You’ve saved up your cash, paid for a once-of-a-lifetime trip to a Romanceland conference, specifically to meet that writer you’ve admired for decades. You see her walking toward you, call out her name…
…and she walks right by you, acting as though she hasn’t seen you.
You’re a writer’s number one fan. You bought her first book on its release day before anyone else knew she existed. You’ve promoted every release she’s ever had, followed her across genres, even bought that unicorn-shifter-in-space stepbrother-post apocalyptic serial that ended after book one.
You email her to ask her for a copy of her latest cover so you can promote it.
She replies with a blank email. Or worse, she doesn’t reply at all.
Clearly these writers are class A bitches, not worthy of your fandom, right?
That’s possible. There are class A bitches in every profession. There aren’t many in Romanceland but there ARE some.
OR
These writers could be working on what just might be the best book of their lives and they have serious book brain. They don’t know what they’re wearing or where they are or why it’s so fuckin’ noisy in the Regency bookstore they think they’re standing in. They’re currently living in their book, similar to how you will hopefully live in that book when you read it.
Writers don’t talk about this much because… well… we’re constantly seen by the rest of the world as being a bit crazy. Talking about book brain would prove that the rest of the world is right. We ARE a bit crazy.
But crazy in the best way, a way that often benefits readers. Book brain usually means the writer is so sucked into her story; she can’t leave it. Even when she’s not writing, the story continues in her mind. Her characters won’t shut up. They won’t take a break and allow her to rest. They have lives of their own and they’re not listening to her.
It is like trying to go through a regular work day with two or more people yelling in your face at the top of their lungs. You can’t ignore these people because they might not repeat themselves and their words might mean the difference between creative, financial, and professional success or failure.
It’s stressful but also exciting and magical. My best stories come with a serious case of book brain.
Not every writer gets book brain. Book brain tends to happen more to pantsers (writers who write not knowing what will happen next) than to plotters (writers who need to know the plot of the story before they start writing).
And not every writer gets book brain all the time.
My book brain is the worst when I’m writing the first draft of a story that requires detailed world building.
Once in the middle of writing Releasing Rage, my first cyborg story, I walked right past my Dear Wonderful Hubby, a man I’ve loved passionately for over 20 years. He bumped against me. I mumbled an apology and continued walking. He laughed his fool head off.
I didn’t see him. At all. I was in the battle station with Rage and Joan, surrounded by Humanoid Alliance baddies.
I’ve also called Dear Wonderful Hubby by my hero’s name. More than once. During sexy times. (sheepish grin) This has happened so often; the stinker usually asks me whom he’ll be playing that night (or morning or whatever).
When I write non-fiction, I don’t get book brain at all.
My loved ones, my close friends and family, have either learned to accept my book brain, some having fun with it as my Dear Wonderful Hubby does, or they mysteriously disappear during the periods of extreme book brain (my Dear Wonderful Hubby always warns my super sensitive middle sister – she gets upset when I call her by my characters’ names or when she finds the birthday card she’s lovingly chosen for me filed in my refrigerator by the Costco-sized container of mustard).
Readers, reviewers, bloggers often don’t understand. Writers who don’t get book brain often don’t understand. We tend to disappoint these much loved, much appreciated people and that feels horrible.
Ideally, we should communicate with the real world AFTER our book brain has gone away. That’s the safest strategy. However, in this social media, instant contact environment, many people expect quick replies. They associate quick replies with caring and every writer I know wants her readers to feel appreciated.
Realizing this, many of us will try to function through the book brain. This often has disastrous results. We’ll call a blogger by a character’s name. We’ll send unsuspecting reviewers rambling answers to questions they never asked. I once emailed a reader an unedited extremely gruesome battle scene from a cyborg story I was writing. All she wanted to know was when my next much lighter billionaire story was releasing. (winces) We’ll comment on Facebook posts from the point of view of the character we’re writing and unfortunately our not-yet-redeemed hero is a foul-mouthed, insensitive ass.
I’ve been lucky. My Dear Wonderful Hubby tends to monitor my internet usage during my periods of book brain, hinting that maybe I shouldn’t be on Facebook while I’m channeling a grief-stricken intergalactic bounty hunter. And almost everyone I associate with has a healthy sense of humor. But I know it is only a matter of time before I appear on a list of writers behaving badly.
If that happens, I will likely crawl under a rock and beg Death to take me. (winks) But you should celebrate. It means I have book brain. I’m so sucked into my own story; I’ve temporarily lost my grip on the real world.
THOSE are the stories that end up being special.
And please don’t take it personally if you’re the unfortunate buddy who has to deal with my book brain. Wait a week and ask me for an explanation. Delete the extremely gruesome battle scene. Ask if the wrong name I called you belongs to a character. Tease me mercilessly about my error until the end of time.
I love you. I appreciate you. Never question that.
Note: Book brain is a temporary affliction. It also isn’t a get-off-the-writers-behaving-badly-list-for-free card. If I’m ever an ass to you, book brain or not, I deserve to be on that list.
Just know that my ass-ness is about ME, not you. You ROCK. Don’t ever believe otherwise.
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Defying Death
He’ll risk it all for one moment of happiness.
Cyborgs don’t show emotion. Death learned that lesson early in his long lifespan. To survive, he hides his fierce passions behind a stoic wall. He calls no warrior friend. He never admits to caring for any being.
Even the human female he’s destined to love.
Tifara is Death’s obsession, his sole opportunity for happiness, to express the all-consuming passion burning brightly inside him. He’ll do anything to obtain the curvaceous medic: defy a direct order, abduct Tifara from her battle station, and wage war on his fellow cyborgs.
To earn her love, he’ll have to risk much, much more.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Defying-Death-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01D6OUQS2/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Defying-Death-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01D6OUQS2/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-defyingdeath-2001671-147.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/defying-death-cynthia-sax/1123562659
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/defying-death-2
I absolutely love this post! It explains so much about some of the authors I work with. Love your Dear Wonderful Hubby stories.
I agree, Cara! This is a great post, Cynthia, and makes total sense to me. I experience it from the reader’s perspective, although, I think yours would have to be even more intense. This is one of the reasons I enjoy your books so much. That feeling of intensity comes through!