February and Beyond

As we move deeper into 2012 I have been forced to take account of my situation.  I am not a full-time writer whose following shells out for every word I type.  I am a 38 year old first-time novelist who has had to struggle to make ends meet in order to try and complete a time-sensitive novel that some readers may just find irrelevant after this year.  I have to constantly remind myself of Orwell's 1984 and Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.

However, neither of those stories had to do with an actual event like 12/21/2012.  Will people care after that day?  I asked myself that question a thousand times before starting, (and still do to this day) but my desire to write the story was more important than the threat of eventual insignificance.  It had to be. Was it a wise decision?  I could have written something else as my first novel, could have chosen something more conventional that may have a longer shelf life.  I have a backlog of stories begging to be written.  I made my bed and some days I am actually able to sleep in it.

When I first set out to write Monarch in July of 2010, I felt two years would be more than enough time to write, edit and publish my story as an eBook.  I was emboldened to the idea that I could deliver on a deadline that will never come again.  Since then I have encountered a multitude of unexpected obstacles.  Some days I just want to give it up and be done with Monarch in the worst kind of way.

That reminds me of Lance Armstrong's cameo in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story when he is talking to Vince Vaughn's character, Peter, about quitting the dodgeball tournament.  Lance: "Well, I guess if a person never quit when the going got tough, they wouldn't have anything to regret for the rest of their life. But good luck to you Peter. I'm sure this decision won't haunt you forever."   

I laugh each time I watch that scene.  Thanks, Lance.

Even though I have no intention of throwing in the towel, I have had to reside myself to the fact that with the current rush to self-ePublish my little story is likely to get lost in cyberspace somewhere.  With such a diluted marketplace, the minuscule amount  of money to be made over the next ten plus months will likely not cover the losses I will have incurred over two  years.

People always say "don't quit your day job" to writers as they are starting out.  To this point, I have kept to that bit of advice.  I've had to.  It hasn't always been easy.  In fact, it has been downright difficult for a number of reasons.  Needless to say, my current situation (with so little time to rewrite, edit and polish) has forced me to reconsider how the rest of this year might need to unfold.  Because Monarch is my main priority and time keeps slipping away, I may need to cut back on my work away from writing.  While I may not be able to pay my bills, I am going to finish the book.

If only I were rich.  Wish in one hand, right?  Regardless, my priority is Monarch and I owe it to you and myself to get the story in your hands on time.

Thanks for reading.

-aap

P.S. My apologies for the multiple edits.