HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Fanfare! Ruffles and flourishes! I am so incredibly excited. I am writing this at 6:11 PM on Monday, and yes, that is very very late to be writing a blog for Tuesday but there is a reason.
My book was due Monday. Yes, ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS will be out this September. It’s all done! But I’ve been working for the last year on the next book.
Which I cannot tell you the name of, because it is not final, but you will hear it here first. it will come out in September of 2026, a date that I cannot fathom.
But here is the year in the life of my new book.
1. I will never have a good idea again.
2. I will never have a good idea again and my life is over, and I am utterly and totally doomed. I have no idea how I wrote my other books, and I will never be able to write another one period what am I going to do? I'm going to have to tell everybody that I cannot do it, and no one will be happy about this. Plus, I will have to give back the money.
3. I have an idea!
4. It's a terrible idea. I will never have a good idea again.
5. I have a possible good idea. Possibly. It's possibly a good idea.
6. It's a terrible idea. I am so doomed, there isn't even a word for that.
7. I have a good idea. I do, I really do. This is going to work.
8. It's a fabulous idea, I cannot wait to write this. I type “Chapter 1.” I am so excited, I fly through the first chapter. I fly through the second chapter. New York Times bestseller, here we come. There’s a story question, there’s conflict, there’s a wonderful main character. Or two.
9. When I hit page 36, I know it is a big turning point, if I can get to page 37 the idea will hold up for the rest of the book.
10. I hit page 37! I rock, I am such a rock star, the process never fails me, this is absolutely going to work.
11. Page 100. And without even working on it very hard there's a massive twist. I am a genius! I am an utter genius! This is my calling and my passion. FABULOUS.
12. Page 105. Okay, now what. I've got 285 pages to go, what the heck is that going to be. How is this story going to last for all those more words?
13. What does someone want, and what will they do to get it. How far will they go to get it. What would someone really do. What is the worst thing that could possibly happen, and what is worse than that. I asked myself all the questions that are supposed to work. Sometimes they do.
14. Time to reassure myself! Writing a book is a process, I say. One page at a time, one word at a time period don't worry about the end. The end will come when you get there. Just type type type type type even if it's terrible just keep going, just keep going. Just keep going.
15. Sometimes this is OK. Sometimes this is terrible. Most of the time I don't know which. Procrastinating. Maybe I’ll alphabetize my books. NO. Write.
16. Page 300. Ohhh no, it's going to take too long to get to the ending. The beginning is way too long. I'm really going to have to cut the heck out of the beginning because if I write at this rhythm, this will be 500 pages long and that's never going to work. I will just keep going, and cut later. But what should I cut? How do I know?
17. Still, maybe I should go back and cut now.
18. No, I'll just go ahead. I can’t cut until I know the ending.
19. Page 350. Getting there! If only I knew what the ending was.
20. I totally don't know the ending. I’ll edit from the beginning, editing is good. I’ll also take out all the uses of “baffled” and “somehow” and “maybe.” Edit edit edit. And the momentum will swing me right into the ending.
21. Nope. Lots of wonderful edits, but I still utterly and totally don't know the ending, and moreover I have created a mystery that I cannot solve. I should have thought of this. I wish I had an outline, but I don't know how to make outlines. And I don't want to make an outline. I just want the ending.
22. I don't have an ending. I have 110,000 words, and no ending. This is not good. Who lives, who dies, who tells the story. I have one of those.
23. See #14. One word at a time. Something will happen. It’s worked before. Keep going keep going keep going.
24. I totally don't know the ending. Still. And the deadline is two days away.
25. The deadline is one day away.
26. Wait! I might have it! Yes. I have it.
27. Deadline day. Typing like a maniac. Typing like crazy. Working working working working working. EDITING EDITING EDITING. Taking out” actually” and “of course.” And “little.” Wearing my special deadline hoodie.
28. Done!
29. Not really done. Checking checking checking. Rewriting. Cutting. Cutting cutting cutting.
30. DONE! For now at least. But that is enough.
And I hit SEND. At two minutes until deadline, and I am incredibly grateful.
Now. I need a new idea. Ahhh. See #1.
Reds and Readers, thank you for being here through this! ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS will be out in September, and I wish I’d had this chart then to reassure me it’s ALWAYS this way. Next year, when I complain, you’ll remind me, right?
But here is the year in the life of my new book.
1. I will never have a good idea again.
2. I will never have a good idea again and my life is over, and I am utterly and totally doomed. I have no idea how I wrote my other books, and I will never be able to write another one period what am I going to do? I'm going to have to tell everybody that I cannot do it, and no one will be happy about this. Plus, I will have to give back the money.
3. I have an idea!
4. It's a terrible idea. I will never have a good idea again.
5. I have a possible good idea. Possibly. It's possibly a good idea.
6. It's a terrible idea. I am so doomed, there isn't even a word for that.
7. I have a good idea. I do, I really do. This is going to work.
8. It's a fabulous idea, I cannot wait to write this. I type “Chapter 1.” I am so excited, I fly through the first chapter. I fly through the second chapter. New York Times bestseller, here we come. There’s a story question, there’s conflict, there’s a wonderful main character. Or two.
9. When I hit page 36, I know it is a big turning point, if I can get to page 37 the idea will hold up for the rest of the book.
10. I hit page 37! I rock, I am such a rock star, the process never fails me, this is absolutely going to work.
11. Page 100. And without even working on it very hard there's a massive twist. I am a genius! I am an utter genius! This is my calling and my passion. FABULOUS.
