Guest Post: Beth Revis on a Lesson Learned
Beth Revis is the reason I really wanted to be a part of the Bookanistas. Okay, I really didn’t know her. BUT the love the Bookanistas obviously felt for her when they made this incredible video made me want to join this group. And anyone who could get a bunch of writers to dance – onscreen for posterity – was someone I wanted to know. Since the group let me sneak my way in, Beth has been generous with her advice and a great person to learn from. I wish I’d met her sooner so I could’ve danced on that video, too. Read on to see what lesson Beth has learned in the last year.
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The greatest lesson I learned since last year is that it doesn’t always get easier. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE was a hundred times easier to write than A MILLION SUNS. I expected A MILLION SUNS to be easier: after all, I was a full-time writer this time around, and had a synopsis, and had my editor behind me and…it was supposed to be easier this time around, wasn’t it?
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Of course it wasn’t. A MILLION SUNS was harder in a million different ways. The character motivations had to make sense for two books, not just one. I had to be aware of what happened in the previous book…and what needed to happen in the third.
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A surprising thing happened though. Whenever I started to get reallllllly down about writing Book 2…I’d get a positive review for Book 1. When the edits were at their hardest, I’d get a note from someone telling me thanks for my website. And the kind words of others made everything suddenly much, much better.
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So, perhaps, my biggest lesson wasn’t just that it doesn’t get easier–instead, it was that even when it gets harder, it’s still so, so, so worth it.
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bAnd if you haven’t already bought it, be sure to pick up ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
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Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter my contest to win a $20 Amazon gift card. More info here.
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And be sure to check back tomorrow to see what lesson Kathleen Peacock has learned!
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6 Responses to "Guest Post: Beth Revis on a Lesson Learned"
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
So good to know, Beth. I’m working on the sequel to TOUCHED, and it’s so intimidating to make sure it meshes with book one, but stands alone, too. Major congrats on blazing through it!
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
Beth is such a superstar! I love her honesty and warmth. Always an inspiration to me.
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
I love seeing behind the scenes insight from career authors!
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
LOVE the post and Corrine, I watched your first vlog and thought it was so cute. You also did great on the WriteOnCon vlog! Keep the awesome sauce flowing!
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
Thank you so much for sharing, Beth. That really helps with my book 2 angst.
on August 25, 2011 | to this post
Wonderful post. Really enjoyed the insight.
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com