maxbarry.com
Wed 16
Mar
2005

Company 2006

Company Oh, man. I’ve done it. I’ve finished my new draft of Company.

I think what I’m feeling now is relief. I’ve been editing this thing for more than a year, on top of the year it took to write. I actually had the initial idea in 2001, and took at least three stabs at initial chapters in that year and the next. It has been a very long road to here.

I’m relieved that I can think about something else for the next two or three weeks, while I wait for my editor to give me feedback. And I’m relieved at finally being done. But mostly I’m relieved that I think I finally managed to do justice to the idea that’s been bouncing around in my head for the last four years. I’ve always had a lot of faith in the central concept, but I sometimes wondered if the characters were up to the job. I tried all kinds of variations. I threw people out and auditioned alternatives. In the last draft (hello, number eight), the biggest rewrite of them all, I gave the two main characters complete personality overhauls. Brain surgery couldn’t be this messy. I had bits of people everywhere.

But ohhhh, it’s so much better now.

About a month ago Doubleday told me they were pushing Company out to 2006, since I was taking so long on the edits. I cringed. I have been trying to build up the courage to announce this since then. I’m really sorry—I wish this book could come out this year. But I’m really glad it’s not. I hate the old version of Company now. I love my new book.

Comments

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Arjun Ravi Narayan (#98)

Location: India
Posted: 6952 days ago

congratulations!

looking forward to a couple of weeks without any stress eh?
it must be tough to write a book. i wouldnt know... ive never tried :)

Adam A. (#256)

Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Quote: "Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that." -George Carlin"
Posted: 6952 days ago

Yeah, congrats. I've got patience (okay, not really, but I'd rather you take your time with it and put out a great book). Besides, you don't need to crank out books. Leave that to Danielle Steel and Grisham.

shalini (#717)

Location: http://www.kai-india.com
Posted: 6951 days ago

congrats, max. you had a year to do an edit? i've been doing mine for the past three weeks, and i think i'll be done tomorrow... at least i hope i will. all depends on whether the editor agrees with me!

DewKnight (#815)

Location: WP, CO,USA
Quote: "Booyah"
Posted: 6951 days ago

blingage max, it's all good. We'll buy the book anyways.. Just gives you more time to promote it! I'll be linking to the book when it comes out for sure.

TuesdayHeights (#1090)

Location: Lancaster, Pa. (USA)
Quote: "I can resist everything except temptation."
Posted: 6951 days ago

I can't even imagine the relief, well, I suppose I will when I finish my anthology for the summer. Hehe. Congrats! I hope the editors agree! ;)

Myrth (#22)

Location: London, UK
Quote: "A quote must have a beginning, a middle and an"
Posted: 6951 days ago

That's awesome, Max. What are you working on now? Just the Syrup screenplay?

Machine Man subscriber Jeff (#787)

Location: Berlin, Deutschland
Quote: "Give a man a match and he'll stay warm for the rest of the day; Set a man on fire and he'll stay warm for the rest of his life."
Posted: 6951 days ago

It's better to put out a quality product late then to put out crap on time! (Not that you would every write something crappy.) Just update your blog regularly with pearls of wisdom and that will be enough to tide us over.

Emily (#609)

Location: New York
Quote: "When in doubt, fuck it. When not in doubt, get in doubt!"
Posted: 6951 days ago

2006?! Oh noes!

In all seriousness, I'm so glad to hear you're proud of it. You have spurred me to get my arse in gear on my own novel-in-progress.

I have been anticipating this for a while and spreading the word. The moved date shall come as a disappointment to people, but I will tell them it just means it's going to be even more awesome. ;-)

Really looking forward to this, man. You're a great writer. (I'm in the middle of Jennifer Government for the second time, and it's even better than before!)

-Em

shabooty (#637)

Location: D.C./V.A/M.D.
Quote: "I will shake your foundation. I will shake the f**cking rafters. Nobody'll be the same -Danny Bonaduce ....& go visit my blog @: http://www.shabooty.com"
Posted: 6951 days ago

I'll just keep reading my Syrup screenplay draft until then =)

Paul (#104)

Location: Connecticut, USA
Quote: ""Don't fight it son. Confess quickly! If you hold out too long you could jeopardize your credit rating. " --Brazil (1985 movie)"
Posted: 6951 days ago

2006!?! *cue whining*

Ok now that that's done with... I can't wait! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Doubleday likes it :) I know I WILL!

Vladimir Zarkov (#866)

Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Quote: ""God: It's a pity I took a rest on the seventh day. I could have created a much better chaos.""
Posted: 6951 days ago

It's a helluva good news! Well... You had the patience to write the book, I suppose it's our turn to find some merit in patience, isn't it? [Jumps up and down, hands tremble] I'm really happy for you... and for us too.

Ruth (#288)

Location: Bath, United Kingdom
Quote: "Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may truly judge what is sane."
Posted: 6951 days ago

Congratulations! Is it like having a baby, do you think?

Geoff Gibson (#1038)

Location: California
Quote: ""If pleasure was illegal I'd happily do time.""
Posted: 6951 days ago

Awesome, can't wait for the book to be released. I don't suppose we will get a little sneaky peaky on the first chapter before its initial release? :)

Oenone (#151)

Location: Konstanz, Germany
Quote: "I don't want to lie to you, but I will."
Posted: 6951 days ago

A year to edit a book? Dang now I don’t feel I’m being too ridiculous. Granted you're published and I’m not, but congrats on finishing the edits. I despair that I’ll ever be finished editing :) *laugh*

Scott (#354)

Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Quote: "Max Barry tastes like awesome"
Posted: 6951 days ago

Ah yes, any writer's greatest fear... editing. The process makes me cringe. Granted, it makes the end product better, but ug... I swear half the stuff I want to write I don't because I don't want to edit it.

I'm saddened that it won't be coming out this year, that said, I can't wait until next year to read it. :) I guess I'll have to bust out Jennifer Government and Syrup a couple more times before it's release.

Scott Hajek (#674)

Location: South Elgin, IL
Posted: 6951 days ago

At least we'll be guaranteed one great book in 2006.

xk3zofrenik (#1160)

Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Quote: "These human ruins."
Posted: 6950 days ago

how do you edit your stuff without changing the original idea?

I mean do you really try to keep yourself close to the original source, or is anything game while editing?

Jjuulliiaann (#1111)

Location: New York
Quote: "Religion is the Opium of the People --Karl Marx"
Posted: 6948 days ago

Wow. I'm glad to see that you've finished another draft, but slightly disappointed to see that it's not coming out until '06.

I really hope that the Syrup screenplay's going OK. I can't wait!

Jake (#1242)

Location: Portugal
Posted: 6920 days ago

What countries will it be released in then? All of them? How about in Portugal? :D also, plans to translate to Portuguese? That would be really brag!!!

adrenaline junkie (#1339)

Location: Victoria, Canada
Quote: "insert a clever quote here"
Posted: 6881 days ago

First off Max ....great news!!!

but...I got to wonder if you have completed the book...and it is still early '05....why does it take so long to publish it? Why is it slated for '06?

I ask not because I am impatient, but because I am curious about the process. With movies, the film comes out usually 2 weeks (or less) after it is finished. Why is it different with books?

Are there blockbuster/popcorn books that MUST come out in the summer? Why not christmas?

Anyway...thanks again for another book. I just hope that you will be able to come to Vancouver on the next tour...I am one of the 6 who bought Syrup and would love to get it signed.

Cheers

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