A Couple of Rambles Make a Post. Possibly. It's 2am and I'm Tired.

I'm 20K into Lineage but I've decided I need a break.

With Hunter's release looming, I'm in that place now of "I suck and I'm talentless and no one likes my books and no one will buy them and I should just give up and join the circus."

Of course, this is silly. I'm not joining the circus. I'm going to be a ninja.

(h/t Elaine Corvidae for that one. If it doesn't show up, here's a link: http://music.sjtucker.com/track/the-truth-about-ninjas)

Aspiring writers? This feeling is common. (The "talentless hack" part, not the ninja part. Although you might also want to be a ninja. I dunno.) Don't be paralyzed by it. Expect it, accept it, and deal with it. Experienced writers: it never goes away. Not ever. In fact, I daresay that if you NEVER have the crippling fear that you suck and should quit and everyone hates your work periodically, you're probably a shitty writer. Like one of those delusional people on American Idol who think they can sing but are tone deaf. Skepticism in our own ability is what often drives us to be better, so a healthy dose of that is normal.

Anyway. Moving on.

I need some me time, so I'm going to work on my post apocalyptic UF In Darkness Waits. I miss Lark and Eleven-Scar and their messed up world. I'm 25K into it, I'd like to hit 90K, so I should get some work done. If that doesn't fix me, I'll jump into Ashes because it's wild fun and possibly unpublishable. (Also, I'm still running the Zara serial on the side, don't forget, and that updates every two weeks. http://www.skyladawncameron.com/novels/amends)

Speaking of, we probably ought to change the tagline on Lineage from "Family reunions suck" to "Meet Peri. You're not going to like her." This is the issue that plagues me. I think it's split between people who love Zara and people who hate her, and I haven't a clue what I could've done differently. She is who she is--that's how she showed up, this is her story, and I'm sorry if that's a problem. The jacket copy sets the tone of the book. The cover has a chick in a bloody corset with a gun. There is an excerpt of three chapters available and now a free serial. There are ample opportunities to decide she's irritating and, frankly, if the biggest complaint about the book is that my 300 year old vampire who kills people for a living isn't likable, well, I'm not going to cry in my granola over it.

But that's the truth of it. Zara? You possibly won't like. Ryann? Ah hell, she's strong, honest, loyal, and brave. You'll like her. Peri? Uh, you won't like her. I don't even like her. So don't say I didn't warn you.

Now THERE is a winning marketing pitch, no?

Anyway. this is me taking my break from contracted work before it destroys my sanity, and I'll probably be quiet online to keep from depressing everyone with my WOE about how much I SUCK. I will try to update the book on the WIP section of my sidebar for those following along at home who don't have any paint to watch dry. ;-)

I hope y'all are having a lovely month. What do YOU do to combat the "I suck" phase? What are you working on? Regale me with tales of how yours is the worst book ever written as opposed to mine.