Writing is like giving birth.
Last night, if you heard a contented sigh drifting from central Indiana, it was probably me. I finished writing Turning Thirty-Twelve. It’s now on its merry way to my beta readers.
The first two books I wrote were like lightning. Boom. Boom. (Okay, maybe more like thunder.) Two months and they were done. Unfortunately, they were both technical nightmares. Head hopping is evidently one of my cardinal sins. So is info-dumping. Next, I wrote Murphy’s Law. From start to FIRST completion, that manuscript took me about three months.
Then I hooked up with Indiana RWA and my beloved Critters. Since then, Murphy’s Law has been rewritten no less than six times. I lost count after that. From start to acceptable, the time stretched out to nine months. Hence, the analogy of giving birth.
From my perspective, Thirty-Twelve seemed to take me forever. I didn’t understand why my fingers weren’t flying across the keyboard like they did with the first two. Just out of curiosity, I checked the file to see when I started the story. Nine months ago. Interesting. Suddenly, it dawned on me. Writing is easy. Writing well is not. Please refrain from the “Well, duh, Sandy!” comments. I feel dumb enough as it is. 
Thirty-Twelve is officially the sixth book I’ve worked on, if we’re going in order. If we’re counting good stories that I feel comfortable sending out, it is the third.
So, now, I am the mother of three healthy, bouncing baby manuscripts. Feel free to congratulate me when you see me.
You are so funny!!! I hope you are getting comments back on some of this. I love that you love this stuff so much. Just wanted you to know that I am keeping tabs on you!! Love you, Susie
Have I ever told y’all how much I love my older sister?!