Phantom-Novel Syndrome

[dancinghorse]

And here we are on the other side of Deadline Hell, with this huge hole in the day that used to be "10 pages minimum or I have no redeeming social value," groping for the novel that isn't there.  The next one in this series is in plot form and needs a teaser chapter Soon, but it's not ready to tell me where it wants to start yet.  The next deadline is in June, and features a whole new world and characters, about which we are very excited--but that's not ready to start, either.

So there's this weird hole in the mental landscape.  There's no novel in it.  Short stories don't happen to me unless there's an anthology, besides which, I'm so worn out from finishing three books in three months that I can't bend my brain around one anyway.  I need a break.  But I still get the guilts if I do anything that isn't work-type work.

In short--it's standard after-the-deadline syndrome.  Like PTSD only you (very eventually) get paid for it.

It was interesting finishing the second LUNA book with the first one already out--sometimes it got a little scary getting the fan mail and reviews, and wondering if I could do it again.  The big fan letter came from one of the editors at amazon.com, to my editor, to let her know that Mountain's Call made the top 15 for Best Romance of 2004.  Didn't get into the top 10 but was in the final cut.  In the words of just about everyone who has heard this news, "But it's not really a romance!"  Hey, if it quacks like a duck and amazon.com and Romantic Times want to call it a lovebird, should we quibble?

Validation is sweet.  Believe me.

I am by the way going to California this weekend, doing a signing at The Book Ladies in Norco on Saturday from 1 to 4.  A visit to lynnesite and the one-and-only Miss Twix is also on the agenda.

Meanwhile I'm fighting a cold, which is the body politic telling me to Slow Down.  It's also very cold out, which means Blanket Brigade, which is always exciting.  This reminds me of why I moved to Arizona--one good reason being, winter horsekeeping.  At least here, if the water barrels are iced over at breakfast, they're usually thawed out by lunch.  I can deal with that.

Horse neep is minimal this week.  Lessons are on Thursday, because of my trip, then the Feelgood Lady is coming to work on Camilla and, we hope, clear her to be ridden.  That would be a good thing.

Comments

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

And here we are on the other side of Deadline Hell, with this huge hole in the day that used to be "10 pages minimum or I have no redeeming social value," groping for the novel that isn't there.

I read this bit to my husband, who laughed out loud. :) I know just how you feel, although I've never had 3 deadlines in a row. Oi. *massages your brain*

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Brain massage feels goooooood.

[larryhammer]

Not quite this, I hope.

Have fun signing!

---L.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Oh! Mr. Earbrass! Than which there is no better or more succinct explication of the novelist's state of mind.

[larryhammer]

TUH should be required reading in every college creative writing program.

---L.