Comments on: Rumination on the Writing Life

By: Seo Article Writer

Seo Article Writer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:01:01 +0000

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By: JulieLeto

JulieLeto — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:56:03 +0000

Um, we’re still your RWA chapter (As opposed to the “old” one…we are simply the first one!) And we still have the Book Challenge. I ponied up for two entries and finished my second one last week. (Yeah!) One of these years, I’m going to win!

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:36:18 +0000

Annie, some day we can talk about what items in my books were a result of bets made between my editor and me. She lost every single time.

Thanks, Tiff! I think a page of fiction is probably way easier than a page of academic analysis. To start with, no footnotes. Well, not REAL footnotes.

By: Tiff

Tiff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:32:19 +0000

Congrats, Diana! I can’t even imagine finishing one manuscript, much less 10 (though I am certain that I wrote at least 80,000 words last year in grad school, which makes me think that I should at least try). I really think that your writing continues to get better as each book goes on–I so respect serious professional writers who take it as their job.

I will continue to read and buy anything you put out. Can’t wait to read the next KU stories.

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:38:38 +0000

I think if I were to write, I’d have to have deadlines set for me. I do so much better with structure and exterior expectations.

And remind me never to bet you. I’d hate to lose

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:36:04 +0000

I almost always had deadlines of a sort set up for me. For instance, every year I would enter the Golden Heart Contest at RWA, for which I’d need to turn in a full manuscript in December. I would also play fake deadline games — my old RWA chapter would have a contest every year where we’d bet ourselves money that we’d finish a book.

My entire professional life, it seems, is based around the fact that I hate to lose a bet.

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:31:55 +0000

I’ve always meant to ask you, what was it like going from writing on your own schedule before you had contracts, and then writing for a deadline? I imagine it’s vastly different.

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:20:23 +0000

Patrick, Scottine has me LOL.

Beth, congratulations! I really do think the “bet” method has a lot going for it. And you’re so right, actually writing a draft teaches you so much about what to do. I really think there is such a huge graduation between a person who has finished a whole manuscript and one who hasn’t. And that’s so tough to explain until you’ve gotten there and then you’re like, oh, yeah.

Susan, think about the kind of research your first few required!

Lell, a fiction proposal is generally 60-odd pages of sample chapters and a synopsis. The proposal of SSG was 79 pages, and ended at the point where Amy gets dropped off the landing. I thought it was a good chunk and showed the beginning of the initiation, which was my big set piece of the book.

Of course, I had no intent on selling it on proposal, so I was just writing forward.

By: Lell

Lell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:08:50 +0000

I don’t have much to say except that I am in awe. Ten books. Congrats!! The number of books is now eligible to get an official dependent’s military ID (sorry, that was the only thing I could think of that had to do with the number ten). Or at least, it would have in my day.

That being said…an 80 page proposal?! I think you posted your query letter to your agent re: Amy somewhere (wow, sorry I’m such a stalker), but 80 pages? Unless that includes sample chapters, in which case I shall stop my eyes from bugging out of my head. Still: in awe.

By: Susan Adrian

Susan Adrian — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:37:07 +0000

I for one am so happy you kept going! Yay #10!

I’m only on #4. Slowpoke.