First Draft Emotions

Writing novels is not as hard as coal-mining or refuse collection or washing the windows of skyscrapers, but it does cause a roller coaster of emotions.

As I sit down to write my 1,000 words every morning, here’s a collection of things I feel and think:

• Get off Facebook, right here, right now
• Just do it
• That scene is crap
• Why the hell is she doing that?
• Is it a problem that I still don’t know who the murderer is?
• Just do it
• Everyone is going to hate this because it’s a piss-poor pile of crap
• Nooooo! No to Facebook
• Fighting again, Maggie? Please act like a grown-up
• I hate that character and I still can’t explain why the story needs him
• Abject terror! I have no idea what the next scene is
• Just do it

Which is why when I read this quote from Jane Smiley: “Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist” I felt calm again. I am going to write it in CAPITALS and stick it up in my writing corner.

All it needs is to exist. It will be the perfect first draft.

 

Writer on Tour

I have been out and about, dear readers.

In March, I went to the Leipzig Book Fair:

I was feeling pretty nervous (hiding nerves under brave smile):

Because first up was an interview with the press:

But, being socialists, they were very nice to me:

Then I went on stage to do a reading (one guy fell asleep):

After, that I went to the Institute of African Studies to do another reading. This time, I had Madiba with me for company. I felt much more relaxed:

I read:

I signed:

Then I drank some wine:

Last night, I did a reading in Langenbruecken, near Bad Schornborn, organised by the darling proprietors of the ars legendi bookshop. They arranged wonderful wine, Italian delicacies and some fabulous jazz. My husband and friends were there and I felt less nervous.

Starting to get the hang of this reading in German thing:

Next up is Berlin in May, and then in June I hit South Africa to promote the English version of the book and do readings in Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Cape Town and Joburg.

In between all this promotion work, I am trying to write book two. It is not easy, but I have come up with a plan. It involves sparrows, dawn and daggers drawn against the inner editor.

And perhaps a little wine.