In the past few weeks I’ve attended several writing-related activities: a book festival/local historical writers meet up, a sci-fi con with a quality writing track, and my monthly critique group. I’ve immersed myself in discussions of writing process, self-promotion strategies, and how and when to edit.
It has been fabulous – I’ve received some good advice and feedback, and have some useful plans for the future. But all the advice comes down to the same thing:
Finish the book.
There’s nothing to promote without a completed book; there’s not even anything to edit without a first draft (my tendency to tail-chase notwithstanding). And I do tend to wallow in the research because it’s comfortingly familiar in the way that a blank page is not.
As such, I may be scarce around here as I make a concerted effort to get things done.
Yeah, I fear getting lost down the rabbit hole of research. Good luck with the writing. Just get all the ideas down in the first draft and try to leave the editing for a later stage.