In the last few days, I've gone over seven copy edited chapters, rewrote another entirely, and author-edited two more.

If I'm not sleeping or working, that damn book has got me in its grips. Not only has my newsletter stopped going out since I started, but now the blog begins to atrophy. I have two, maybe three more weeks, then I am done and the machine takes over.

I no longer tell other people to write a book. I'm in the marathon stage of book writing, where it's all pain and your eyes toward the finish line that seems to keep receeding as you run to it, like mountains at the western end of Kansas. The worst is the emotional haul: is it any good, why am I doing it, what if people think it's stupid, if I only had more time, when will it be over i want my life back...

Writing Books: just say no.

"I no longer tell other people to write a book. I'm in the marathon stage of book writing, where it's all pain and your eyes toward the finish line that seems to keep receeding as you run to it, like mountains at the western end of Kansas. The worst is the emotional haul: is it any good, why am I doing it, what if people think it's stupid, if I only had more time, when will it be over i want my life back..."

If this is true, I'd say that writing a book would be quite 'character building', I'm even more convinced I should eventually write my own book one day. =)

"character building" I thought I already was a character! Anyhow, that's what they say when somethign is unpleasent. That, and "it's good for you"

Okay, I admit I know more now about IA, understand it more clearly, can express it better and can write way better than before this book.

But I'm soooo tired.

Well Christina if its any consolation, I'm looking forward to reading it... so keep plugging away!

Cheers, d

If Christina can articulate even a fraction of the breath of knowledge that she has when you hear her speak I think this book will be worth its weight in gold. I look forward to buying the first copy I see on the shelves.

- Nick

sadly i type slower than I talk. :-)

I'm looking forward to reading it too! You have no idea how much I've learned just by reading your blog.

i support you christina

think of it like giving birth without the 18 years of maintenance after the fact. Once its done you can sleep - most proud new parents can't say the same.

We miss you, but we understand and are greatly looking forward to the fruit of your hard work. Hopefully we have your back while your look the other way and toil on.

Just get the sucker done! Life's much better on the other side; I promise.

I'll second what Lou said, although all the books I've written have been manuals to accompany products, rather than books that actually have to entice people to pick them off the shelf. There's an old saying among (some) writers: "I hate writing, but I love having written." I forget who originally said it.

It's widely attributed to Dorothy Parker. But don't believe everything you read on the Internet.

Jesse and I are oxes in a yoke these days: his final author review is monday; mine wednesday... so if you want to cheer him on also, please do! Go Jesse!

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