Enigma of the Industry: Arlene

I wish I can verbalize reality as well as I can make believe, but seeing as I can't, I went ahead and stole the following from Nathan Bransfords blog.

Ten Commandments for the Happy Writer

Writers aren't generally known as the happiest lot. As a recent Guardian survey of some top writers shows, even the best ones don't particularly enjoy it all that much. And in case you think this is a new development, an 1842 letter from Edgar Allen Poe to his publisher recently surfaced in which he was found apologizing for drinking so much and begging for money.

But believe it or not, writing and happiness can, in fact, go together. For our Thursday entry in Positivity Week, here are ten ways for a writer to stay positive:

1. Enjoy the present. Writers are dreamers, and dreamers tend to daydream about the future while concocting wildly optimistic scenarios that involve bestsellordom, riches, and interviews with Ryan Seacrest. In doing so they forget to enjoy the present. I call this the "if only" game. You know how it goes: if only I could find an agent, then I'll be happy. When you have an agent, then it becomes: if only I could get published, then I'll be happy. And so on. The only way to stay sane in the business is to enjoy every step as you're actually experiencing it. Happiness is not around the bend. It's found in the present. Because writing is pretty great — otherwise why are you doing it?

2. Maintain your integrity. With frustration comes temptation. It's tempting to try and beat the system, whether that's by having someone else write your query, lying to the people you work with, or, you know, concocting the occasional fake memoir. This may even work in the short term, but unless you are Satan incarnate (and I hope you're not) it will steadily chip away at your happiness and confidence, and your heart will shrivel and blacken into something they show kids in health class to scare them away from smoking. Don't do it.

3. Recognize the forces that are outside of your control. While it's tempting to think that it's all your fault if your book doesn't sell, or your agent's fault or the industry's fault or the fault of a public that just doesn't recognize your genius, a lot of times it's just luck not going your way. Chance is BIG in this business. Huge. Gambling has nothing on the incredibly delicate and complex calculus that results in a book taking off. Bow before the whims of fate, because chance is more powerful than you and your agent combined.

4. Don't neglect your friends and family. No book is worth losing a friend, losing a spouse, losing crucial time with your children. Hear me? NO book is worth it. Not one. Not a bestseller, not a passion project, nothing. Friends and family first. THEN writing. Writing is not an excuse to neglect your friends and family. Unless you don't like them very much.

5. Don't Quit Your Day Job. Quitting a job you need to pay the bills in order to write a novel is like selling your house and putting the proceeds into a lottery ticket. You don't have to quit your job to write. There is time in the day. You may have to sacrifice your relaxation time or sleep time or reality television habit, but there is time. You just have to do it.

6. Keep up with publishing industry news. It may seem counterintuitive to follow the news of a business in which layoffs currently constitute the bulk of headlines. But it behooves you to keep yourself informed. You'll be happier (and more successful) if you know what you're doing.

7. Reach out to fellow writers. No one knows how hard it is to write other than other people who have tried to do it themselves. Their company is golden. If you're reading this it means you have an Internet connection. Reach out and touch a writer. And plus, the Internet allows you to reach out to writers without smelling anyone's coffee breath.

8. Park your jealousy at the door. Writing can turn ordinary people into raving lunatics when they start to believe that another author's success is undeserved. Do not begrudge other writers their success. They've earned it. Even if they suck.

9. Be thankful for what you have. If you have the time to write you're doing pretty well. There are millions of starving people around the world, and they're not writing because they're starving. If you're writing: you're doing just fine. Appreciate it.

10. Keep writing. Didn't find an agent? Keep writing. Book didn't sell? Keep writing. Book sold? Keep writing. OMG an asteroid is going to crash into Earth and enshroud the planet in ten feet of ash? Keep writing. People will need something to read in the resulting permanent winter.

Enigma of the Industry: Arlene

Frustration....writing at work and getting interrupted every two minutes.

Frustration...something up with Microsoft word and it's taking too long between clicks to load unless I reboot every couple hours.

Frustration....my problems with writing stem from writing a tome, 3 book series, without learning how to write first so rewrites are sooooo boring.

The editor at Tor publishing would not have misunderstood me if he hadn't been exhausted and I hadn't stalked and approached him without the ten minute time slot which I would have had if I'd booked before he filled up.

If I wasn't such a timid dreb, the social skills of a wall flower, I'd have slept the night before and could have engaged the thought in my head, 'new age is hippy-angel religious stuff, right?' But my photon is evil out of my mouth, and he'd have laughed and listened further.

