I love this question – how’s your book coming along?
My reaction to this simple question can change daily, sometimes hourly.
Here are 10 different writer reactions to that question.
They are a mixture of some of the reactions I have overheard during my time as a writer and my own. I will let you work out which are mine 🤣
1. ‘Great thanks!’ Beaming smile and twinkling eyes. All is well in Writing Land.
2. Awkward silence on the writer’s part. There are no words to describe how that book is coming along.
3. ‘I will let you know when it’s finished. Lovely weather we’re having at the moment – don’t you think?’ Writer uses clever distraction technique.
4. ‘It’s NOT coming along,’ snaps the writer, with bulldog chewing a thistle expression on face. ‘It’s about a musician and I keep spelling the word rhythm wrong. You wouldn’t believe the wild and wonderful ways I have attempted to spell that damn word! The next time I decide to write a book make sure I can spell key words relating to the subject matter.‘
5. ‘Oh my goodness,’ the writer gushes, closing their eyes, shaking their head and owning that look of writer bliss. ‘It’s A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I can’t wait to get past ten thousand words.’
6. ‘Struggling with the writing part of it,’ says the writer, looking hopeful. ‘In my head it’s finished.’
7. ‘What book?’ Followed by false laugh and touch of nose. ‘Did you think I was writing a book? Oh my goodness I have better things to do than write ninety thousand words…for fun!’ This writer is in denial. After rushing home they will head to their laptop and carry on writing their secret book.
8. ‘I quit writing it 5 minutes ago. I’ve decided to grow watercress out of my own hand painted egg shells instead.’ Pokes head inside the fridge and lets out what sounds like a muffled scream into a lettuce. This writer is in denial and needs to return to their WIP.
9. ‘I finished it!’ Eyes dancing with excitement.
10. Writer scratches head and lets out a sigh. ‘I spent all day rewriting the hell out of one tiny paragraph, I have a strong urge to dress in tweed, I have a crush on my fictional character, I tweet a lot about my writing droughts which would probably not occur if I spent less time on Twitter, I’m terrified about writing an intimate scene in chapter thirty-two and my coffee machine is suffering from extreme exhaustion. Yes, my book’s coming along just fine.’
How’s your book coming along?
Take care out there writers.
Love it.
Me right now: Really well! I’m editing again, but I’m making progress every day (even if it’s only deleting a few words) and I’m confident the eighth round of structural edits will be the last. Okay, maybe not confident, but hopeful.
I am occasionally tempted to just go ‘raaargh’ at anyone who asks and leave it there…
I’m definitely number 10 (minus the love scene!!) 🤣
😂📚 thanks Shelley x
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Let Lucy know YOUR answers, in the comments under her original blog post 😃
Thank you Mighty Story Reading Ape 🦍
Welcome, tiny human Lucy writing person 🤗❤️🤗
It’s currently nestled in my head, and the words are finding it hard to get to my screen… 😬😬😬😬
I know that stage well 🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣
All of it, so true. Another dreaded question for a writer besides ‘how is your book coming along?” is, “When is your book going to be finished?” ugh.
Yes yes yes!!! 😂 Thank you for giving me a much needed smile! 😍
Oh, yes! I can relate to that. Mine is currently in the umpteenth revision. I keep finding bits I think need changing, bits that need adding to make it clearer, and bits that need eliminating as superfluous. Every time I re-read there’s something else!
But I can’t say all that to an enquirer, so it’s usually, “OK, I suppose.”
Thank you for stopping by. Yes I know the ‘umpteenth’ revision stage well. Good luck with that! 😍
Good post! Sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves. Me, I’m on my second first draft, and yes, I know that doesn’t make sense.:-)
Love it 😍
Love these! I’ve lately been pretty much in the “evasive responses” group.
I know the evasive responses group well 🤣🤣 Thank you for coming on my blog 😍
Struggling with the writing part of it! Never words so true.
Thank you Crystal 😍
Reblogged this on Jeanne Owens, author and commented:
I’m feeling more like #6 at the moment.
Thank you 😍
Ha ha! Love this. Made me laugh so much. My WIP is giving me extra grey hairs because I’m worried about my search history: so far – how to strangle somebody, how to paint lines on the back of legs (i.e. nylons) – what happens to erections in cold water – how to poison with wild mushrooms – how to eat whale meat – can a person tone deaf ever learn how to sing well – and a whole list of other things that I am too ashamed to share.
Onwards! (I wonder if my publishing company saw all this in my synopsis?)
Love this comment 🤣
I need more time!
It’s not going as fast as I wanted…
I’m still editing.
I hope to publish by ______
I’m done writing, now comes the fun part!
Love this! Thank you 😍
As usual, your posts make me laugh out loud. Totally agree on “rhythm” … it’s a damn silly word and every time I write it, I have to sort of brace myself for the red squiggly line that I know is going to appear the moment I hit the space bar … and indeed it did … above … when I just misspelled it for the eleventy billionth time in my life. *sighs and goes to make a calming herbal tea.
🤣🤣 your comment made me laugh!
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Thank you 😍
This is too funny – especially the “struggling with the writing part of it” one. Toni
Thanks Toni ❤️
LOL loved these reactions. XD