Meredith Schorr's Blog Tour

"Writing Anxities"

 

There is very little that relieves stress for me better than a good writing session.  I can be in the most foul mood and ready to snap the neck of the first person I see* before a writing session, but once the session is over, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside and find myself actually smiling at people I pass on the street - a rarity in NYC. 

 

When I am lost in the act of writing, I forget everything around me and my outside worries disappear at least temporarily.  At the same time, writing also causes me significant anxiety and stress on a completely different level.  I am almost finished editing my third novel for submission to my publisher and I have anxiety up the wazoo.  What am I worried about specifically?  Be prepared for my stream of consciousness rant starting now! Wait for it.  Wait for it...

I really like this book but what if I am deluding myself and it actually sucks? What if it's too formulaic and readers say it is predictable? Should I shell out the $1000 to have it critiqued by my book doctor before I submit it to my publisher or, after publishing two novels, can I be confident enough to proceed without her this time?  Is that sex scene OK or is it too forced? What if my publisher doesn't want to publish it? What if it gets published and everyone who enjoyed my two previous novels doesn't like this one? What if no one buys it? Why can't I come up with a good title?  What if I can't come up with a premise for a fourth book?  What if I am all dried up creatively and will never write another book again for the rest of my life?

*Sigh*

Now that I have sufficiently stressed myself out, it might be a good idea to get lost in a writing session to avoid snapping someone's neck!

 

*For the record, even in my most wretched moods, I don't really want to snap anyone's neck.  I was just trying to make a point :)

Title:  A State of Jane
Author:  Meredith Schorr
Genre:  Womens Fiction
Publisher:  Booktrope Editions
Release Date:  September 16, 2012
File Size/Pages:  452 KB/264 pgs
Source:  CLP Blog Tours

My Rating:  5/5

Summary:  Jane Frank is ready to fall in love. It's been a year since her long term relationship ended and far too long since the last time she was kissed. With the LSAT coming up she needs to find a long term boyfriend (or husband) before acing law school and becoming a partner at her father's law firm. There's just one problem: All the guys in New York are flakes. They seemingly drop off the face of the earth with no warning and no explanation. Should she join her best friend Marissa in singlehood, making cupcakes and watching True Blood? Or should she follow her co-worker Andrew's advice and turn the game back on those who've scorned her? As Jane attempts to juggle her own responsibilities and put up with the problems of everyone around her, she starts to realize that the dating life isn't as easy as she originally thought.

Review:  The book begins with Jane, the main character, talking to her sister on the phone about wanting to get back to dating. It's been a year since she broke up with her boyfriend, Bob, and she feels as if she's ready to move on. Later on in the novel, Jane experiences horrible dates, she begins to alienate her family and friends, and she begins dating like a man, "date em and leave em". At times, Jane could come off as a little selfish, but it made me like her even more. She seemed so realistic, and I really enjoyed going through her journey with her. Overall, this was a great book, I was kind of hoping for a different ending for Jane, but I understand why she had the ending that she did, which makes me admire Jane even more and love the book also.