Understanding Authors

I am a selfish reader. 
When I visit a bookstore, I usually hunt for my favorite authors, moaning in disappointment if they haven't published another stream of well-thought-out words for my enjoyment.  In fact, I berate those self-same authors, for the time they take to write another novel.  Not in hate fan mail.  But in my mind.  You see, I expect to have a new, well-written, novel from you every time I need reading material.

For that, authors, I send you my apologies. 

Now that I too am finally writing, I understand the time it takes to write a decent story.  I understand now, the hours of research necessary for fiction, in order to astound the reader; the hours spent hunting down that perfect synonym to let the cadence of that scene flow. 

I am writing my third novel.  I still cringe when I read my first.  I sent it out, so proud, into Amazon ebooks in May.  Jubilantly, I awaited good reviews.  I even had the gall to brag to my readers (if I ever get any) to expect my next novel in that series to be available in June.

Well, yes, that new novel is finished.  And it sits, waiting for my next edit.  Which will take a while.  I learned with my first novel, that I have to forget exactly what I wrote, so my edit can actually help polish the story.

So I write my third, in another world, so I can forget, somewhat, the words I used.  I know I will never forget the story.  I lived that story, dreamed it, loved the characters and danced with them.  In some ways, the characters in my story became more real than my family and I resented mundane chores like feeding my family, that took me away from my world.

I must stand back, let the story simmer like any good stew, until it all blends.  Only then will I attempt to spice it, add another ingredient, or subtract without destroying the flavor, maybe cover the pot for another month before trying again.  And I have learned, by tasting too early, that this simmering takes longer than I expected.

So again, my apologies fellow authors. 

And I hope, dear readers, that my words help you understand why we can't slake your needs by publishing monthly, even oftener, for your habit. 

Using?? the Technology

Ok, I've been negligent about posting.  my apologies.

 I've opened a Facebook page, but I have no friends.  I've Twittered, but no idea how to respond to anybody out there.  I've got my Blog. 
 And I try to write something at least weekly.  I do read other people's Twitter posts.  I'm 'following' a few.  I announce my publications on Facebook.  
 But I know somehow, I'm failing in these new media.  I'm just not hip enough.  Or maybe I don't listen to enough young people.  They seem to be hard-wired into these technologies and media.  Or they're born knowing how to 'tweet' or whatever. 
 I even read the 'Dummies' version of updating my skills.  Yah, I made that up.  I'll have to find a class to take, and find out what exactly I'm missing in this whole new world.
 Wish me luck, please.  I might never write another sentence of my stories.  I'll be trying too hard to find myself in the Net.

Learning the Technology

I'm not stupid!  But I do find the newest technology baffling.

I learned about computers and applications the hard way, before anyone knew enough to teach.
And now, when I ask a simple question, I get laughed at or mocked.  I can even go down in flames.

I swear somedays I spend more time learning an app than I do actually writing.

Don't get me wrong.  I love this new technology.  I love not having smelly, messy carbon paper.  I love to be able to type my thoughts, edit them, and see them in beautiful fonts on that white screen before me.
I love the ease of fact-finding.  No more days at the public library searching to find the one fact that will make my story believable.  I love the on-line thesaurus and dictionary.

Occasionally I find myself strapping on my laptop, sitting on the subway and pecking out my thoughts, my scenery, conversations overheard, or even a rough character sketch of a fellow traveler.
Ye old typewriter never tripped with me.  Back then, my notebook (real paper) and pen came as companions. 
I'd have to hope for smooth travel if I wanted to read my musing when I returned back home.
I'd scribe my thoughts, return home and decide if they were actually worth typing and saving.
Now I can save them all!  For who knows when those gems will be exactly what I look for.

I am learning net-speak, a language of its own, much the same way I learned French and Italian; by listening and reading.  My interpretations can be risible, to my family.  But I struggle on.

I will learn.  I embrace wholeheartedly this

Like any self-respecting writer, I will learn and apply any method to make my writing day a little easier.  It's the words, lying patiently in my brain, just waiting to be plucked, massaged and strung that are the gems.  Any technology that allows my visions access past my skull needs to be learned, used and embraced.