Every One of My Books Has Killed Me a Little More

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You see the title there, and maybe that’s why you clicked over to see what’s going on here.
If you did, please know I didn’t say that quote. It was said by the famous late writer, Norman Mailer. “Every one of my books has killed me a little more, ” he said.
I didn’t know the man. I’m not on par with him as a writer. I am not as prolific a writer as he was. And I certainly don’t earn my primary income as a writer as he did.
And yet, I can totally understand what he said.
As some of you who follow my blog may know, I hit a wall this summer. Exhaustion took over, and I needed a break from writing. While writing novels hasn’t killed me, the promotion of them was making me crazy. Every morning I thought to myself, “Just what do I need to do today to sell one book? How can I market my book today on social media? How can I spread the word about my novels? How can I post one more thing on social media without annoying my friends and supporters?”
These thoughts began to consume me, and I knew I had to tread lightly. Ruining friendships over book promotion is not worth it, but I needed to put a little distance between me (as a person and friend and mother and wife) and my writing and marketing. I could feel myself slipping into a sort of dark abyss and feeling quite down about things, and I didn’t want those feelings to affect me and my family.
Taking a respite from writing has been just what the doctor ordered. I am concentrating on my family, helping my son with his college applications, teaching at the university, planning a new course I am co-teaching, and exercising, something I had let slip as well.
The miraculous thing that happens when you put a little distance between you and your writing are these things called invigoration and inspiration. I find I am becoming inspired by things I’ve neglected to notice; I am invigorated by relationships I never knew I could have; and story ideas seem to be coming to me at a mile a minute.
It’s a good thing I keep a notebook. I jot down ideas that may be novel-worthy, and I’ll examine which stories I might like to tell next.
And, moreover, because I do LOVE writing so much, I don’t ever want to utter the words Norman Mailer said.
I won’t ever let my creativity and need to tell stories kill me a little.
I absolutely refuse to allow that to happen.
3 Comments
Michelle monet
Thanks.i totally love this quote and agree with it.lol
Steph's Scribe
Right? We writers know the feeling well.
Anonymous
YES! Norman Mailers quote makes me want to read a book or two of his now. Thanks Steph. I am writing memoir so this is even more appropriate. 🙂