Sunday, January 18, 2015

Why I love being a Writer - Part 3

While it's very exciting to start writing a new book, it's also very satisfying to type "The End" on a manuscript. Months of research, writing, rewriting and editing have come to an end. I always breathe a sigh of relief as I send a book off to my publisher. I can relax for a while, at least until it's time to go through my book with the editor, to choose a book cover and to begin to promote the book. 

But, my mind is free! No more writing in my head even when I'm not at my computer. A respite from jotting down ideas when I'm in the bathtub or driving in my car. Because that's what we writers do. When we're in the midst of writing a novel, it's constantly with us. Day and night. If that sounds like a bad thing, let me assure you that it's not. In fact, it's one of the joys of writing. But we all need a break once in a while, even from the things we love.

And I do love the process of creating. It all starts with a single idea. It could be something as simple as a snippet of conversation overheard in a restaurant, an expression on someone's face or, as in my case, the sight of an old Victorian when I went for a walk one day and wondered what would happen if those walls could talk.

That single idea begins to grow until, eventually, it blossoms into a complete manuscript. I send it out, sigh and then another idea takes hold of me and the process begins all over again. And, I wouldn't have it any other way!