Night Writer

I am a night owl. I hate mornings (the getting out of bed part...not the amazing sunrise part). All throughout high school and college I had trouble getting to bed at a decent hour and often overslept. When I had a baby, I was one of those awful moms that let her baby stay up later than 8pm...but the bonus was I didn't have a baby that woke before sunrise. ;o)

When I started writing my book, I had a tendency to write all night long. I went to bed as the sun was coming up and my early bird husband was going to work. It seemed crazy to other people (hi, mom!)...but for me, those were prime writing hours.  Writing during the day was just not the same...and writing in the morning was out of the question.  Everything just flowed better at night when the house was quiet (except for snoring) and there was nothing else to distract me from my writing.  

Everyone I know either claims to be a morning person (like my husband) or a night person.  My mother (a definite early bird) thinks I'm the only one who does this and that I am doing great detriment to myself by staying up all hours of the night. I try to tell her that it's not just me and it's ok as long as I'm getting 8 hours (and don't schedule any morning appointments)...but seriously, it's a waste of my breath.

I googled it and read studies that say early birds are not just annoyingly chirpy people in the morning, but happier overall...and they're more successful in business because their "chronotype" is more geared toward a corporate world.  However, we night owls might have some advantages...according to this article, "...studies reveal [night people] tend to be smarter and more creative than morning types, have a better sense of humor, and are more outgoing..."

But we are woefully out-of-sync with the corporate world.  I disagree that this makes us less successful.  It just means we pursue other avenues to success, and perhaps have a different definition of success than what this article implies.

What do you think?  Are you a morning or night person?  

Early bird or night owl?

And do you really think it matters?

paxamo,

I'm a Rider

You write a novel and you're a writer...right?

Not exactly.  

Writing a novel is only the first curve of a long ride you're about to take---a ride full of ups and downs, more curves, weighted decisions, and plenty of blood, sweat, & tears. Ok, maybe not blood so much... unless you actually do punch your computer screen instead
of just fantasizing about it... but sweat and tears, definitely.
It doesn't sound like any kind of fun, much less anyone's life dream...why would someone willingly put themselves through all that stress?  I don't know the answer, but I can tell you what I think:

    --Some do it because they truly, madly, deeply love writing and would die if they couldn't write. (they are also extremely fond of hyperbole)

    --Some are propelled toward this most arduous goal by visions of $$$ that dance in their heads (ha!).
    --Some don't do it.  They crumble under the pressure and walk away.
    --The rest are most likely certifiably insane...like me. ;o)

But there does have to be some part of your sanity you're willing to surrender while huddling beneath the patchwork quilt of emotions the writing process lays over you~

• Happiness that comes from writing a really great scene or clever line that gives you chills... or hearing positive feedback from readers, reviewers, or agents... or simply from the fact that you completed a paragraph... a chapter... a whole novel! =)
• Sadness from getting your 1st rejection letter---or 53rd... or from missing all those things you used to do before you started devoting so much time to writing. 
• Fear that no one is going to like what you wrote---or even read it... fear of the literal or metaphorical slush pile... or fear that you're in way over your head and maybe you should just give up.
• Anger at losing thousands of words you just wrote when your computer crashed... again.
• Frustration with yourself at your inability to read any page of your already edited manuscript without wanting to make "a few more tiny changes"...  or at all the hours you scrounged from your schedule to spend time writing, wasted battling writer's block.
• Confusion when it comes to the decisions---some small, some huge:  Indie or trade publisher?  CS or LSI?  This agent, or the other one?  White paper or cream?   Query letter...where do I start?  What about a blog?  A Facebook page?  Do I have to Twitter?  Should I outline or pants it?  What about cover art...layout...formatting...trim size? 
• (head spinning)
• Love for the characters you created and have given up so much headspace to...for the gift of writing that has been an outlet for the deepest parts of who you are and given you the truest sense of accomplishment... and for the far-beyond-crazy life you signed up for when you typed that first word.

After more than 2 years on the ride I have completed and published my first novel in both paperback and e-book... I have written, directed, and produced a trailer for my book (see it here)... I have set up Facebook pages & Twitter accounts and I've done everything pretty much on my own (see above-referenced insanity).  Even after all that, the ride isn't slowing down.  Every time I finish a project or reach a goal, there's always another one or six waiting.  The journey I've been on the past 2 years is not over.  The ride is like a merry-go-round...all the emotions, the hard work, the late nights, every experience circling around again, over and over. 

Wanting to be a writer...or actually writing a novel is not what makes you a writer.  It's also embracing the good & bad times, the mistakes and failures, the successes and accomplishments... and the neverending learning process that is writing...aka laying your soul bare.

When you've taken that ride... and you keep on riding, you are a writer.

And a rider. 

paxamo,

Solitary Sky ~ On Sale Now!

Solitary Sky is available in paperback from amazon.com or my e-store! =D

The Kindle version is coming soon, also an e-book version on Barnes&Noble.com.  =)

I'm planning some fun giveaways on my website, ShannonTaylorHodnett.com ...stay tuned there to see what you could win and to keep updated on all things Solitary Sky! ;o)


paxamo,

Waiting for Proof

Well, I've finally finished all editing for Solitary Sky.  Truthfully, I could go back and change little stuff, rearrange sentences, add, chop, and more ad infinitum...but I had to cut myself off.  I had to be firm and remind myself it will never be perfect and I don't want to spend the rest of my life editing.  (O.O)

Tuesday of next week I will get my proof copy and if all is well, SolSky will be released mid to late next week. If I have to make changes (god forbid) and send it back there will be more of a delay.  Obviously Tuesday I will be able to give more specific info. ;o)

The whole process of writing this book...finishing it and going through all the details of getting it published has been such a crazy experience for me.  Crazy because it has encompassed so many different emotions from the highest highs to the lowest lows.  It's been a real education not just in the literal sense, but also in the discovery of who I am here at the beginning of my 5th decade of life...as well as who I was always meant to be.

The journey is of course ongoing, but I'm taking what I've learned with me...and hoping the crazy ride never stops. =)



paxamo,

Almost There

Just thought I would pop in for a quick update.  The cover is almost finalized...the formatting is done...I just have to wrap up a few details next week--then if everything goes smoothly, the book will be released before the end of October! =)   I will post the release date as soon as I know...which should be sometime next week. ;o)

Until then, here's a sneak peek at the cover and a bonus picture of Lilah:

paxamo,