John Hennessy's Blog - Posts Tagged "john-hennessy"
The day you complete the draft of your novel is so hard won
You may have been there, and know what I'm talking about. That moment when you finally complete the draft of your novel. Something that has consumed you longer than you recall.
The sacrifices you made to make it happen. The long nights, the early mornings, the afternoons where you wanted to rest, but plots, story lines, characters, and yes - sequels, popped into your head.
It happens most for me when I'm in bed, or having a well earned bath. You know - moments when you are supposed to be doing absolutely nothing.
But you can't leave it there, no. You have to do something about it. So the slumber ends, or the bath plug is pulled.
You go back to the novel and work on it some more.
I arrive at an expanse now - one that says 'hey, you got your life back', but I know this is only a temporary thing, a ceasefire between writer and its creation.
Is there a point to all this? Well, maybe. For me, for many of you, perhaps, you've reached a point where you say 'Yes, I'm done, I'm happy' (for now).
Of course, you feel happy, feel proud. My latest 'work' clocked in at over 85000 words, and the previous one at 101,000. I've never worked on anything so hard in my life.
With my first book, the semi-autobiographical 'Essence of Martial Arts', I learned so much about the process that with all the plethora of errors made, I resolved to make future books - should they ever be published - far better than that one.
Isn't that the aim of writers, to better their previous works? Absolutely, we have to be committed to that.
Should money come into it? I say no, because you have to write because you enjoy writing, telling stories, enlisting people's opinions on your creation.
Money corrupts. Would I like to be living more comfortably? Of course. But as I ploughed through my book, things were not so bad, because I could slip into that world, any time I liked.
It is far better a feeling than any drug I could take (not interested in that, never was, never will be!) or to indulge in some other past-time that leaves you, well, feeling cold, like a lover with you in the night, but departed by morning.
So yes, I feel a bit lost since completing the draft, but there are other things to do, pay attention to, and work on. My family may even have me back for a while. When they tire of that (And they will) they will want me to go back to my writing.
The draft has been completed, a small battle won. War is about to break out though - with myself (am I happy, truly happy with what I've done), with agents (they can slam a text out of existence because it doesn't meet a-b-c criteria) and publishers (remember how Harry Potter was thought of as 'a book about a boarding school...who would be interested in that?' Thankfully JK Rowling pressed on!
Whatever your thoughts when you complete your first draft, I wish you happy writing.
The sacrifices you made to make it happen. The long nights, the early mornings, the afternoons where you wanted to rest, but plots, story lines, characters, and yes - sequels, popped into your head.
It happens most for me when I'm in bed, or having a well earned bath. You know - moments when you are supposed to be doing absolutely nothing.
But you can't leave it there, no. You have to do something about it. So the slumber ends, or the bath plug is pulled.
You go back to the novel and work on it some more.
I arrive at an expanse now - one that says 'hey, you got your life back', but I know this is only a temporary thing, a ceasefire between writer and its creation.
Is there a point to all this? Well, maybe. For me, for many of you, perhaps, you've reached a point where you say 'Yes, I'm done, I'm happy' (for now).
Of course, you feel happy, feel proud. My latest 'work' clocked in at over 85000 words, and the previous one at 101,000. I've never worked on anything so hard in my life.
With my first book, the semi-autobiographical 'Essence of Martial Arts', I learned so much about the process that with all the plethora of errors made, I resolved to make future books - should they ever be published - far better than that one.
Isn't that the aim of writers, to better their previous works? Absolutely, we have to be committed to that.
Should money come into it? I say no, because you have to write because you enjoy writing, telling stories, enlisting people's opinions on your creation.
Money corrupts. Would I like to be living more comfortably? Of course. But as I ploughed through my book, things were not so bad, because I could slip into that world, any time I liked.
It is far better a feeling than any drug I could take (not interested in that, never was, never will be!) or to indulge in some other past-time that leaves you, well, feeling cold, like a lover with you in the night, but departed by morning.
So yes, I feel a bit lost since completing the draft, but there are other things to do, pay attention to, and work on. My family may even have me back for a while. When they tire of that (And they will) they will want me to go back to my writing.
The draft has been completed, a small battle won. War is about to break out though - with myself (am I happy, truly happy with what I've done), with agents (they can slam a text out of existence because it doesn't meet a-b-c criteria) and publishers (remember how Harry Potter was thought of as 'a book about a boarding school...who would be interested in that?' Thankfully JK Rowling pressed on!
Whatever your thoughts when you complete your first draft, I wish you happy writing.
New Review: The Essence of Martial Arts
Okay, so I know my novel is at editorial now, but it is still great to get reviews on a book that was published 18 months ago:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
Release Date for 'Dark Winter'
Okay. So the draft has been completed. And then re-drafted. Then re-drafted several times more. The script has been through editorial, some friends have had snippets of the script, and well, friends, we are all but there.
So I have a date for it's release - 9th October on Kindle (and other devices) and printed version to be available soon after that.
I prefer the 'hard copy' version of books but can see some merit in e-books. Whichever one you happen to be, I hope you'll try this book and see something different in it.
It's my first 'official' novel, so I don't know how it will be received. Sometimes, you just have to go for it and
see what happens.
So I have a date for it's release - 9th October on Kindle (and other devices) and printed version to be available soon after that.
I prefer the 'hard copy' version of books but can see some merit in e-books. Whichever one you happen to be, I hope you'll try this book and see something different in it.
It's my first 'official' novel, so I don't know how it will be received. Sometimes, you just have to go for it and
see what happens.
Cover Reveal: Dark Winter via Ashley of the Bookish Brunette !!
Okay, so you may have seen the cover floating around. A few other places doesn't hurt though, and Ashley's blog is one the best. And it is certainly the best if you are as crazy about zombies as team BB are!
http://www.bookish-brunette.com/cover...
You should really subscribe, unless you've done so already!
http://www.bookish-brunette.com/cover...
You should really subscribe, unless you've done so already!
Dark Winter: New Facebook Page
If you like the book, please 'like' and I will add more info to the page over time.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Here's the facebook page:-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-W...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Here's the facebook page:-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-W...
Free Kindle copy of Dark Winter !!
24 hours only though
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Winter-J...
All I ask if you get a copy is PLEASE let me know what you thought of it on GR and Amazon! Thank you!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Winter-J...
All I ask if you get a copy is PLEASE let me know what you thought of it on GR and Amazon! Thank you!
You don't want her to GET you, do you?
Thanks to everyone who got a copy in the last 24 hours.
For print fans, it will be out in January.
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
For print fans, it will be out in January.
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