So, my words of wisdom are: It's not always the agent-publisher, but the writer who thinks they have something, and they do, but they can't or won't or don't take the time to get it out of their head correctly.

And, conferences are alot of fun, but sign up for the entire thing in case you do want a chance to talk with someone further and never listen to an older sister who think it's a matter of image. Dress presentable, but comfortable. You're selling yourself, not a polished version that isn't really you and sneakers make your brain work better than borrowed heels.

This is an ego thing--Your Baby--and if the real world doesn't fall all over it, or you can't present it right, there's a zillion others out there willing to do the work, so you either write something else to open a door, or keep trying with rewrites and other publishers/agents until finally you draw the longer straw and someone in the business strikes a spark with you.

An update on me in this moment in time? I'm in family counseling with the series, but leaning toward divorce. I'm pushing a teenager stand-alone out the door and, yippee, I'm trying to get pregnant with something I don't have a clue what it'll turn out to be and I'm boggled down with crits maintaining a lovely symbiotic relationship with people who understand.

Enigma of the Industry: Laurie

Arlene—we're missing your words of wisdom. Maybe you'd like to comment on your frustrations with SE, like the editor you pitched who dismissed it as "new age" because he keyed in on certain words and assumed it was about angels, when it's really SF with a basis in physics. Do agents and editors really take the time to listen? Maybe they just don't have the time to listen--another enigma in itself. I recently heard a story of how one agent lamented that she'd wished she'd had a shot at a particular best selling novel, and the writer just smirked and (to her credit) said nothing , because she in fact HAD queried her and been rejected.

Also, I'd like to challenge some never do this advice often given to pre-published authors:

"You should never write additional books in the series until your first novel has sold and done well."

I beg to differ. Why not write a series if that's what inspires you? A waste of time? Writing is never a waste of time when you're churning out work that pleases you. If you're pleased, chances are your potential fans will be too. Maybe more than pleased. And wouldn't this solve the enigma if your first novel does go gangbusters and the reading public comes back with the demand of more, more, MORE! You already have it, have it, HAVE IT! and you know it's not going to be a disappointment because you and your muse had time to collaborate on a great story and work out the kinks without the dread deadline thundercloud looming on the horizon.

Let's face it, most of us don't write for the money, we write to tell a great tale that we want to share with the world. So if the inspiration keeps you writing with enthusiasm for three or four novels, then more power to ya! You aren't wasting your time, and you may just be building your future dynasty with a solid backlist of offerings.

Enigma of the Industry: Barbara

I think the author who has a stockpile ready once the first is accepted - is pretty much par for the course. Another CC member - who writes MM BDSM has had that happen to her. One novella accepted and they leapt on the others she'd already written.

I think for epublishers - there is less pressure on authors. I had a few chatty emails from one editor asking when she could expect my next but there was no pressure. Its different for the print guys who have to work to tight schedules and plan things years in advance. The epublishers don't have to do much more than space out their author's releases.

The fact that I had several in my pocket has taken off the pressure - in that even if I had a book accepted today - it wouldn't be put out for several months. So technically, I need to keep writing to keep up a reasonable publishing schedule - and that is more to keep in the reader's mind than anything else. I have heard of writers pushed by readers to write faster, write more of the same, etc. - not happened to me yet!

The other interesting thing is with more than one publisher to write for (the case for ebooks and not print) - how do you decide who to write for next?? You're usually tied in to one publisher for certain types of book. The contracts mean you have to submit each subsequent work to them. I feel now it would be tricky for me to write paranormal for EC - even in a different series.

But I think all this is easily handled by writers without agents. It's in the print world that you need their help. But with that help comes pressure.

Enigma of the Industry: Laurie

An author who is just about to publish her third book (and at least so far seems to be turning out utterly fantastic sequels) covered this issue on her blog and said that the editors and agents expect writers to be professionals. Okay, understandable, but a muse is a many splendored thing, but it's hard to pound your round muse into a square hole when it comes to having a flash of brilliant inspiration, or knowing just how to "fix" a scene or element that isn't working, or kick out a product by a specific date. You can't send a memo saying, "Muse, I have a project for you. I want you to write a 100,000 word, utterly brillaint, take-reader's-breath-away story with a can't-put-it-down plot, characters and premise, and I want it to be perfected and ready to go to press by this date." And your muse will laugh and say, "Oh reaaaaally? You want it WHEN?"

