Which means right now, much of my writing is pen on paper. Over the course of writing a novel, I fill up about half a composition book on notes, ideas, branching decision trees, outlines, etc. etc. I draw little arrows between characters to see who links with whom. I make lists of what each character wants, fears, is willing to do. It's very messy and very necessary to my process. This is a page from the early part of planning HID FROM OUR EYES:
Over the years, I've tried doing this work on sheets of large paper, on index cards and on fancy plotting software programs. (Not judging - I was finally forced to upgrade from Word 97, so just about any program from the 21st century is fancy to me.) I've enjoyed bits and pieces of brainstorming on these different platforms, but I always come back to the old composition book.
I'm also doing some old fashioned pen-and-paper work for book store owners. My publisher is sending out ARCs to certain booksellers, in the hopes of getting quotes for their sales catalog.* Up until a few years ago, Minotaur still had physical catalogs; now it's all moved onto a combined sales presentation and ordering site, enabling them to link to cool things authors are doing or to insert rave reviews from other booksellers. I'm writing personal notes for each of the ARCs to be sent out. The beautiful cards are from my friend, Maine artist Shari Goddard Shambaugh.
If you're a reader, you're used to the idea that authors and publishers are trying to market to you, but publishers spend as much time flogging books to the book shops and libraries you'll be getting them from. (Please consider pre-ordering from your local independent book store!)
This What We're Writing Week has been one of the most interesting ever, because you can see so many different types of writing that makes up a career, and so many stages of the process - Hallie is freelancing and Hank is writing reviews. Rhys is finishing a first draft and Lucy is revising one. I'm sending mail off to book stores and Debs is getting ready to visit them. And, I'm assuming, Jenn is doing ALL of the above! Writing a book is one (great!) thing, but making a living as a professional writer is another.
So my question, dear readers, is what part of the writing life surprises you? And what sorts of things are you writing this week?
*If you're a bookseller reading this, don't worry - there will be LOTS of ARCs going out. The first batch is just for quotes.
Oh, you must be so thrilled to have that beautiful ARC of “Hid From Our Eyes” in your hands . . . .
ReplyDeleteI’m not quite certain which part of the author’s writing life surprises me the most. The happy ones are a pleasure [like Debs post yesterday . . . she sounded so excited about her latest book being released that it’s hard to imagine how anyone could be more excited].
The drafting and editing we’ve heard about before, so it’s not a surprise [just a lot of work, I expect].
I’ve come to understand some of the marketing process, but I have to admit that you surprised me with writing individual notes to booksellers to go with each ARC . . . I guess I hadn’t realized just how involved authors were in the marketing side of things.
But if it’s exciting for me to see your book getting so close to publication, I’m sure it must be even more exciting for you. Congratulations!
Joan, I think those notes are a sign that Julia's publisher is **thrilled** to be at this stage of the game with HID FROM OUR EYES!
DeleteThey are, and I'm extremely happy and grateful they're still so excited about the book coming out after all these years.
DeleteHi Julia:
DeleteI have been waiting (patiently) for book number 9. Did I miss it (How); I see number 10 Hid from our Eyes is ready to come out. I can not wait to get both of these as I have read 1-8 over and over (and over) again. Keep them coming. Your favorite fan from Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church in Liverpool, New York.
I'm SO excited about this book, Julia! The cover is perfect.
ReplyDeleteMaking a living as a professional writer isn't for sissies. We have to do so many different kinds of work, and some of it is unclear whether it pays off or not.
This week I've been making pass after revision pass through my freshly complete WIP. Resolving all the [CHECK THIS] notes I left to myself during the writing. Doing a two-day paper readthrough with a colored pen. Sweeping away overused words. But also: writing a monthly newsletter. Writing two blog posts. Promoting a publisher's sale. Taking part in another author's FB launch party. And so on!
so true, Edith -- MOST of it (except writing the book) unclear whether it pays off or not.
DeleteI remember a publicist saying to me, "If we knew what worked, we'd do it. But we don't, so we do everything."
