Guest Blogger Natalie Anderson

The Playfriends welcome back Modern Heat/Presents author Natalie Anderson today and she's talking about something I can sooo relate to...

As I write this I’m in position at the local library, gearing up for a marathon effort of editing/revising/rewriting my draft into a workable, almost submittable beast. I have my barest writing essentials with me, I’ve a warm jersey on (because I get very cold sitting for so long), my hair is tied up out of the way and the file is open.

I always think of this moment as like being in the last hut, three quarters of the way up the mountain and about to make the final push for the summit.

The hardest part is to follow, it always takes longer than you think it will, but you know the view from the top is going to be worth it. I’m full of excitement, adrenalin and fear.
It’s the fear that sees me refilling my water bottle a couple of times, lining up my pen, mobile and mini thesaurus up perfectly next to me laptop on the otherwise clear table.

I’m at the point of no return – this book is going to be finished this weekend – sure it’ll have some more polish, but really, this is it.

There is nothing like the feeling of relief and achievement when you finish a book. And there is nothing like the sense of satisfaction when you’ve put in a seriously hard effort – a long stint of concentration on a solo creative endeavour. It is something that really makes me happy. It is one of the most rewarding things about writing and a reason why I’m so glad it has become my job.
It took me a long time to find a job that I get this sort of satisfaction from and finding a rewarding career is a theme that comes up in my books fairly often. Yes I want my heroine to get her man, but I want her to have a job that she loves as well. Both my current releases feature heroines still finding the path that they’re happiest on – and the heroes in each help (although sometimes it feel like hindering) them in that quest.

So what if he’s loaded and she maybe wouldn’t have to work? She still needs her creative outlet, her sense of self worth/dignity, her own achievement and satisfaction. There’s nothing like setting a challenge and then going for it and getting it – I want my heroines to have that feeling.

Of course, despite the big push, this book won’t really be finished. After some more polish I’ll have to send it to my editor who’ll probably say I went up the wrong face of the mountain, that she’ll give me a lift back to the hut and I’m to try it from another angle this time. But that’s ok. Because when I’ve conquered the mountain once, I know I can go back and do it again (unless there’s an avalanche – that’s when the lovely editor swings into action with a S&R team and a shovel – and maybe a St Bernard will come along with some seriously strong liquid in his barrel to see me through the worst!)

But enough of the mountain metaphor, you know what I mean anyway right? Is it the same for you? Does writing give you that sense of satisfaction? Do you get that kind of exhausted ‘high’ after fifty hours fierce concentration? Does losing yourself in your work and creating a whole other world fill you with joy?

I really hope so – because getting that feeling makes the other stuff (that fear and sweat and stuff) all worthwhile.

With very best wishes,

Natalie

Visit Natalie at www.natalie-anderson.com

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book