I "finished" my novel Return to Eastlake in August
of 2019. I keep asking myself why I haven't published it yet! It's a fair
question and I suppose there is an obvious answer.
How to put it? Laziness? Procrastination? Perfectionism? Maybe all
of the above? Almost ten months ago, I put aside the novel I am supposed to be writing, so that I could
devote my time and energy toward editing, formatting, and publishing this one.
So why haven't I finished yet?
Two problems.
First, editing (and revising) is hard! (And I hate it!) No matter
how many times I read a section or chapter, I always manage to find something
to "fix." Sometimes it is an actual typo or grammatical error and I
am glad to have found and corrected it before seeing it in print. More often, I
just keep finding different ways to say the same thing. Whether it is a word
choice, a slightly different phrase or expression, an added or subtracted
sentence, or a complete restructuring of a paragraph, I can't seem to stop
tampering with the language.
The second problem is deciding when the book is actually finished.
A sequel to my previous novel, the book is a collection of short stories
connected by a common setting and a series of interrelated characters. After completing the book, I have written and
added three additional stories! And I’m debating including one more! If I don't
stop doing that, I will never finish!
Here's my thought. For the sake of accountability, I am setting a
definite release date! I expect you
to keep me honest. Especially those
of you who read the first one and actually want to hear more about these
characters. (And if you haven't read At the Drive-In, why haven't you?) So, here goes. By Thanksgiving, this book will be published! In the
immortal words of Joe Namath, "I guarantee it!"
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