Pop!
Monday, June 14, 2010 (Before I delve into my post for today, I wanted to share three lovely newspaper reviews from the weekend - The Newark Star-Ledger includes The One That I Want in its best beach reads, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune calls in and a few other great women's fic reads, "absorbing, stay-with-you fiction," and the News and Sentinel calls it "thought-provoking women's fiction at its best." Woot.)
Pop.
That's the sound that nearly every author hears once his or her book is released out into the world. It's the sound of the bubble deflating, as he or she looks around and thinks...now what?
It both seems and feels impossible to believe that after a year of work, The One That I Want, has been out for nearly two weeks, and while yes, I have some big things ahead - some prominent reviews (fingers crossed), some signings/readings out west next week (Seattle - June 22nd, LA - June 24th) - for the most part, now, the book goes out and does its thing, and it is time to get back to life.
Pop.
It's strange, to toil so much on it - the book, the promotion, all of it that goes into a year's worth of work - and then realize, well, life goes on. And in my case, that means turning my attention back to my next book, which I've neglected in the wake of the promotional flurry of this one. In many ways, books feel like children: you focus your attention on them for a while when they're young, and then you realize, "Oh, they're going to be okay, let's see what else is going on around the house," and you stop worrying. I'm not at the point where I've stopped worrying about The One, but I am at the point - which I promise you every published author reaches - where I think it's time to start looking around the house to see what else there is. The revelation came this week when I was talking about The Memory of Us (my next book), and I couldn't remember the name of two of my main characters. Oops. I've neglected one child for another, and that's never a good thing.
I think this is the hangover phase of a book release, and it's inevitable. I have literally never spoken to an author who didn't experience this. What did we expect? That the world would stop spinning on its axis with the release? That our lives would be magically changed? I dunno. I've been through this twice before, so I didn't expect anything along those lines, and to be sure, my hangover is much lighter compared to my previous books' releases. I know that the pop is coming - that the world certainly won't stop spinning on its axis - and I'm ready for it. I have my figurative Advil standing by, and in many ways, I'm relieved. There's something almost disconcerting about spending so much time obsessing about a singular thing in your life, and I'm exhaling that it's time - and that I'm ready - to concentrate on everything else now.
To be sure, there are still some great things ahead for The One, and I cannot wait. But I'm almost glad this bubble has popped. That's the difference between the first two books, when I was discombobulated when I had to move on. Now, I welcome it. There is so much more in life than just a book's release! Like writing my next one and remembering both the names of my characters and why I loved them. :) Also, things like balance with my family and letting go of stress and being grateful for the fact that I got to publish a book at all.
So maybe this time it's not a hangover, it's waking up the next morning after a huge party and realizing that I'm NOT hungover. That's so much better.
Writers - will you share your experiences of post-book feelings? Did you feel this pop too?
Reader Comments (8)
Ah, if only I had post-book feelings to share! Hopefully soon (ish). In fact, back to work on my proposals/sample pages I go...
Interesting. For me it was more like a fizzle than a pop. Because my first book's launch party was such an amazing, cool, memorable night, but it was followed so closely by so many other fun events, and new experiences that I didn't have a pop, or letdown. But it did sort of...eventually...trickle...off. But my events seemed to be really spread out so it took a few months for this to happen.
And then it was like: OK. Rub my palms together and get down to business on the next one.
I think by then I was so over-exhausted from being social and outgoing (though that IS my normal mode) I was ready for some cave-time with my family and the keyboard. Alone.
This time around though, I worry about this: Will other people not care anymore now that my second book is no longer my DEBUT? Will they be as excited to go to my events or will it be, "Eh, been there done that" because they already celebrated my transition to "published author" and now it's just my job? Gosh, I hope not!
Or maybe, Allison, it's the clarity that comes from celebrating another age of maturity! ;) Hope Saturday had more than its share of pop for the start of another Happy New Year!
It is so so good for me to read this right now. My first baby (yes, the metaphor is apt) hit shelves a little less than a month ago and I am in prime hangover stage. I agree that there is something disconcerting about the singular focus and that there is something compelling about moving on. Also, self-promotion in large doses is yucky. And I'm feeling sick from all of it.
Allison - As always, thank you for your sage insights, your more seasoned view of it all. These words here? They are the Advil for which I've been searching. And boy oh boy do I need them.
:)
Obviously, MANY well-earned congratulations and further best wishes to you on the success of your latest book.
As an agented but as-yet unpublished writer, I particularly appreciate the insight into your writing "schedule". I wrote two adult fiction manuscripts back to back in the last 12 months, having ruminated on both ideas for some time before writing. They've gone out on submission, and I've been creatively disoriented since.
Your post makes me realize that I'm dealing with a hangover of my own (albeit on a much smaller scale!). Basically, my brain is tired. The creative juices are not flowing; there may not be anything left in that tank. I haven't fallen in love with any of the various ideas knocking around inside my head, and I haven't really given myself permission to just NOT write.
The whole "butt-in-chair" mantra for would-be authors has been guilting me into my chair every day, but I think your method is the better one--for me at least.
Thanks for yet another eloquent post!
Many congratulations on the launch of your book and for the many great things to come! I've been checking the NYT's every Sunday hoping to see it there!
There are several phases, I think, of post-partum in book writing and launching. I see my theater-director husband go through the post-partum badly every time he closes a show, especially a big honking musical. It's painful for him and painful to witness but one thing I've learned is: this is normal.
You want to be a creative? You get to go through the birthing and letting go process over and over and over. It is kind of like parenting but not really because the process for a book or a play or a you-name-it is much faster.
So why is it still such a big let-down when it's over? I think because that's the way it is supposed to be. Everything comes full circle. And that is just the way of things.
Good luck on your next book, Allison. I'm looking forward to picking up this one this weekend. :)
You've given voice to the reason I haven't been able to work on another book for the past two years. From 2003-2008 I pumped out 4 books. Then my bubble went POP!
I've got so many plans, so many half-done manuscripts; yet I feel deflated. I don't seem to have strength to blow up another balloon.
I have been blessed with platforms to build upon and so many people have faith in my writing. I feel as though I'm letting myself, my family, and my fans down. Yet I can't seem to finish anything. I find myself avoiding commitment in other areas of my life because I am frozen in my commitment towards my writing.
Thank you for writing this and allowing us to individually voice our experiences. I'm going on retreat next month. I'm going to print your post and take it with me to help me decide my path out of this warped bubble.