What Authorial Agitation Looks Like, Scalzi Edition
Posted on November 3, 2019 Posted by John Scalzi 16 Comments
A tale in three tweets:
Yeah, this.
I should be clear this was mostly for comedic effect. But on the other hand, yes, absolutely, once I send in a manuscript, after a couple of hours my brain is all “well? and?” because my brain, I think like most people’s brains, is not entirely convinced that anyone has a life outside my immediate needs and wishes. I do a lot of work not to show that part of my brain at all times.
But the good news is the book apparently works! I thought it did, mind you, and so did Krissy. But it’s nice to have verification outside the Scalzi household. You’ll see for yourself! In, uhhhh, April.
I think I’m jealous of Krissy. She gets to read your new stuff first. ;)
I should know better than to read your blog while drinking coffee. I now have to clean up my keyboard and monitor…..
April can’t come soon enough!
I’ve been job hunting (Oh rapture! Oh bliss!) and have similar reaction. “I’ve got all the experience! and I’m good at what I do and….looovvvveee meeeee!” And then freak out when it’s been like two days.
Not the exact same thing, I know, but similar.
Also, it’s oddly reassuring that you and other awesome creative people I follow worry about what you do being good. I think that self-doubt helps us do better. And so many people (like you) who put out awesome work still always worry about it.
The need for feedback is altogether human. Not sure I like it, tho’…
Will travel and pay money to see Scalzi and Horsey sauce.
Note: can not interfer with chemo infusions. Timing is everything.
Dibbs on Smudge
I quiver in anticipa….
Don’t sell the cats. Better to eat them. Nobody buys cats; people just sell them because of the exploding vet costs. They taste a little like rabbit and if you don’t look to close to their behind legs you could almost believe it’s rabbit.
Horsey sauce? Is this an Ohio thing?
rktrixy: There used to be large fast food chain in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern US, Roy Rodgers, that had roast beef sandwiches and hamburgers. One of their sthicks was that you added your own condiments–ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions, etc. One of the condiments they offered was called “Horsey Sauce”, a mixture of horseradish and mayo. It was actually pretty good on their roast beef sandwiches.
(There are a Roy Rodgers left, but almost all were closed and converted to other franchises–Hardee’s, Popeye’s Fried Chicken, Arby’s, etc. The interior layout of all of the different franchises is so similar that with some modest redecorating/rebadging the same building works for any.)
I haven’t done nearly as much of it as you have. But yes, knowing that someone is reading something you’ve written and is going to render an opinion is an agonizing kind of suspense.
My brain does think that no one else has a life outside my immediate needs and wishes. Your blog has done quite a lot to convince/train me to hide that aspect of myself. And for that reason I will thank you for the lessons, however much my brain may resent the whole thing.
FL Transplant – At least where I lived, the Roy Rogers chain was bought by Hardees; it’s when Hardees started serving fried chicken, I assumed because they now owned the Roy Rogers recipe. The one in my home town changed the sign outside, but NONE of the interior decor changed – cowboy wall-paper and plaque about Roy Rogers (the singing cowboy, one) were there for years. There was an ad about the name change involving meeting for a blind date and not being able to find the place/seeing his car and running for the hills.
I don’t know if Roy Rogers horsey sauce and Arby’s horsey sauce are the same. I’ve never used either.
Yes, clearly for comedic effect: Had it been serious, it would have been [the eponymous] Arby’s sauce.
Alternatively:
An Author’s Feline Evolution: Bacon Cat to Arby Cat
I like the bit at the end of the project where I’ve forgotten how to cut thrust on my brain. I keep having panic attacks that Time Has Passed and the deadline IS BEHIND ME. That the project’s done and dusted is a nice recollection after my heart rate’s returned to normal. Hnng.
Have you ever used Horsey Sauce on a burrito?