Revisiting Novel #4, part 3
Mar. 7th, 2024 03:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rainwatersparkIn the past, I've rarely if ever reread my books/stories once they've been published, in large part due to a fear that they might not be as good as I thought they were at the time. (I've still never reread Novel #1.)
Well...I guess that fear came true with Novel #4!
I asked my oldest CP to reread the book, and they came back and said "Novel #5 is WAY better."
So...hahaha, I guess it died on submission to editors for a reason??
Still, my CP and I both agree that the premise is still great, it's just that maybe the execution needs improvement. And isn't that what I need an agent with a keen editorial vision for??
So...anyway, that just goes to show that I need an agent who can help me grow as a writer, not just half-ass their job and hope I've written a brilliant novel that they don't have to do much work on.
It also makes me wonder...if Novel #5 (epic fantasy) is "way better" than Novel #4 (detective fantasy), is writing epic fantasy my true calling after all?? (lol.) It's a funny thing to think about, considering that I used to hate epic fantasy (largely because I don't like tons of POVs or slow pacing).
My CP thinks that because Novel #5 was clearly inspired by other books I'd read (and also donghua like Mo Dao Zu Shi and Scumbag System), while Novel #4 was kind of me trying to discover a genre for myself (I'd tried to read other fantasy/mystery blends but didn't enjoy any of them), that's why Novel #5 is much better. Which, maybe!
I do tend to write books that are (a) dissimilar to my previous work, and (b) dissimilar to what I've read (following the old adage of "write the book you want to read" [but haven't read yet]). So...yeah, it's hard for me to use my books as "practice" since I just end up jumping to something completely different for my next project. At least, different in terms of genre/structure; as a writer, I do return to certain themes and characterizations.
I might have mentioned this before, but as an author, I have a very "focus on the current project" mindset. And being a writer without a traditional publishing deal has strengthened that mindset. I don't have lists of books I want to write; in fact, I seem to only come up with a book idea I feel passionate about once every two years. And those ideas inevitably take me by surprise. So, will I write another epic fantasy in the future? I feel doubtful right now, but who knows!
Well...I guess that fear came true with Novel #4!
I asked my oldest CP to reread the book, and they came back and said "Novel #5 is WAY better."
So...hahaha, I guess it died on submission to editors for a reason??
Still, my CP and I both agree that the premise is still great, it's just that maybe the execution needs improvement. And isn't that what I need an agent with a keen editorial vision for??
So...anyway, that just goes to show that I need an agent who can help me grow as a writer, not just half-ass their job and hope I've written a brilliant novel that they don't have to do much work on.
It also makes me wonder...if Novel #5 (epic fantasy) is "way better" than Novel #4 (detective fantasy), is writing epic fantasy my true calling after all?? (lol.) It's a funny thing to think about, considering that I used to hate epic fantasy (largely because I don't like tons of POVs or slow pacing).
My CP thinks that because Novel #5 was clearly inspired by other books I'd read (and also donghua like Mo Dao Zu Shi and Scumbag System), while Novel #4 was kind of me trying to discover a genre for myself (I'd tried to read other fantasy/mystery blends but didn't enjoy any of them), that's why Novel #5 is much better. Which, maybe!
I do tend to write books that are (a) dissimilar to my previous work, and (b) dissimilar to what I've read (following the old adage of "write the book you want to read" [but haven't read yet]). So...yeah, it's hard for me to use my books as "practice" since I just end up jumping to something completely different for my next project. At least, different in terms of genre/structure; as a writer, I do return to certain themes and characterizations.
I might have mentioned this before, but as an author, I have a very "focus on the current project" mindset. And being a writer without a traditional publishing deal has strengthened that mindset. I don't have lists of books I want to write; in fact, I seem to only come up with a book idea I feel passionate about once every two years. And those ideas inevitably take me by surprise. So, will I write another epic fantasy in the future? I feel doubtful right now, but who knows!
