Hitting the Writing Wall

The 'writing wall' isn't to be confused with writer's block. Hitting the writing wall is much more serious, as it can spell the end of a writing career before it even gets started. 

It's when an inspiring writer, often after years of trying, suddenly feels a great and urgent need to just give up. Maybe it comes after a pointed rejection letter or a bad critique. Some writers seem to never experience it, while I've seen others--notably on the AbsoluteWrite Forums--hit it hard. It's impossible to gauge just how many writers experience it, because we never hear from the ones that succumb.

For me it happened after about 2 1/2 years in, which just happened to be about 6 weeks ago. I haven't been serious about writing all that time, but I have been doing it regularly. However, for the last six to nine months I've been writing daily, taking a writing course. I've even cleaned out a room to use as my writing space.

So when I finished my latest manuscript, Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb (I'll write up a little something about it in the future), I knew I was only 1/2 done. Eight edits later--yes, I edited the whole book eight times--I was ready to show it off to a beta reader (for those who don't write, a beta reader is another writer, who reads your manuscript and makes nasty comments in the margins).

When it came back and the first comment went something like, I couldn't really get into the story, because I couldn't get past all the spelling and grammar errors. You really need to polish this up before you send it out.

I'd spent three months doing just that! So, at first I figured he was just crazy; after all you have to be a little nuts to offer to read the first draft of someone's unpublished novel. But after seeing his edits, I knew he was right.

Normally critical feedback doesn't bug me; I see it as an opportunity to improve. This time, I was dumbfounded, was my self-editing really that bad? I was forced to conclude, yes.

So, now I'm staring at this wall--that's just snacked me right in the face. Two and 1/2 years and I'm not even close. Will I ever be able to write something publishable, yet alone really good? I could have taken the family on vacation with all the money I've spent on books, classes, etc. Am I just stealing from my loved ones pursuing this dream?

The fact is, I don't know. This is my third completed manuscript; I've decided to ride it out. The characters in my story deserve that much. I'm certainly not over this wall yet, but I've decided to climb.

Did you experience the writing wall? If so, how did you get over it?

eBook rights

Kristin Nelson posted an eye opening blog over at pub rants about eBook rights.

It appears that one publisher has no idea how they want to handle eBook commissions, so they're asking authors to sign contracts where the commission terms are not clearly defined.

We are a long way off from really understanding how the brave new eBook world will look. I think, authors and agents have some troubled waters to navigate until this all shakes out.

Color e-book Readers on the Horizon

What's the future of the e-book reader? In a word color.
While the kindle and nook are cool in there own quaint way. I don't think e-reading is going to catch on until we get color screens. Certainly not for YA and kids.

Why? First, no online magazines. Second, you can't really utilize the promise of a multi-media reading experience. If you think reading on a black and white screen is fine, you were probably born before the internet.

The iPad is a step in the right direction, but eye strain might be a big issue for serious reading. Not to mention you'll need a really big pocket.

Dell's mini 5 is coming out soon. With it's 5 inch screen it will fit in the pocket, but eye stain is still going to be a problem. Plus, they'll have to price it low enough to compete with the iPad's $500 price point.

Color e-ink technology is on it's way; it's already arrived in Japan. But it really looks like it will be a couple years or so before any of these companies get it right and offer a truly portable, truly readable e-reader.

In the coming years I'm sure we'll see a convergence of these devices. After all even if they do fit in your pocket, how many pockets are you going to need for your cell, e-reader, camera, GPS, etc.

B&N to Place Third Party Rating on All Children's Books

Publisher's weekly recently ran this story about B&N placing ratings on all Children's titles.

I've used Common Sense Media. I think it's a good tool for parents. However, I am strongly opposed to putting condensed info (by condensed I mean negative) about books on a book store's website.

Especially, since Common Sense Media provides no guidelines for media producers on how they rate books (at least that I could find). So, how are we suppose to be able to avoid a negative rating? I also couldn't find a process to appeal a rating (if they don't like your book you appear to be SOL).


Someone asked me, ins't this no different from video game ratings? There's a huge difference. First, ratings on video games are done to specified standards (publishers know, mostly, what they need to do get keep from getting a mature rating). Second, the rating is assigned before the book is published (so there's time to make changes). Third, game publishers can challenge a given rating. Last, the rating are generally accurate, whereas some of the rating by Common Sense Media are factually wrong.

I believe these types of tools are great for parents, but listing on negative information next to a book title in a shopping environment is the first step to eventual censorship.


You just spent 3 years of your life writing and polishing your novel. But wait, there's an elf smoking a pipe and drinking a mug of something that seems to be alcoholic. We're sorry, that's not acceptable for children.
Oh well, too bad for you!