Shameful Books part II

Many moons ago I wrote that I couldn't think of a single book I'm ashamed to love. Allow me to quote myself:
The reason is simple, I think:  if I love it, I really think it's good and am therefore not ashamed to love it. It doesn't matter who it was written for, written by, or how it was written. If I like it, it's good.
You see that? Doesn't matter who wrote it. If I love it, I love it. End of story.

EXCEPT, my list of favorite books now includes one that I'd be ashamed to say "Oh, I LOVE this novel. It's compelling, exciting, emotional, and the writing is fantastic!"

What's different about this book?

I wrote it.

I've been trying to edit my own novel. I say "trying" because I think I'm missing a lot. Oh sure, some scenes I change quite a lot. And I did a bit of patching up while I was writing. But I find myself getting so engrossed that I can pore through scene after scene without changing anything but punctuation.

I say things like "Dang, did I write this?" and "Sometimes I amaze even myself."

And usually no one's around to say "Doesn't sound too hard."

Somebody say that. Please. My hats are already too tight.

Comments

  1. Kayeleen HamblinJune 3, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    I hear you. I love my own book to the point of distraction. I guess this is why they say "kill your darling."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Melanie StanfordJune 3, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    I think if I don't love my book more than anyone, than I won't be able to really sell it to agents/publishers. You've got to believe in it(it seems like I should say "man" next for some reason). I can't help but read my own and think the same things- like, this book is awesome. And I think that's ok because it helps on those days where I think it's just garbage and no one will ever like it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jolene PerryJune 3, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I LOVE it when that happens!
    (I totally blogged this) but when my husband read my book to me, I was like - wow, I wrote that? FREAKING AWESOME!
    And then I just felt a little egotistical, but seriously? There are enough downs in novel writing to justify a few moments of ridiculous ego stroking =)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jaimie TeekellJune 6, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    I tend to do this more with scenes rather than my whole book. Like, anything I post on my blog (with a few exceptions)? That's my best work.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ben SpendloveJune 8, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    Yeah, it's true. There are always parts that I think are mediocre or even terrible. There has to be something to keep me going.

    ReplyDelete

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