Author Q & A: Any Regrets?

The question comes from Angel:

Since you zip out your books so fast, do you ever later wish you had done something differently with them?

I love this question for a lot of reasons.  But I’m going to tackle something before I answer it. “What’s that,” you say?  Well, actually, most of my books that have been published in the past 3 years were written LONG before I ever started publishing. I’ve been writing for almost fifteen years but I didn’t start publishing until almost ten years after the first words of Aggie appeared on the screen of the old desktop that ran whatever there was before XP.  LOL.  Yes, I have written quite a few since then too, but not all the books I wrote back then are in print yet either.  (Some need WAY more work.  LOL).  Generally, I don’t write books as quickly as it seems, but a few have been, definitely.  So while it looks like I write a book every other week, I really don’t.

The answer, if I look at the majority of what I’ve written, is ….  (drum roll please)

Truly.  While there are little things I’d change (I’ve learned more about the craft of writing with each book), the core of what each book is and the story I wanted to tell, for the most part, wouldn’t change.  Would I rewrite some sentences in each one?  Definitely.  Would I check to see if my characters’ “voices” stayed consistent (I suspect the first ones all sounded a lot alike)?  Absolutely.  But the stories themselves… no.  I wouldn’t change anything, really.

There’s one glaring exception, of course.  Those who know me well know exactly which one I mean.  Part of the problem is that I never intended to publish it.  The book was an exercise for me–a lesson in exploring a less dialogue-driven plot. Unfortunately, my idea of how to do that didn’t work, in my opinion anyway.  However, some people love the book.  I  mean, I published it because one friend truly loved the book.  I did it for her.   Truer literary love hath no woman than this: to publish what she hates for her fan.  Snort.

The sad thing (for me) about that book is that it has what I consider to be the best scene I’ve ever written in it.  For a long time, I felt like I wasted that scene in the book, but the scene belongs there.  Anywhere else, it wouldn’t work–wouldn’t make sense.  So I’m glad there is one redeeming little nugget in it.  Yeah.  LOL.

I think also, part of the reason that I truly wouldn’t change anything, is because it’s part of my personality.  I tend not to be someone with regrets.  I can look back in the past and identify things I could have done better in every area of my life.  I evaluate and determine the course of action that would have made a much more positive difference in my life or the lives of those in my family.  But I really don’t get all worked up about it.  It’s over.  Past.  Can’t be relived. And really, I don’t want to relive them.  I enjoy seeing where the Lord is taking me next.  I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t walked the path I did then.

So… yeah.  The answer is no.

Thank you, Angel for a fabulous question.  I’m zipping you an Amazon Gift Card as soon as I hit submit.  Remember, if you send me an Author Q&A question and I use it, I will send that gift card as my thanks for playing along.  Have a great day!