DeleteJulia, I am SO excited for you, and here I am comment #3. I don’t always get up this early. The book cover looks perfect and I know the book will be a great success. Joan is quite right about the surprises throughout the authors working life and as you say, the other part of being a professional author. Though Jungle Reds I an learning so much and loving my new insight into my favorite authors work. Thank you to all you JRW authors for bringing a new compelling interest level to my reading. Julia, I’m so proud of your very tough work for this book; a hard and long labor produces a beautiful baby though.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celia! I wish we had emojis on Blogger - I'd insert a bunch of hearts here.
DeleteCongratulations, Julia! I can hardly wait to read your new book.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the only writing I've done this week is comments on college freshman papers.
Oh, Cathy, you hit my conscience - I've been so wrapped up in my professional stuff I haven't tackled grading 23 homework assignments yet. I guess I know what I'll be doing all Sunday...
DeleteI am simply beyond admiration for all the hard work you put in and I'm not even talking about the actual writing of the book! Hand written notes to bookstores? Yowza! You set the bar very high for other authors. And the thing is your book has been so widely anticipated you probably don't have to do much of anything. We readers are truly blessed.
ReplyDeleteJudi, I'm sure I'm not the only author who writes handwritten notes. I know for a fact we are ALL deeply obliged and grateful to the individual booksellers who put our books into readers' hands.
DeleteThat cover!! Celia, I couldn't say it better--such a joy to see this book held so proudly!
ReplyDeleteThe work entailed to bring a book to readers doesn't surprise me--what I think some people might see as glamorous and effortless--I think of the sacrifices made along the way to do your work of writing and, yes, selling your work. Because funnily enough, none of my JRWs seem to have housekeepers or nannies, you know: 'oh pool boy, I'll have another cold fizzy drink now....' kind of life.
Pool boy is at the top of my list when I sell my series to Netflix for $$$, Flora. Well, first I'll have to get a pool, I suppose.
DeleteJulia, thanks for sharing that notebook. Fascinating insight. What is it about 'thinking' by writing on paper and pen that makes it so different from typing out your ideas? A lot of my planning is paper/pencil. Especially when the ideas are still fluid
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, isn't it? There's a measurable difference in the experience. I do wonder if the Millennial and Zoomer authors to come will use the same pen-or-pencil on paper techniques, or if it will seem silly to generations that have been using keyboards since kindergarten.
DeleteCongratulations! You did it! Love your comp book. Years ago, I used them but then started using legal pads. Things have been so crazy that I sat down with a scholarship candidate and started asking her questions that were intended to jump start a new character! Of course the student thought I was crazy. I showed her my legal pad and explained how a fiction writer builds a plot and characters, and flipped to a clean page to start her interview.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, that made me laugh. One reason of many I have dedicated, work-only composition books.
DeleteSo fabulous and exciting! Cannot wait to read!!
ReplyDeleteAnd this morning: a special hi and xxxx to Reds reader Barbara Roche —who came to my event last night! What a joy to see you!
(Julia—are you coming to Boston on your tour? PARTY at my house!)
Hank, no tour schedule yet, but I'm sure Boston will be on the list. I am always down for a party at your house! :-)
DeleteIt’s a stunning cover, Julia
ReplyDeleteI also keep notebooks and use sticky notes on a large board. Anything we need to know st some point and things I need to get straight. I take them down when used
My friend Jess Ellicott (aka Jess Crockett) uses the same technique, Rhys, and I love the look of it. I suspect the reason I never really took off with the large board planning is environmental: my office has three doors, four windows, and a fireplace. There's almost no free wall space at all!
DeleteSame here, Julia, nearly! Two doors, three windows, two tall bookcases, and eaved wall on one said: the wall space is already spoken for.
DeleteWhat surprises me about the writing life? Pretty much everything, but most of all is how you can do it, write a book, do laundry, cook the odd meal, hug the odd child/husband/whatever, go on a grinding tour, and don't tell me these are full. They are brutal. If it's Tuesday, it must be Cleveland. I'm amazed you get anything else done but incubating a story and delivering it into our hands.
