Read on Twitter
April is when TWO of my books were originally published: THE DEFIANT HEIR and THE UNBOUND EMPIRE, books 2 & 3 in Swords & Fire. I can't believe that they're now 2 and 1 year(s) old! 
So hey! Here's a thread about what it was like writing my 2nd & 3rd published books!
So hey! Here's a thread about what it was like writing my 2nd & 3rd published books!
Spoiler: It was REALLY SUPER DIFFERENT than writing my first published book. 
Some of the ways it was different were predictable: I was working with an editor from the start, I had deadlines, etc. It was suddenly a job instead of a hobby (one I loved, but a responsibility).
Some of the ways it was different were predictable: I was working with an editor from the start, I had deadlines, etc. It was suddenly a job instead of a hobby (one I loved, but a responsibility).
But one thing I didn't anticipate was HOW MUCH MORE TERRIFYING it would be.
Now I had readers. A wonderful agent. A whole team of amazing publishing folks behind me who believed in me.
I had people to disappoint.
Now I had readers. A wonderful agent. A whole team of amazing publishing folks behind me who believed in me.
I had people to disappoint.
Believe it or not, I never used to worry that my writing might be terrible! (Even when it was. 
) I was pretty proud of it, if always happy to try to make it even better.
Now...Now I had people awaiting my next book with HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
) I was pretty proud of it, if always happy to try to make it even better.Now...Now I had people awaiting my next book with HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
I had a team counting on me. Readers counting on me. I COULDN'T LET THEM DOWN.
This, of course, led to me thinking way too much about what other people would think about my book. What if Book 2 was too much like Book 1? What if it wasn't ENOUGH like Book 1?
This, of course, led to me thinking way too much about what other people would think about my book. What if Book 2 was too much like Book 1? What if it wasn't ENOUGH like Book 1?
When I was 95% of the way through a draft of TDH, I had a total failure of confidence and sent it to some friends for a sanity check.
I'd lost all confidence in my planned ending. I was worried a key new character I'd introduced was no good. I was afraid the whole book sucked.
I'd lost all confidence in my planned ending. I was worried a key new character I'd introduced was no good. I was afraid the whole book sucked.
Thank goodness for those beta readers. 
After the sanity check, I went with more or less the original planned ending, and that character (Kathe) has turned out to be a reader favorite. (Whew!)
After the sanity check, I went with more or less the original planned ending, and that character (Kathe) has turned out to be a reader favorite. (Whew!)
When the book came out, almost everyone seemed to think it was better than the first (and now I agree). HUGE RELIEF.
But then I was writing/editing Book 3 while people were reacting to books 1 & 2, and I had a whole new set of worries!
But then I was writing/editing Book 3 while people were reacting to books 1 & 2, and I had a whole new set of worries!
I had to decide how to end the trilogy. Endings are SO IMPORTANT to a story, and I felt this HUGE pressure not to mess it up. To do it right, and stick the landing.
And okay, no spoilers, but let's just say it's a rare trilogy that ends without anyone getting hurt.
When you've got readers going "Nothing bad had better happen to my beloved fave" as you're writing terrible things happening to their beloved fave, there's a moment of...
When you've got readers going "Nothing bad had better happen to my beloved fave" as you're writing terrible things happening to their beloved fave, there's a moment of...
Once again, I started doubting and second-guessing myself. Once again, I was terrified I was messing up, ruining everything.
Luckily, I had the experience of TDH to console myself with...if I worried that that sucked, too, then maybe I was just freaking out for no reason.
Luckily, I had the experience of TDH to console myself with...if I worried that that sucked, too, then maybe I was just freaking out for no reason.
It all came down to that line from Neil Gaiman's wonderful picture book, INSTRUCTIONS: "Trust your story."
I did. Even when I was short on faith in myself as a writer, I trusted my story.
Now that I've got some distance on it, I think I stuck the landing. (Again: WHEW.)
I did. Even when I was short on faith in myself as a writer, I trusted my story.
Now that I've got some distance on it, I think I stuck the landing. (Again: WHEW.)
Now I've figured out that this big wave of near-crippling self doubt and panic is apparently...part of my process?
It's weird, because it was TOTALLY not before. All through the years of querying and hundreds of rejections, I had confidence in my writing, and NOW I get this?!
It's weird, because it was TOTALLY not before. All through the years of querying and hundreds of rejections, I had confidence in my writing, and NOW I get this?!
Like, apparently my writer ego can not only survive, but THRIVE on years of crushing rejection or stony publishing silence!
But have someone be like "OMG I loved your book and I can't wait for the next one!" and I'm like OH SHIT I CAN'T FAIL THEM WHAT DO I DO
But have someone be like "OMG I loved your book and I can't wait for the next one!" and I'm like OH SHIT I CAN'T FAIL THEM WHAT DO I DO
Anyway, suffice to say that starting the first book of a NEW trilogy comes with its own all-new special set of crushing insecurities, but thanks to my experiences with TDH & TUE I feel more confident in ignoring them and getting on with it. 
So hey, if you're doubting your writing, don't let it stop you. Get that sanity check if you need it. Take a break for perspective if you need it. Keep editing that book into better shape. But trust your story.
It won't let you down.
It won't let you down.
