birthing books.

why is this one taking so long?

This quote recently appeared on my feed and it caught my attention because it came from a poetry account I wasn’t even following, but was exactly what I needed to read quite literally at that moment as I was silently fretting about the progress of my second novel.

(This is not the first time this has happened and I’m now convinced that my phone reads my thoughts since I didn’t Google or look up anything related to this thought.)

In this case, I welcomed the cerebral intrusion because birthing this second novel has been taking so much longer than the first one and is feeling like an actual birth. I have to stop myself from touching my stomach every time I’m asked how it’s coming along. I did it once and it was fucking weird.

The truth about this second book is that I wrote it already. And I wrote the third one. But one of my characters revealed something about himself to me at the end of my first book that then took the second installment on a bit of a detour, which I believe will make for a more textured read. Saying that, I want to do right by him since he’s trusting me with his story.

Yes. I know how absolutely insane I sound.

But it’s true. My characters talk to me all the time (these cats keep me up at night) and I try to get it all in, their worldview including their quirks and interests without crowding the reader with details.

Being selective with details while crafting a story that moves forward doesn’t happen over night. But still. It’s been worrying me. That was until I read this quote which felt more like a hand on my shoulder than my eyes drying out from rolling so hard because in this past the only thing inspirational quotes taught me was that I refuse to live, laugh or love just because the wooden plaque at the nail salon on Long Island tells me to.

This quote is different. It’s poetry.

“Just because it’s taking time, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.”

I needed this gentle reminder. And maybe you do too for whatever it is you have been working on that isn’t yet glittering in its package or smoothed of its gritty edges. It’s simply taking the time it needs.

And with this I leave you.

In good writing health,

LCM

For more comforting words in this noisy world, I recommend checking out poet Dhiman’s account here.