Monday, January 14, 2008

A novel thought

To make up for my wrist-shredding post below, which plunged new depths of self indulgence, I have some good news. Well, okay it’s good news for me and it’s really just more self indulgence but this is my blog so what’re you going to do about it? Oh you’ll, um, leave and never come back? No, wait, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.

Aaaanyway the news, such as it is, is merely that as of this weekend I have officially finished The Crappy Novel (from here on known as The Crappy Novel That Dare Not Speak Its Name or TCNTDNSIN for, um, short).

Now when I say “finished” I mean I have written a beginning, a middle and an end. I do not mean it is finished in the sense that it is ready for eyes other than mine to glance upon it and marvel at its many crimes against the english language.

Which brings me to a dilemma. A friend of mine, who is in a position to offer very good criticism, has offered to give TCNTDNSIN the twice-over with a red pencil and a critical eye. Has asked to, even, kind soul that he is. The problem is that, while I know his advice would be genuinely useful I fear it may also crush my spirit. Showing writing to a loved one (not that I do that either) is different because a) they can look upon it with an indulgent eye and b) if their advice isn’t complementary you can discard it with a ‘what do they know anyway’ sneer. If, on the other hand, the critique comes from someone who does actually know something and it’s similarly critical… well then what do you do? Die a little death, is my fear. As those who have tried to dispense it to me know I have never taken criticism well and it seems likely I will start now.

Essentially the options are to allow TCNTDNSIN to languish in the bottom drawer of my desk, read by nobody and critiqued by nobody or to push it out in the wider world and risk having it come back with ‘learn to write better’ scrawled across the top. In the first I remain unscarred for life. In the latter I could be driven to cut off my fingers and start a new career as a tax accountant.

Hmm, I’m thinking, I’m thinking…

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

To quote a well known sportswear company:

"Just Do It"

my name is kate said...

You are right of course, even if you make me nauseous by quoting Nike. Or you might be right. I'll see. Maybe. Give me a year to pluck up the courage and I'll definitely be sorted...

Anonymous said...

enjoy the experience of being the author (albeit unknown)of a completed novel for a spell and when you've wrung that for every last drop of satisfaction........

my name is kate said...

Well that's a good point too - maybe I should rest on my laurels before crushing my hopes and dreams...

shiny said...

Take a deep breath, close your eyes and put it out there, love. Why else did you write it if not to have it read?

Anonymous said...

Take the advice of an artist type who has bared her soul regularly, giving all she has physically and artistically only to be torn down by masters and the ignorant alike... it is worth it. You need it to grow. Gotta go, off to Melbourne soon to be ripped to shreds by leading people in my field for 10 days straight.

my name is kate said...

Oh clowney I will miss you - and if you ever need someone to tear you to shreds to feel like you're growning just give me a call. Tee. I jest.. or do I?

my name is kate said...

growning=growing... obviously.

Dave said...

do it kate. don't make me tell you twice. plus you owe me anyway... hehe

my name is kate said...

Oh flip so I do Dave. I have saved your other payment too, I assure you. For at least another week if we (okay: I) can't get it together.