WNW Welcomes Rave Reviews Book Club 2nd “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR, KATIE HAYOZ!!!
That Novel Will Never Be Perfect
From Katie Hayoz
I’m not a perfectionist. Little mistakes don’t bother me. But when it comes to my writing, I take pride in what I do and I want what I put out there to be not just decent, but good. I rewrote Untethered at least eighteen times. Literally. And I’m talking full-on, rip-it-up and make do with the shreds kind of rewriting, not moving sentences around. What started as a five page story ended up (20 years later) to be a 340 page novel. That novel went through so many critiquing sessions and beta readers that I was sure it would be perfection by the time it was published.
Ha. Not quite.
Writing is art, and like all art there is a point where the person creating the work just has to stop. She just has to tell herself that particular piece is the best she can make it right then. That’s the sticker: right then. Because the truth is that you can always go back and make it better. There will always be holes you missed or mistakes you made or words that paint a clearer picture. But if you keep going back and going back and going back you never move on. Never get on to the next book; the one that first one prepared you for.
My dad paints watercolor. I can’t tell you the number of times he’s looked at a picture of his, already framed and on the wall, and said, “Why did I think this was finished? This whole section could use reworking.” My mom rolls her eyes. I understand. I totally do.
But there was a point when I just had to quit trying to make Untethered perfect. A point where my writing group and my family and friends said, “Stop already!” So I did. I’m proud of this novel — the characters, the world, the writing itself. However, that didn’t keep me from face-palming myself after its publication. There were things that I see now that I couldn’t see then. It kills me. And yet…
And yet I could go in, change it all and six months from now I’d be face-palming myself again. So, I’ve left it as is. I’ve moved onto another novel. It’s finished; sort of. I’ve done three drafts – three pick away the fleshy parts and gnaw on the bone drafts. I’ll rewrite it one more time. Then I’ll need to tell myself, “Stop already! That novel will never be perfect.”
But I’m hoping it will be damn good.
*Katie Hayoz was born in Racine, WI, USA but ended up in Geneva, Switzerland, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and two fuzzy cats. She devours YA novels like she does popcorn and black licorice: quickly and in large quantities.
Untethered is a paranormal coming of age novel that follows 16-year-old Sylvie on a unique and slightly sinister journey of self-acceptance. Sylvie has an ability to leave her physical body and astral project. While it could be akin to a superpower, she sees it as a curse. That is, until the day she decides to play with its dark side. Sylvie then sets an evil plan in motion that she believes will change her life for the better. But she does not count on it spiraling out of control.
Connect with Katie
On her website: www.katiehayoz.com
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/katiehayoz
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/katiehayoz.author
Buy Untethered on Amazon: http://amzn.to/ZH2qzY
(Thank you to Rave Reviews Book Club and all the members who so generously agreed to host me on their site!)
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: authors, Katie Hayoz, Nonnie Jules, Rave Reviews Book Club, Rave Reviews By Nonnie Jules, reviews, Spotlight, Spotlight Authors, Untethered
Reblogged this on Be My Guest and commented:
Katie Hayoz was Rave Reviews Book Club’s 2nd Spotlight Author.
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Congratulations, Katie, on reaching that level of perfect imperfection! I wish you luck with ‘Untethered’.
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Nice article! Thanks for posting it and thanks for hosting Rave Reviews Book Club’s spotlight authors!
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Katie, I can’t wait to read UNTETHERED! Congrats on being this week’s spotlight author! Nonnie, thanks for hosting her 🙂
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Hi Katie,
Enjoy the spotlight. You deserve it. Thanks, Nonnie, for hosting her on your blog.
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Nonnie, THANK YOU for all you are doing to raise the industry standards and help promote Indie authors! I am so glad to get to know Katie and all the other authors RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB is bringing into the “SPOTLIGHT!”
Katie, “Untethered” WILL BE on my ereader ASAP!
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Congratulations on this honor, Katie! Enjoy the spotlight!
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Congrats Katie! I hope Untethered really breaks out. All of us at RaveReviews are behind you.
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Looks like a great book and congrats on being Spotlight Author on Rave Reviews.
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Katie, all of us at RAVE REVIEWS are so excited you’re our second SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR! Congrats and best wishes for your continued success! ((Hugs))! 🙂
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ON BEHALF OF THE RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB – CONGRATULATIONS KATIE HAYOZ SECOND SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR WINNER!
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Reblogged this on 4writersandreaders and commented:
If YOU haven’t joined Rave Reviews Book Club, right now is a great time to get started. ~ Bette A. Stevens
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Hi, Kate. Congratulations on your SPOTLIGHT! I shared on Twitter and LIKED your FB page. Here’s mine if you would like to stop by for a visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Bette-A-Stevens-Official-Fanpage/432247843452956?ref=hl Have an amazing week in the SPOTLIGHT! 🙂
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Thanks for all your time, energy and effort on Rave Reviews, Nonnie! And thank you for hosting me as a spotlight author!
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Congratulations to Katie Hayoz on being the Spotlight Author on Rave Reviews Book Club! And thanks Nonnie for hosting her!
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Hi Katie. I am so excited for you. I’m also intrigued and look forward to reading Untethered.
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Thanks! And I’m looking forward to talking to you soon!
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Katie, I am so excited to see you as a Spotlight Author with Rave Reviews Book Club. I remember first learning of you while watching an episode of Slush Heap. Congratulations.
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All I can say to you, Kathryn, is that you rock. 🙂
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Katie: Your book sounds like one I want to read. Your blurb reminded me of narrative from “Mists of Avalon,” my all-time favorite mystical trip. And yes, I think we’ve all been through the process you describe. I wrote so many versions of “Intentional Healing” I created different folders for the time periods in which I worked. I finally came to terms with the finished product when I recognized what my spiritual mentors had been encouraging me to see–that any work is a reflection of the creative process in time. Will the creator view it differently through time? Of course! Accepting that concept finally helped me to let go. Great piece of clear writing to describe the process, Katie. Congratulations for your time in the Spotlight. I know you will love it! Jennie Sherwin
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Thanks, Jennie! I think you’ve hit the nail on the head saying that work is a reflection of the creative process in time.
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OMG – I am totally fascinated by your novel! I also see myself in you – I worked on my debut novel for almost two decades too, wrote it first in Greek in its entirety and then re-wrote it in English from scratch….then polished the living daylights out of it. I still look at the odd word and feel it needs changing – haha. I so feel you!! I wish you lots of success with your writing and this particular book that sounds out of this world amazing! Just went over to Twitter to make sure I follow you! Such a pleasure to meet you Katie 🙂
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Thank you so much, Effrosyni! Sounds like you have the want it perfect mentality, too! (great minds think alike, right? LOL)
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