Fatal Flaw: Impatience

As a writer, I have several strengths and weaknesses. I’d love to hear about yours, but I’m about to come clean about one of mine.

You might not know this about me, but I’m not very patient.

Certainly, I’ve talked about the difficulty of waiting to hear back from publishers, agents, and editors. Rest assured, I’m not going to do that again. I’m going to talk about another kind of impatience, the kind of relationship I have with my writing.

Another writer inspired me to write this post. He suggested that he sent a manuscript out before it was truly ready, and he regretted that. Rest assured, he’s not alone. That’s exactly the kind of thing I would do, if I weren’t very careful.

I like getting things done. I LOVE crossing things off a list. I’ve discovered writers need a high tolerance for ambiguity. Well, I”m working on that, because if I don’t develop this skill, I’m going to undercut my career by sending out manuscripts before their time.

Right now, I’m racing toward trying to get a story done by the end of the year. I WANT that story to be done for several reasons. An agent who thinks well of me is waiting to see the first 75-100 pages. I want to move on to another project. I want to work on Substance of Shadows and the Klarion books after Viable Paradise. I even want to do a little sewing. I have every reason to be in a hurry, at least I think so.

Except…

…if I send out this manuscript before it’s really sound, I will probably lose the interest of this agent. An agent who is willing to see your next project, well, that calls more for careful craft, and less of a tendency to cross something off your list.

…those other projects aren’t going anywhere. Why not enjoy the ride and do it right?

…if something isn’t done right initially, there’s probably more time spent going back to the drawing board and trying it again.

…as I writer, I would like the reputation of sending out sound work.

This is a battle I fight constantly. There are rules I set up that I think help

NEVER send out the first draft
ALWAYS have others read the complete manuscript
ALWAYS read your manuscript orally before it goes out
It’s over when it’s over. Learn to be okay with that.

That said, it’s difficult for some writers to stop tinkering with the damned manuscript and ever send it out. There’s got to be some middle ground. That’s not my fight, certainly, but I can appreciate the struggle some of you go through in that regard.

There it is then. I’m impatient. I will get better. What will happen if the troll book isn’t ready by January? I am literally wincing as I say this, but that could have been a poor estimate, considering I began the project in earnest in April.

I will do my best. It will be wiser if I make it the best book it can be. So I will.

And your demons?

Catherine

Author: Catherine Schaff-Stump

Catherine Schaff-Stump writes fiction for children and young adults. Her most recent book, The Vessel of Ra, is the first book in the Klaereon Scroll series. She is currently working on its sequel, as well as penning the middle grade adventures of Abigail Rath, monster hunter. View all posts by Catherine Schaff-Stump