Comments on: The Highs and Lows of Life After Publication http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/ Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:17:18 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 By: Louisa Treger http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-47929 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:17:18 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-47929 In reply to Richard Tattoni.

Thank you for your comments, Richard, and good luck with the whole process!

]]> By: Richard Tattoni http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-47924 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 14:24:20 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-47924 Thanks for sharing your traditional experience. I appreciate your honesty and I am relating to your highs and lows going through the process for the first time. I think the length of your blog is justified given your passion for writing the truth and understanding of the author’s role.

]]> By: Louisa Treger http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-47243 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:13:18 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-47243 In reply to Kavitha.

Thank you for this nice message! Congratulations on your book deals and good luck!

]]> By: Kavitha http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-47241 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:27:19 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-47241 What a fantastic post! Thank you so much for sharing. “Writing is part of who I am..” Yes! For months, I was focused on the “holy grail” and just signed contracts for two books. Suddenly, I’m a bit terrified about what this means. The writing I was trying to sell to publishers is going through rigorous scrutiny through the lens of self-doubt now that it’s sold! It’s positively wonderful to read about those who’ve been there, done that. Love this group. Thank you again.

]]> By: Louisa Treger http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-47012 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 11:30:01 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-47012 In reply to Beth Moran.

Thank you, Beth. It’s lovely for me to know that others feel the same way. Good luck with your third book – you are prolific!

]]> By: Beth Moran http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-47010 Sat, 19 Dec 2015 10:39:47 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-47010 Thanks for this great post, Louisa. It’s 18 months since my 1st book was published, my 3rd will be out next year and Ithis is a startlingly accurate summary! like you, for a long time I’d focussed on that end goal, with no idea of what came after. When fellow writers still waiting for a deal say to me “it’s ok for you, you’ve got there…” I want to say, “yes, and it’s so, so wonderful. But it it’s also harder than I ever imagined.”

]]> By: Louisa Treger http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-46597 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 15:10:38 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-46597 In reply to Julie Christine Johnson.

Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Julie. It’s lovely to know my words strike a chord with other writers! I wish you much success too x

]]> By: Louisa Treger http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-46596 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 15:09:14 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-46596 In reply to Ellen Hawley.

Yes, it was a Goodreads review! The reviewer also said she had to stop reading my description of a miscarriage, because it made her relive her own (I guess that’s a compliment in a way, albeit back-handed). So what you said about self-focused reviewers is 100% correct. In fact, everything you said is spot on – thank you. I am going to hold onto your words!

]]> By: Julie Christine Johnson http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-46593 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 12:35:26 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-46593 “I felt incredibly exposed, as though I’d taken my clothes off in front of the world. It is perhaps the central paradox of being an author that you must have a thin skin in order to write well, yet the hide of a rhinoceros to put yourself out there. I am still working on the rhinoceros part!”

I feel this, Louisa. I’m still several months out from launch of my debut and the sense of vulnerability and rawness takes my breath away at times. I have a second novel on submission, a third in revision, and so I have moved on intellectually and emotionally, and yet I can’t–the final months of this year and well into 2016 will be full of flogging Novel 1. I can’t wait to connect with readers. I can’t wait until I can retreat to my corner, put my head down, and keep writing. Like you, I’ve connected with some wonderful groups of writers online and their advice keeps me afloat.

Thank you for your honesty–it is another life ring to hold onto. I wish you continued great success.

]]> By: Ellen Hawley http://booksbywomen.org/the-highs-and-lows-of-life-after-publication-by-louisa-treger/#comment-46591 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 10:35:36 +0000 http://booksbywomen.org/?p=13519#comment-46591 That sounds like a Goodreads review, or its equivalent. I’ve banned myself from reading the damn things since, like you, I fix on the bad ones and forget the good ones. So many of the reviewers are completely self-focused: “I didn’t like it because the protagonist is too old/young/male/female/passive/active/married/single/divorced/cautious/ irresponsible.” “I might have liked it but I started it on a Monday, which is always a rotten day, so I’ll have to give it one star.” I exaggerate only slightly. I can live with (and even learn from) criticism from a serious reviewer, but people who just flip self-focused opinions off the tops of their heads? Not worth bothering with.

]]>