ReplyDeleteA night or two ago Julie and I were talking about your upcoming tour and schedule, Debs. Julie says you need a personal assistant. Then we thought about the difference in a PA and a publicist. We didn't come up with anything definite except that a publicist might go out and buy you a new white blouse to replace the one you just spilled red wine on twenty minutes before you had to be somewhere. A PA would just skillfully cover it with her Hermes scarf and tell you you were wonderful.
Either way, I would wish you each had one or the other.
I do have an absolutely wonderful publicist with my publisher, Ann. But I'm not important enough for her to travel with me:-) Although she will be at my Dallas event and hopefully you will meet her at Bouchercon. And Kayti is coming to Scottsdale for my Poisoned Pen event, so she can be my PA there!
DeleteAgreed, Ann - as local Guest of Honor, I think Debs for sure ranks a PA during Bouchercon! Ross used to serve as my PA at conferences. His main duty was to physically drag me away from conversations so I would get to where I was supposed to be on time. Pretty sure the Hermes scarf thing would have been beyond him.
DeleteJulia, I'm glad to see you have the ARCs going out for quotes from the booksellers, even if it means a lot of pen on paper writing for you. I don't know if there's really anything that surprises me about the writing life anymore. I mean, between all the posts I read that talk about what goes into writing a book and then going out and promoting it, there's not much mystery left to explore I'd think. Plus, I never assumed it was such an easy thing to do in the first place.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I've got two CD reviews on the books to finish (Crashdiet and Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper), I've got to pick the next album to write about for my Cassette Chronicles series and then there's the matter of reading and writing three book reviews.
And of course, there's today's planned book signing doubleheader. I'm going to one for author Peter Colt in the afternoon and then I'm headed to signing #2 which features JRW's own Hank and Steven Cooper who was featured here on the blog recently.
And I'm also working on trying to promote Edith Maxwell's appearance at my local library on Thursday October 10th. (Anyone in Wareham, MA or nearby on that day is welcome and ENCOURAGED to show up!
Oh, Jay, you are absolutely the kind of reader authors dream of. You write reviews, you show up at signings, and you help promote appearances! I wish we could clone you.
DeleteThanks SO much, Jay. I can't wait!
DeleteJulia, first of all, your cover is stunning, and I think this book is going to be BIG! (new wardrobe, yes!!)
ReplyDeleteIt has been an interesting week here, although I expect all our entries will pale compared to what Jenn tells us she's been up to tomorrow. I, too, used paper and pen or pencil. A spiral notebook, a journal where I keep things like lists of characters, house plans, hand-drawn maps, etc. And I make huge story line columns--or at least I start out with that until the books starts to clarify. I also fine the outlining function on Scrivener amazingly helpful. Whatever works!
I wind up reverse outlining in my composition notebook as I write, Debs. I'll get a couple chapters down and then put them in the notebook, usually highlighting who has the POV, and what important info is revealed about A) the mystery B) the relationship C) any other subplot. Which is a challenge, because my publisher would lie an outline for Book no 10. I'll do one, but I'm not guaranteeing it will have any relation to what eventually appears on the page.
DeleteEveryone has their own writing processes - there is no surprise there. The note writing is a nice old school touch. Is this new just for you, Julia or are other publishers requesting notes to bookstores? So much impresses me in the individual processes that maybe the surprises are just that - everyone's ability to multi-task so effortlessly or if it's not so effortless, than you are were good actors. I'm not writing anything, just reading and reading. I am trying to get crocheting done for Christmas, which can be challenging in the summer and fall heat.
ReplyDeleteDeana, I am the WORST multi-tasker ever. Which Celia, my organizational guru, says is okay. The important thing is to prioritize, and then do job 1, job 2, etc. Starting to put that into practice has increased my productivity so much, as opposed to running around like a headless chicken, which is how I used to manage my time.
