Two weeks to deadline...
An update on Madame Composer, a new bio on Clara Schumann
Dear Clara fans,
This will be a short one but I promised myself I’d give you an October check-in. (I almost made it! lol) I’m two weeks to deadline for Madame Composer, my new biography on Clara Schumann. I have a completed very rough first draft of the book!!!! (Woohoo!)
It’s a relief, but the draft is waaaaay too long, of course. I couldn’t possibly give my editor something so lengthy and rambly. And the most difficult part is in the decision making—what goes in and what gets cut. There’s so much to say about Clara’s sixty-year career, her ingenious compositions, and her powerful influence on the artform.
It’s something that often gets overlooked, but no matter how objective a writer seeks to be in their prose, their views and opinions show in the content choices. It’s always selective, because there are limits on space and reader attention.
To show the full accurate picture of Clara and also write a good book… Those two goals sometimes feel in opposition to each other, the constant negotiation between the pursuit of truth and the desire to create something worthwhile in and of itself. My perpetual struggle!
Anyway, I have to get back to it, cutting and trimming and organizing. I’ll be back after it’s handed in to my editor!
Cheers,
Sarah
Be sure to save everything you have to cut. You never know when you might use it again. Maybe in some follow-up pieces to your book. Or some anecdotes for your book tour! I can’t wait to read it.
Looking forward to getting and reading your book. I would be delighted to pre-order.