by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
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| Morgue File--JDurham |
It’s definitely nice to be needed. Recently, however, I’ve been needed pretty
frequently. I took on additional
responsibilities and additional projects.
frequently. I took on additional
responsibilities and additional projects.
I was filling my husband in on all the
things I was in charge of and responsible for.
He listened, nodding, as I listed everything.
things I was in charge of and responsible for.
He listened, nodding, as I listed everything.
He’s a computer engineer and has a
different take on the world. “Do you
know what we call that at work?”
different take on the world. “Do you
know what we call that at work?”
I shook my head.
“Single point of failure.”
Apparently, there was a whole world of
instances of SPOF (single point of failure) that I knew very little about. Wikipedia
describes SPOF as: a part of a system
that, if it fails, will stop the entire system from working. (1:
Designing Large-scale LANs – Page 31, K. Dooley, O’Reilly, 2002)
instances of SPOF (single point of failure) that I knew very little about. Wikipedia
describes SPOF as: a part of a system
that, if it fails, will stop the entire system from working. (1:
Designing Large-scale LANs – Page 31, K. Dooley, O’Reilly, 2002)
So, if I were hit by a train on the way
to the grocery store, it would result in the failure of a whole bunch of things
that I was responsible for.
to the grocery store, it would result in the failure of a whole bunch of things
that I was responsible for.
Writing a single book and hanging our
entire writing career on that book, for instance, is a SPOF.
entire writing career on that book, for instance, is a SPOF.
I’ve written on this topic before, most
recently on Wednesday. That’s because I
know a couple of writers who loved
writing. Avid readers, avid
writers. They wrote and published (both
traditionally) the “book of their hearts.”
Unfortunately, the books sold poorly and they were dropped by their
publishers. They both gave up writing.
recently on Wednesday. That’s because I
know a couple of writers who loved
writing. Avid readers, avid
writers. They wrote and published (both
traditionally) the “book of their hearts.”
Unfortunately, the books sold poorly and they were dropped by their
publishers. They both gave up writing.
If you love to write, if you really want
to be published and have any sort of success, it’s important to keep writing,
keep learning, keep improving at the craft.
There are many reasons why a book might not resonate with readers—some
of them are even the fault of the publisher (cover design, distribution). Maybe the timing was wrong for the book—it
wasn’t a popular genre at the time. Or maybe
the fault was in our writing—the characters didn’t connect with the reader,
there wasn’t enough conflict, there was too much backstory. The only way to solve problems with our
writing is to continue practicing.
to be published and have any sort of success, it’s important to keep writing,
keep learning, keep improving at the craft.
There are many reasons why a book might not resonate with readers—some
of them are even the fault of the publisher (cover design, distribution). Maybe the timing was wrong for the book—it
wasn’t a popular genre at the time. Or maybe
the fault was in our writing—the characters didn’t connect with the reader,
there wasn’t enough conflict, there was too much backstory. The only way to solve problems with our
writing is to continue practicing.
Another great thing about working on a
second book is that it keeps us distracted while we’re in the process of
querying or waiting for publication of the first. It’s also a nice way to keep from obsessing
over a single book’s sales figures (checking our book’s ranking too much can
drive us nutty.)
second book is that it keeps us distracted while we’re in the process of
querying or waiting for publication of the first. It’s also a nice way to keep from obsessing
over a single book’s sales figures (checking our book’s ranking too much can
drive us nutty.)
What are you working on now?
I couldn’t agree more! Writing that next book is what keeps me sane while on submission or waiting for word from my editor. I’m working on two projects right now. Crazy, I know!
Elizabeth – You really make such a good point here! I think it’s important to have a few writing projects, be it another standalone, a series, or something else. And you’ve given some important reasons for that. Besides that, I think having a few projects keeps our perspective fresh. It can be tiring but it keeps the creativity flowing. And it makes it easier if one or another project is rejected.
I get discouraged so easily, Elizabeth, that it would be easy to just quit. Also, I just turned 64 – time to not work anymore, right? But writing is a passion I can’t and don’t want to give up. I’m working on my first novel after publishing my memoir 4 years ago. It’s very challenging.
I’m trying to finish something. Anything! I have a real problem with Shiny New Idea syndrome, and I’ll never make my publishing dreams come true if I can’t get rid of it. :(
Sequels. I have a book 3 of one series in the writing while book 2 of another is in editing…and I have a novelette trilogy to finish wherein the first is under contract, and another novelette series wherein the first story is one of my bestsellers, at the moment…
Oh, and those are just my major ones. I’m not hurting for projects to work on. ^_^
Agreed. Keep editing, keep writing, keep coming up with new stories.
I find the whole concept of SPOF intriguing. Thanks.
Staying busy with the next project keeps us focused.
I thought I was the only one who committed to too many things!
Heather–That’s tough–two at once! I handle that better if I edit one and draft another. Good luck!
Carradee–I LOVE series! Love them. Both as a reader and a writer. It seems to keep my writing on track, too. You’re busy!
Margot–Oh exactly. That’s the only-child-book-syndrome. If it keeps getting rejected or keeps getting bad reviews, we’ll be a LOT more distraught if it’s our only book.
Deb–It’s a process that doesn’t ever have to stop…a good thing. :)
Karen–You’ve already written 2 books, so you’ve done well!
Momlarky–That’s tough. Sometimes, if I’m *really* smitten with a new idea, I’ll work on both projects…1st the old project, then the new one. I’m so burned out and confused by 3 or 4 days in that I’ll just stick with the old project. :)
Diane–I’m trying not to over-commit…not sure how it keeps happening!
What a great gem of wisdom, Elizabeth! I’ve heard of SPOF but I like how you bring it down to writing and especially continue writing regardless.
Right now I’m rereading a past story I wrote several years ago and making notes. There’s a lot of good story there and several must be gutted and redone sections. Next will be the second book in that series, also finished. I have a current WIP, too. :-)
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
Is that how I became trapped in this author game? I keep writing?
Sia–You’ve got a lot going on! Good for you for revisiting an old story. :)
Alex–That’s it! Ha!
Joe–It’s a pretty interesting concept, I think. Now that I know what it is, I see it all the time.
Excellent advice, Elizabeth! I’m working on several different smaller fiction-writing guides, adding examples and ideas to each one as I think of them.
And I hadn’t heard that term before – good one!
Thanks for sharing the term and your good advice.
Perhaps it’s my IT background showing through, but I’ve always avoided SPOF. Nothing I do or have is the ONLY thing I do or have.
This is wonderful and very helpful!
Right now, I’m obsessively writing my current WIP. I just want to finish it. I have another WIP I’ve purposefully left on the back burner so that when I’m finished with WIP #1, I can have a distraction. They are two completely different stories (both YA fiction).
WIP #1 has nearly 27,000 words while WIP #2 has 30,000 (but I haven’t worked on it since last year). Whenever I get ideas for WIP #2, I note them and leave them. #1 is my focus.
Thanks again for posting this!
I’m revising my second novel, IN THE RED. I had such difficulty with this one, mostly because I was still so attached to my debut novel, BABY GRAND, particularly with trying to market it last year. But now I’m determined. And focused. In fact, you could say IN THE RED is my single point of focus. :)