12. Page 105. Okay, now what. I've got 285 pages to go, what the heck is that going to be. How is this story going to last for all those more words?
13. What does someone want, and what will they do to get it. How far will they go to get it. What would someone really do. What is the worst thing that could possibly happen, and what is worse than that. I asked myself all the questions that are supposed to work. Sometimes they do.
14. Time to reassure myself! Writing a book is a process, I say. One page at a time, one word at a time period don't worry about the end. The end will come when you get there. Just type type type type type even if it's terrible just keep going, just keep going. Just keep going.
15. Sometimes this is OK. Sometimes this is terrible. Most of the time I don't know which. Procrastinating. Maybe I’ll alphabetize my books. NO. Write.
16. Page 300. Ohhh no, it's going to take too long to get to the ending. The beginning is way too long. I'm really going to have to cut the heck out of the beginning because if I write at this rhythm, this will be 500 pages long and that's never going to work. I will just keep going, and cut later. But what should I cut? How do I know?
17. Still, maybe I should go back and cut now.
18. No, I'll just go ahead. I can’t cut until I know the ending.
19. Page 350. Getting there! If only I knew what the ending was.
20. I totally don't know the ending. I’ll edit from the beginning, editing is good. I’ll also take out all the uses of “baffled” and “somehow” and “maybe.” Edit edit edit. And the momentum will swing me right into the ending.
21. Nope. Lots of wonderful edits, but I still utterly and totally don't know the ending, and moreover I have created a mystery that I cannot solve. I should have thought of this. I wish I had an outline, but I don't know how to make outlines. And I don't want to make an outline. I just want the ending.
22. I don't have an ending. I have 110,000 words, and no ending. This is not good. Who lives, who dies, who tells the story. I have one of those.
23. See #14. One word at a time. Something will happen. It’s worked before. Keep going keep going keep going.
24. I totally don't know the ending. Still. And the deadline is two days away.
25. The deadline is one day away.
26. Wait! I might have it! Yes. I have it.
27. Deadline day. Typing like a maniac. Typing like crazy. Working working working working working. EDITING EDITING EDITING. Taking out” actually” and “of course.” And “little.” Wearing my special deadline hoodie.
28. Done!
29. Not really done. Checking checking checking. Rewriting. Cutting. Cutting cutting cutting.
30. DONE! For now at least. But that is enough.
And I hit SEND. At two minutes until deadline, and I am incredibly grateful.
Now. I need a new idea. Ahhh. See #1.
Reds and Readers, thank you for being here through this! ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS will be out in September, and I wish I’d had this chart then to reassure me it’s ALWAYS this way. Next year, when I complain, you’ll remind me, right?
Writers, does this sound familiar?
Readers, see #15. Do you alphabetize your books?
And, yet, you always manage to come through with a marvelous, wonderful book! 😊 But I suppose if the process works it's all good even though it seems as if you are being a bit too hard on yourself . . . .
ReplyDelete[And, no, I don't alphabetize my books, but I do make a half-hearted effort to keep books by the same author grouped together on a shelf [or two, or three] . . . .
Congrats! I have never imagined you wearing a hoodie.
ReplyDeleteFrom Celia: well done but the hoodie nails it - definitely.
ReplyDeleteHank, you are hilarious! When you thought it might be a good time to alphabetize your books, I just giggled. I love the hoodie, but Lisa is right. Next time we want a photo of you in it.
ReplyDeleteYes, my books are mostly alphabetized by author.
HANK: Hooray, you did it (again)! I cheered you on when I saw your FB post yesterday about a 6:00 pm deadline to submit this book. Did you feel that supportive energy from me and many others?!
ReplyDeleteAs for #15, yes I organize my books by genre, then alphabetically by author & title.
When you have 22 bookcases full of books, this is the only way.
I can find a book I need in less than 5 seconds, lol.
See #16...If you ended up with 500 pages I would be a happy camper. Like a fabulous film I hate when the story reaches its conclusion. Sometimes I wish a narrative could go on forever. Or perhaps keep the reader or the viewer guessing as to who committed the crime(s)..."that's all folks"...until the sequel. So the longer the better. :-) See my #1....Pay me no mind...I have no idea what I am talking about...haha. As to #15 ~ I like to shelf my books according to the subject matter; i.e., autobiographies, gardening, non-fiction, the classics, murder mysteries, etc. And in my next life I would request that my books have their own room; i.e., as in a library with floor to ceiling shelves and a ladder on wheels. Deep and cozy reading chairs with a fireplace, too. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteP.S. Congratulations...I hope you celebrated finishing yet another great murder mystery and meeting your deadline. Maybe even allowed your mind to take a break, kick back, relax and give yourself a solid pat on the back.
DeleteI knew you would make that deadline, Hank!
ReplyDeleteYes, my books are alphabetized by author and title. I fix the books on the shelves that are out of order when I am looking for something at the public library. After having worked in a middle school library, I can’t help myself.
Oh, and my nonfiction books are loosely shelved by Dewey Decimal subject and then alpha by author and title.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Hank! What an accomplishment. No, I can't imagine alphabetizing our books. We, too, have over two dozen floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. I group them generally by subject (non-fiction) or author (fiction) but that's it. The next time I spend much time on our shelves it will be to divest, not alphabetize. That itself will be a huge chore. (Selden)
ReplyDelete