DeleteJulia, the cover is frabjous! I understand how hard you've worked to get to this stage, and I'm in awe. Looking forward to meeting you in Dallas.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you're out shopping for the new wardrobe, after you go to Chico's, don't forget Talbot's. We have a new outlet here, and they are practically giving stuff away. Check it out.
Ann, Talbots is my jam, as the youths say. I love their end-of-season sales, so now might be an excellent time to pick up clothing for April!
DeleteI’m too tall for Chico’s, 5’8”. I have two modes of dress shorts and flip flops or attorney professional suit wear. Would Talbots give me a bridge for my two styles? I’m in California where it’s hot half the year.
DeleteTalbots does carry tall sizes. I can always find something there on the sales rack. Check out their web page
DeleteJulia - it is just THRILLING to see you holding an ARC of HID FROM OUR EYES! I can't wait!!! And, yes, the marketing...ugh.
ReplyDeleteWe're all waiting for Sunday's blog to see what you've been working on, Jenn!
DeleteOh, that cover is beautiful and a most welcome sight! I can't wait to get my hands on it and read what I know is an amazing story inside. Thanks for sharing the cover and some of your writing process. If I were writing fiction I'm fairly certain I'd use a notebook like you do. I'd have to keep track of things by writing them down like that.
ReplyDeleteI think what surprises me about the writing life of those who write fiction is that 1) you have time to read other's books and 2) you can read anything but what you're working on and not bring confusion into your own creative thinking, and 3) you have time to do all you do to promote your book. I'm working on reviews right now, and I can't read other reviews of a book I'm reviewing until after I've finished mine.
Oh, and Debs, I just checked and am so glad you saw my comment last night to your post yesterday. Lesa and I are so excited about seeing you in St. Louis.
Kathy, I'd go nuts if I COULDN'T read. My genre selection changes when I'm face down in a book - I switch mysteries and thrillers out in exchange for non-fiction, science fiction, and other out-of-genre novels that interest me.
DeleteOh gosh. I can hardly wait to see what’s happening in Millers Kill. You writers are on a plane so different than mine I cannot take in all you have to do!
ReplyDeleteI doubt we're any busier than you average working woman, Pat. We're just doing it with our imaginary friends. :-)
DeleteVery, very cool cover. Well done to the art director (did you have input?). I have been on pins and needles/tenderhooks/edge of my seat/waiting with baited breath/you get the idea, since finishing the last page of the LAST book, so this is stunningly good news. I am SO eager to read this. I may re-read the entire series just to be at fever pitch for it's release, which is in April?
ReplyDeleteBack when the internet was a mere breath of the hurricane it now is, and print was king, publishers used to put a lot more effort into publicizing new books. Now it seems it's all up to the author, which is a shame. Being on the west coast in Oregon I don't get to see a lot of authors, so my interactions are all in places like this fine blog, which is where I first found your books. Thank goodness, because they are so wonderful!
Julia, love the cover! I look forward to reading your novel. When will it be released to the public? I have been learning more about the writing life since I started following Jungle Reds Writers blog and I used to follow Naked Literature (title?) with Jacqueline Winspear and Patricia Smiley, among several authors, writing different topics daily. Now it has not been around for a while. And I am still reading Jungle Reds almost daily.
ReplyDeleteJust before I logged into the computer, I glanced at my bookshelves and I noticed that I have a book about Writing Mysteries. Perhaps someday I will write a mystery. A writer friend is encouraging me to write mysteries. I have lots of ideas. I need to sit down and start writing! LOL
Diana
Chiming in very late in the day to say I am thrilled to see the ARC's for Hid from our Eyes. The part of writing life I find surprising is that you all do not admit to being wizards who spin your wordcraft. You are in charge of the magic that dazzles us poor mundanes. Super congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been looking forward to this book for a long time. Congratulations on your new book and the beautiful cover too.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for your new book. If you need another reviewer, I'm your girl! I am an Associate Reviewer with The Write Review. I am Phyllis Jones Pisanelli.
ReplyDelete