words and images by mk swanson
 
απέχθεια ολοκλήρωσης

απέχθεια ολοκλήρωσης

Empty shelves are sad but enticing.

I dislike the sensation of having completed a novel. Sure, I like it for the first day or two, but shortly I begin to obsess about my characters. I wonder if I have done all I can to make them happy. The feeling is worse this time because I have done everything but the final edits and proofread, leaving nothing for a tasty midnight snack.

To distract myself so that I wouldn’t finish, I deconstructed my non-functional fireplace to install a row of four bookshelves I bought when the local Borders closed. Even with that, the end couldn’t be strung out forever.

For the last week, deprived of my old novel, I have tried to make headway on a comic book I started last year. That’s bearing fruit, I think: my illustrator says he will have time for it over the summer. I also started on MwaK, a second novel in the NiP series, the one I was planning to write when NiP took over.

I am also beginning to notice that I need money, so I have tried to do something about that, as well.

The bookshelves are symbolic. I got rid of a fireplace that used to offer heat and light (my old work) to add room for what I truly love (writing). The question is, will the shelves be filled with successful projects, or will I have to burn books to stay warm?

We shall see.

4 Comments

  1. Thanks for the love. I am missing my girls, and all of my writing group!

    I tried to convince a friend of mine, Emery, to come talk to you about the novel he wants to write. I don't know whether you'll hear from him or not, but I will continue to nudge him. He's a journalist, so he can write, but he's concerned about being able to write longer than a few columns of copy!

  2. I can't believe I let your blog get away without adding a link to mine. I am thinking you are a member of FWA. Right? Will you be at the conference in October? I'd love to meet you.

Comments are closed.