Why Beat Yourself Up?
There are times when I beat myself up about my first novel. Many people really enjoyed it, but few people remembered any details about the story when I talked to them weeks or months later. Perhaps it’s too much to expect of people who probably read one book after another. Still, I wanted the story to move people, not just divert them for a few hours or days.
I also sense that I missed some opportunities in the writing of my first novel. I’m sure that every first-time novelist feels this way.
Recently, I’ve realized that beating myself up about any deficiencies in the first book is stupid and not helpful. A FALSE DAWN was a great step forward for me; it was far from a failure. I’d spent years writing copy for corporations. Writing a novel was a challenge, and I enjoyed every minute of the work.
And if I obsess over the fact that the book could have been better, isn’t that a sign that I care tremendously about the quality of my work? And that I’m always trying to improve my writing? Those are certainly encouraging signs for my future.
The sequel, SUNRISING, is definitely a better written book. Compared to the first book, the sequel gives you a better sense of the time and the places inhabited by the characters. I’ve also provided a lot more depth about characters presented in the first book, along with new characters. You’ll see the sequel in print next year.
So I am improving as a writer. What more can I ask of myself?