Yeah lets not mention how long THAT took to figure out *grin* I actually hadn’t clicked that I didn’t have one yet. So now I do and I’m just working on making it real phurreetttyy ;p Have a peek and hit the like button – I’d be very grateful! Nicole MacDonald Author Page
I guess it’s about time for a book progress update? Well I’m 3/4 of the way through book two and I just re-read what I’ve written so far and had that utterly glorious feeling of victory *swoon*. Though as any other writers out there will know this is currently the ‘I’m wearing rose-tinted glasses’ stage of my first draft. This stage is vital to finishing a book. Even though I know in a months time I’ll be passing through the ‘OMG I’m an appalling author, I can’t write for sh!t’ stage. Ahhh the memories *grin*
It’s weird isn’t it? Loving and loathing something SO much. I know I have to pass through those stages and it’s bringing all the other stages back too as I think about it so I’ve decided to create my list of stages. For the self-published author.
Stage 1 – Rose tinted glasses.
This is when the idea is fresh, beautiful and damn exciting. It sings through your head and you walk down the street often in a daze cause you really are in your own world.
Stage 2 – Invincible
You have completed your first draft. Naturally it is the most wonderful thing anyone ever beheld and will of course be THE next best-seller even capable of leaving Twilight/Harry Potter/Stephen King in the dust (you get my drift). If this is your very first complete manuscript you very likely send it off to anywhere between 10-100 agents in quick succession.
Stage 3 – Oh f#ck
About a month after you’ve been extolling the virtues of your pride and joy you re-read it. And experience the awful sinking sensation.. It’s not as good as you first thought… and there are errors.. LOTS OF THEM. You promptly sink into the pit of self-loathing.
Stage 4 – Re-writing
The rose-tinted glasses are long gone and the serious hard work begins.
Stage 5 – The critiques
You’ve re-written it maybe once or twice. You think you’ve made major improvements. You haven’t. In sweeps the honest, brutal critique. You read it, cry, scowl, shake your fist at the e-mail and its contents then turn the computer off and go sulk in your room.
Stage 6 – Realisation
The critique was rather bang on. It smarts and you hate to admit it, but you can admit it. This is the first sign of improvement.
Stage 7 – The SERIOUS re-write
This can potentially mean you re-write the entire freaking manuscript. But, this time, you find the more you re-write, the more you can recognise the improvements. The major improvements. Suddenly re-writing begins to almost feel like stage one. Because you can see your writing improving before you.
Stage 8 – Approval
Your manuscript gets the nod from your hard-ass critiquers. You read the e-mail, turn the computer off and go cry in relief on your bed.
Stage 9 – Editing & Proofing
The next bane of your existence and you try to lure anyone and everyone into help. You get the odd urge to go to hospital to visit patients who are bed bound.. and make them edit/proof your book.
C’mon!?! What else were they going to do?? They’re in traction for SIX MONTHS. Seriously, you were doing them a favour.. ;p
Stage 10 – Formatting
OMG it was invented purely to drive writers mad. Seriously the Tradition Publishing houses must have a foot in this some where and are making it this hard to stop you from proceeding. You turn into the mad writer reading every article you can find on HTML and formatting for e-books. Nothing works as it was promised and your ‘Release date’ looms.
Stage 11 – It’s done.
It’s done. It’s published. You see it on Amazon/Smashwords/Barnes & Noble and suddenly get the desperate urge to rip it off because it might not be perfect. You spend the next two weeks sleeping little and watching your sales like a hawk.
Bleahhhhh.. Okay that’s all I can manage for tonight. There are my thoughts on the stages. Anyone else want to chip in? Do you agree or disagree with any of them? I’d love to hear your thoughts : ) And please pop by my Amazon author page and like it.

What about the "I am never writing ever again because I can't take it anymore," stage? I go through that about once a month, lol.
Great list. I've never experienced number one, believe it or not. I'm fast getting there though. The WIP I'm working on keeps tempting me to bask in my own genius, lol.
Bahahaha…..Oh Nic! I love this! It's so great to know we go through the same stages, I especially giggled at the OMG I'm an appalling author, I can't write for sh!t' stage. Too funny!
I am optimistic at this stage as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for my first rough draft. Then comes some polishing/re writes this is the stage I predict when I hate my story, all my characters and don't want to read anything about them ever again, I despise the world and wonder what an earth possessed me to do this?? And then once I am over myself I will build myself up to being optimistic again and wait for the whole cycle to begin. *Sigh* Ahhh thanks for the this magical post, helps to know we are not alone and losing it from time to time is part of the process. ๐
I think your stages are spot-on, even for a non-self-pubbie like me ๐ I like your idea for traction patients proofing–it would be doing them a favor, right? Right… ๐
I liked your author page and it's funny you mention it, but I couldn't find the button to create an author page for the longest time, and then one day it was just sitting there. Don't know how I missed it. Maybe they hide it for awhile to see if you're really serious about this whole book thing. Or I could've just been drinking again…
HAHA! I love it. I can totally related to the editing stages right now.
Oh yes! I think you've got those stages down!
Your author page looks great. You'll make it through all the stages and have another wonderful book soon.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Freelance Editing By Mason
*grin* I'm glad you all like them!
Pene I can't believe you've never experienced #1 – if I hadn't experienced that I'd never have kept writing ;p
CJ the 'light at the end of the tunnel' stage is a promising one *grin* you're almost there!
Hi Rowenna – I'm sure they work for all authors but if you're 'traditionally published' then at least you don't have to mess around with HTML… gggrrrr Smashwords & their meatgrinder is EVIL!
Yay I'm not the only one then Sean! I actually had to google how to do it, I couldn't even spot the button you speak of ;p
Ahh Patricia – you have our sympathies (Anyone know any traction patients for Pat??)
Those are just the writing prior to publishing stages BB – I think I could do a whole other list on 'advertising' etc your new book..
Hi Mason – thank you ๐ I so can't wait for the end result ๐
Gotta love those pretty pink glasses ๐
Sarah
love your stages!
I'm ready when you are to start firing me some chapters!!