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This weekend I'm finishing up final edits on my next book, and after going through the publication process five times, I've realized this moment is as good as it gets as a writer.
So here are some counter-intuitive thoughts on finding satisfaction in the creative life: 1/
So here are some counter-intuitive thoughts on finding satisfaction in the creative life: 1/
This moment feels best because it's really the last moment in the writer's control. I'm going word by word, reading it out loud to myself, checking every copy edit. And you know what, the book is pretty good.
More importantly, it's as good as I can make it. That's all I can do!
More importantly, it's as good as I can make it. That's all I can do!
So I have satisfaction that I have crafted a thing to the best of my ability. And the people I trust, my editor and first readers, they agree. I value their feedback, they made the book better, and we all feel good about the final product.
If we could think of something to improve the book, we would do it. But we can't, so here we are, closing the editing process.
No existing book ever matches the misty potential of the theoretical one you imagine at the start of writing, but I hit as close as I'm going to.
No existing book ever matches the misty potential of the theoretical one you imagine at the start of writing, but I hit as close as I'm going to.
So my control, my ability to affect whatever success this book my have, ends the moment I hit "send" on this manuscript back to my publisher. Which is why I'm going to enjoy this moment, and try to hold onto that satisfaction as long as I can.
After this, all the things that happen to the book are out of my hands. Blurbs? Reviews? Sales? I can't control that. I can only do the writing, and that part is done.
There are no disappointments yet. No famous authors telling you that they don't have time to blurb because you aren't important enough. No bad reviews, or worse, outlets passing on reviewing your book at all. No bookstores canceling your event for lack of interest.
But, you say, none of the good things either! Like great blurbs and reviews and sales. And I'm lucky enough to have had all those things, and I feel grateful for it. LONG WALK even became an opera! It's an incredible life experience.
But when I got an endorsement from Jon Krakauer, or a review by Michiko Kakutani, or a best seller notification, none of that felt like something I did. It felt like something that just happened to me. None of it matches the satisfaction of the writing itself.
So what's the point? None of this is supposed to be some weird flex. The point is, I'm taking the time to recognize the moment of satisfaction, and for this book I'm going to try to consciously hold onto it as long as possible, no matter what happens after.
That's how I'm learning to find happiness in the creative life.
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