TIM WEAVER | Bestselling author
TIM WEAVER | Bestselling author

   home

novels

podcast

news

meet tim

blog

newsletter

2 x Books. 1 x Brain Hurt.

4/27/2013

7 Comments

 
It's hard to believe that it's been three months since I last blogged. Not hard to believe in a "wow, I'm normally so regular with my blogging!" kind of way because, as regular readers of this page will be all-too-familiar with now, I'm forever apologising for the amount of time I take between blogs. No, it's hard to believe because the past three months seems to have gone so quickly. Part of that, I'm sure, is the fact that time – and I'm pretty sure this is backed up by science – passes at double the speed once you hit your mid-thirties, while the rest of it I can lay at the door of the final, final, final read-through of Never Coming Back and the tricky, as-yet-untitled Book 5. 

It's always a slightly weird time when you're 'between' books. I guess, technically, an author is always 'between books' in the sense that one book is done and being edited while the other is being planned, started and shaped, but at least when I'm finished with this final read-through of my fourth book, it won't be hovering there, in the background, not quite edited, and not quite complete. I was going to add that, once the read-through is done, I don't have to worry about it anymore, but that would be a lie: I wouldn't consider myself much of a worrier – except when it comes to my books. With Never Coming Back, as with all the others, doubt is my passenger.

The consequence of having to juggle a 97% done version of my almost-released book alongside a 20% done version of my yet-to-even-have-a-title new one, is that I find it quite hard to get going on the new one. It's not that I'm particularly unclear on where it's headed (although, I'll admit, the original plan for Book 5 has already hit some teething problems), more that, in reading the final proofs for Never Coming Back, it kind of brings home what a massive gulf there is between the two books: one's just about as polished as it can be, has characters that make sense and have the right motivation, storylines that tie up, and dialogue that feels right; the other is a mess of yet-to-be-realised ideas, characters that may not even end up in the final version, and set pieces that looked good in the plan but don't necessarily stack up once you get them onto the page.

But one book is almost done, and the other has barely been started, you're probably thinking – and, of course, if I could apply any kind of logic to the situation, you'd be absolutely right. But writing isn't like filling in a spreadsheet. Or, at least, it isn't for me. Books aren't maths. They aren't some kind of unbreakable, inarguable equation that remains the same, infinitely. For me, writing is about feel. It's about intangible things coming together, at the right time, in the right place; basically, a lot of the time, it's about luck. So, when I compare Never Coming Back to the 28,000 words I've done on Book 5, I see one book that makes sense, that's come together in the way I'd hoped, and I see another that's full of holes with great swathes of it yet to have even been decided upon. That worry I mentioned earlier? This is where it comes in. Is the story as good as the last one? Are the characters as compelling? Have I got it in me to finish another book?

The reassuring thing is that I get this every single time I write a book. The first 20,000 words or so are fantastic: it's new, exciting, a chance to do new things with a new set of rules. In a way, although I feel a responsibility to readers, all bets are off. But then, once you're north of those 20,000 – like clockwork – the mood starts to change. As things don't come together in the way you expected, or characters aren't fitting in as well as they did in the plan, the doubts start to creep in. From there, you really only have two choices: you scrap everything and start again – or you power through. I've done both, but I've found that, while starting again can help, it will still bring that same doubt at the same stage and, in the end, if you want to be published, you have to finish the book. So, ultimately, it becomes about knuckling down and getting it done.

Thankfully, once the final read-through of the last book is over, it means you won't see it again to edit, ever (in my case, it's quite literally Never Coming Back), so that automatically narrows your focus, and means you can zero in on the new one without fear you'll be flipping back and forth between books and stories and characters (which can be slightly disorientating in itself). In my experience, the next 3-4 months are the most crucial of the entire, year-long process: I have the building blocks of a novel – now it's time to get into it, tear it apart, push it on, and finish it. And who knows, next time I blog, Book 5 might be most of the way to complete. Or it might not. 

It's not a spreadsheet, after all.

Happy reading!

Tim
__________________

P.S. Since the last blog, I've read:

11.22.63 by Stephen King
Proof of Heaven by Dr Eben Alexander
World War Z by Max Brooks
The Fear Index by Robert Harris
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
7 Comments
Justine Allen
4/28/2013 04:50:45 am

You worry too much, if the book is half as good as the rest it will be amazing, can't wait to read it

Reply
Tim Weaver
7/16/2013 04:10:39 am

Thank you Justine - that's really kind of you to say!

Reply
Evelyn Ranson
7/8/2013 02:06:52 am

Hi Tim,

I am eagerly awaiting receipt of your latest book - Never Coming Back - had it pre-ordered for what seems like months and months. I know it will be as good, if not better, than your previous books and I know 'No.5' will be also.

I must tell you that I found another book by Tim Weaver, but the first page told me it wasn't one of yours. I thought at the time it must be another author with the same name but got it 'just in case'....and I was so disappointed.

I wish you all the luck in the world with your next book and your future career which I will follow with great interest.

Kindest regards ( and quit worrying!)

Evelyn

Reply
Tim Weaver
7/16/2013 04:17:02 am

Hey Evelyn,

Thank you for your lovely comments. Yes, there is another Tim Weaver doing the rounds - in fact, he was there way before I ever arrived on the scene, so he'd probably say *I'm* the impostor!

Anyway, thank you for supporting Raker and Weaver #2 :)

Very best wishes,

Tim

Reply
Thomas link
3/27/2014 08:45:28 pm

I was looking for some topics that are enough popular and finally founded your blog, it has superb topics with great popularity.

Reply
NCERT solutions for class 9 Maths link
1/5/2021 04:35:24 am

Nice article!

Reply
Online Meat Shop link
2/28/2021 11:01:00 pm

Buy meat online from formeat Shop, Get fresh, and hygienic meat & seafood’s delivered at your doorstep fastly.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2019
    December 2018
    November 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    February 2016
    August 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    August 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    July 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Tim Weaver

    Author of the David Raker novels

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.