I know – It’s not May the fourth, but I jumped out of last month’s Insecure Writers’ Support Group post and am sadly lacking in inspiration for this one.  Except….

… I’ve discovered it’s much easier talking about a memoir than it is talking about fiction.  Alongside last month’s A to Z I was setting up and publishing my father’s memoir, White Water Landings (out next Monday, see the website here), and also getting the Princelings of the East series out in paperback for independent booksellers.  I have books 1, 5 and 6 all set up ready to go… largely because 1 is where it all starts, and 5 and 6 have never been in paperback before.

And I noticed how much more relaxed I was talking about my dad’s book than I am about my own stories.  It’s not an unusual experience – I can shape someone’s resume in the same way, when it’s almost impossible to do the same for my own.  Distance lends perspective, or something.

It’s also that I think it takes a long time to understand what your book really is.  You wrote a story – but is that what readers read?  I’m just working on the revised blurb for the paperbacks.  I amend and approach the descriptions again for the blog and website, although sometimes I cheat and copy across.  But I think it’s worthwhile writing a new blurb, even just for your own benefit.  Especially if, like with Princelings, it’s years since you first wrote the blurb.  4 years, to be precise.  And it’s already 7 years since I wrote the book.  It’s a good story, but if I wrote it now, it would be very different.  Probably.  I wouldn’t want to rewrite it though.  It would lose its freshness.  I have the rest of the tale to tell, no time to revisit old stories.  Let things lie.  They are what they are.  Onwards….  the Tale of Willoughby is waiting to be finished!

May the ⌗IWSG be with you!

6 thoughts on “May the ⌗IWSG be with you!

  • 6 May, 2015 at 2:19 pm
    Permalink

    You have a very busy time ahead of you, Jemima! Good luck with ALL of your publications!

    • 6 May, 2015 at 3:12 pm
      Permalink

      Thanks, Noelle. I have a dacron sail on my kindle just waiting for me to get to it!

  • 6 May, 2015 at 4:30 pm
    Permalink

    An advance review of White Water Landings is on my blog today 🙂 I really liked it, and am sending in to my brother to read.

    • 7 May, 2015 at 4:03 pm
      Permalink

      Thanks, Rebecca!

  • 6 May, 2015 at 10:59 pm
    Permalink

    I think it’s easier to talk about others because it’s less selfish and people won’t think you’re just being narcissistic and dismiss what you have to say.

    • 7 May, 2015 at 4:04 pm
      Permalink

      Good point 🙂

Comments are closed.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: