On reviews, timelines and content

I’m not sure if this is normal, but for me, personally? I hate everything I write.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some scenes I finish and go “yeah…that rocks.” Examples are the VCast where CAIPARR and Hayes uncover the Hegemony plot and tell the whole world about it. I had fun writing that one. Also loved where Brockman and his crew of the Gambler land on the moon to do some prospecting, but find something waiting for them. But in general, I’m always nervous when I release a book because I’m thinking: “God, I hate this.”

I don’t know if that’s because familiarity breeds contempt like people say, and maybe just reading something over and over and over again before you release it numbs you to the content, or makes you go “yeah, this isn’t what I thought.” Fortunately for me, I’ve been wrong and most people like the books after reading them. I’ve been blessed, truly. I read each and every review, and where I can comment, I thank the reviewer (even if they troll me) for the feedback. Some critical feedback has been excellent: One guy said “I wish scifi authors would stop using the word “dampening” for a “damping field”. That has to do with water, ie, “Dampness”. It’s actually “Damping Field”. Huh. Who knew? Apparently, not me. I’ve done lots of research, but missed that one.

Future works will use “Damping” from now on. Then there are some that say there are too much detail, and then others who say there isn’t enough. Folks who tell me there’s too much military battles and action, others who tell me it could use more. You can’t please everyone. But I really want to.

As I come to a close in the writing of Severant, again, I love some of the scenes - I mean, really love them. But on a whole, I sit back and go “is this good enough for release?” Don’t worry, I’ll release it as I promised around the end of this month, give or take a week. I’ll release it and hope all of you don’t string me up right after.

-CS