 20 somethings. Fun but less relatable now.
Best of luck, I hope for publication.
Kim, thank you! I am glad there are others who believe in love later in life:).
I love the premise of your novel. I also admire your tenacity. All great things Lisa!
Luci
Luci, thank you! Tenacity, it’s true, I have. For better or worse, often.
All power to your elbow !
I returned to ceramics after how many years ? At least 10 . I think I was finally ‘allowed’ to because I hadn’t been successful at the ‘appropriate ‘ things I tried to do instead . My University degree was in Mathematics which I don’t regret at all but the profession(s) (I am Asian !)I was directed towards didn’t work out for me . I love hearing about others returning to early aspirations .
Rukshana, which is a reminder to us all, “failure” is sometimes a true gift.
I get it. I have returned to poetry writing after 30 years of academic writing. Joined a weekly Zoom group in January and it freed me immediately from all self-imposed excuses and restraints. I am having a blast! It has been cathartic and refreshing and stimulating to play with words and shape ideas into something other than my default genre, the essay. I am stunned by how much content can be packed into so few words. Glad you are pursuing your second novel. I’m gonna bet there is an audience for your well told story. ;)
M. I thank you for a bet on my audience. Wow, poetry! Congratulations! I can hear your enthusiasm so clearly. What a joy to give up self-imposed limitations.
lisa,
congratulations on pursuing a passion … and even better, sticking-to-it. cheering you on. xo
Jane, Aw, thanks:). I appreciate the cheers, very much.
I, too, returned to my first love, art making, after a long spell of doing other creative pursuits in my retirement, like gardening and bonsai. Among my careers was teaching art to 9-12th graders, as an art therapist in psychiatric hospitals and county mental health clinics…after earning an M.A.in clinical art therapy and an MFT license….and the art I now make is therapy for me.
It’s never too late to express your creativity, and it is healing and beneficial on many levels. I spent about the last 8 years studying assemblage, and collage, have shown my work in a gallery and even sold a piece.
Congratulations, Lisa, on getting to this stage and best wishes.
Joan, So you actually took the skills you’d used work and found a way to learn more and use them for your own expression and recognition. That is so cool
Well, you know how fiercely I believe in the value of your writing — I can’t wait ’til you find the press that’s as enthusiastic as your imagination deserves! xo
Frances, without you I never would have written the first book, and if I hadn’t written the first book, I NEVER would have written the second one. Thank you so much for your keen and intelligent support.
I really enjoy your writing on this blog, so I naturally look forward to you publishing your book so I can read it, too.
I entered the pandemic recently separated, mid-life, and living alone on a farm. To alleviate the boredom and loneliness, I took a narrative non-fiction course from a friend who teaches such things online. I found out that I have things to say (as a person does if she lives long enough). I have had encouragement from both my teacher and my fellow students that for me this is worth pursuing.
So. I am now also writing with a mind to publication, mostly in a memoir vein, salty and wry. I will watch your progress with a friend’s eye, but also with hope for my own prospects. I hope you find an editor who sees what we here do.
Kristina, Thank you. A salty and wry memoir at midlife sounds spot on. I am glad your teacher and fellow students recognized the possibilities, and that you had the fortitude to give this a try even as you were enduring such trials.
Brava! Congratulations!
Dottoressa
Dottoressa, so nice to hear from you! Thank you, and I hope you’re doing well!
Visual arts is much like writing, in that one has to find the reward in the journey and not in some outside outcome, which is quite impossible at times. External success as in publishing, or having a sold out gallery show, or Pulitzer Prize or a museum show (one can get quite carried away with comparison, which can be daunting and downright depressing) is so rare, so for me, I’ve had to recalibrate what I consider success on my own. I’ve turned to ceramics, which I do love the journey of, more than painting. I have no dreams of selling pottery – I’m just enjoying myself and if I can make things that bring me joy – that’s enough.
I do hope you consider finishing a novel a huge accomplishment and success on it’s own – whether it’s published or not. And most importantly, I do hope you find joy in the process. xoxo
KSL, I didn’t appreciate finishing my first novel, because I had no idea how hard it was to get published. I had put the “accomplishment” bell too far away. This time around though, yes, I consider it a success and have found (along with agony because it is HARD) a lot of joy. Thank you.
“Joy in the process” – a mantra for anyone living today!
Lee, cheers and agreement all around.
huzzah and off to the betas! i have thrilled to hear of your joys of rediscovery and can’t wait to hear what’s next. if you find yourself in need of a reader for the scroll in the closet, you know where i am.
Lauren, “Joys of rediscovery,” exactly. And I should take some pictures and send them to you. Spells. Spanish moss was involved, I think, and tears?
Paul Harding’s Tinkers–an amazing book which won the Pulitzer Prize years ago– did not see the light of day for years after it was written. During interviews, Harding has mentioned that, after it was written, it was just something that stayed in a drawer until it was picked up by a small, quirky, press and the rest was literary fiction history. There are so many (wonderful) desk drawer novels out there; it is to be hoped yours go further in the world but, if not, the honor was in the writing!
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126054322
NY Reader, I didn’t know this story. I hope Mr. Harding got such a kick out of finally having his story published! And the honor, and with any luck the personal growth, is in the writing. Thank you!
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