On the flip side, agents, editors and publishing houses need you on some sort of a schedule if they are going to be partners in building your career and making you a success. They can't except an answer like, "Hmmm, well, I dunno. Counting muse vacation time, plot development sabbaticals, research vacations and negotiating detours around potential plot roadblocks...I should get back to you in two or three years with a novel that will knock your socks off." Not gonna fly.

So how do you avoid getting in a jam? I think Barbara had the right idea, or maybe just the PERFECT TIMING (sorry, couldn't resist the plug) by completing a score of novels before her first sale. (A situation I think Dawn is also going to be in with her myriad of projects.) Of course, Barbara also writes at warp speed (compared to my impulse power), but it took her years to develop the system that works for her and results in a saleable product in a relatively short time. Even so, now that her stockpile of novels has been pretty much sold out, she'll be in the situation of producing on demand.

Barbara, any thoughts you'd like to share on that?

Enigma of the Industry: Dawn

As for deadlines, I think more writers need to be up front with their publishers. The publisher asks, can you do it in six months. Can you? If you're not sure you better speak up. Nothing like locking yourself into a three book deal and not keeping up on your end. If you rush, will it be substandard? I've heard horror stories. When you sign that contract, you better be damn sure you can do it. If not, you're putting your career and name on the line. What can happen is you turn out a great first novel, the next one sucks and then not only are you out money and time, you're out readers who had faith in your work. The third ends up dropped by your publisher and you're lucky if they don't drop you.

Yes it's damn hard getting published, harder yet staying there. You have to be honest, with yourself and your publisher. I've waited a year for a book to come out and I survived the wait. Fans waited for Harry Potter, they wait for Jim Butcher, Karen Marie Moning. Writers can say "No, I need longer." Especially if the book you deliver lives up to expectations.

So are ya'll asking me to pity these successful authors because they don't know how to say "No, I need more time than you're suggesting?"

Beginning authors get crucified for less.

Enigma of the Industry: Laurie

Dawn, you hit the nail on the head (amen, amen and amen!) with that. Let me add my two cents worth:

Personally, I think deadlines kill creativity. I've said that many times, and I acknowledge it's a viscous cycle. You write a book that's inspired, entertaining, popular and a huge success, and suddenly the world wants more...more...more...now...now!...NOW! How can anyone create good work under that kind of pressure, let alone a sequel that's half what it could be, or what fans expect it to be?

A blog I frequent recently posted a link to another author's blog who is in such a situation. He's had to push back the deadline on his next novel, and apparently his "fans" are getting downright homicidal about it, and putting him under tremendous pressure. He wrote a bit of a rant just to vent on his frustration at the situation, and I completely relate to his feelings. Why would fans do this to a writer? Personally, I give him credit for sticking to his principles and refusing to kick out something by the required deadline when he knows it's going to be a disappointment. And of course the irony is, if he did cave to pressure and turn out a second rate piece of work (as, unfortunately IMHO many authors do because they are trying to force their muse to meet the demands of their budding career) then the same fans clambering for the sequel would probably crucify him. It's a Catch-22 if ever there was one.

But there's the dilemma. How do you build a career if you don't do what's demanded of you by fans, editors, publishing houses? The wheels of the industry turn on the ability to supply on demand. When you're dealing with all of life's other priorities and deadlines (like, most of us have to work for a living, because let's face it, few authors make enough to support themselves) how do you produce quality work when the pressure makes your muse dry up? What's the answer? Is there an answer? Maybe not, judging by the state of so many sequels I've read.

John Scalzi posted this on his blog. I think it frames some of these issues from a popular authors's POV.

Now we're on a roll.

Enigma of the Industry: Barbara

Maybe they're lazy and their editors are either lazy or scared to criticise. I think pressure does get to these names though - the need to keep grinding books out is intense so they write with little author-editing. Maybe they expect the editor to do it and they don't because they think - hey , this author sells - who am I to point out too much use of 'was' - too much head-hopping, etc.

Maybe I'm unusual in that I love editing. I love going over and over a story and making tweaks and changes to improve it. Because I'm not a forward thinker - I don't have the plot mapped out in my head so I need to backtrack all the time to stick stuff in. Case in point with the WIP - Outcasts. I really shouldn't have posted it so soon. I'm not ready yet and I can see there is more that needs to go in these first two chapters.

But it's easy to see some of the big names have gone off!! Even smaller names who I've enjoyed - their later books have disapointed. I really need to reread the earlier work to see if it's me! Have my standards raised because I now know what to do and what not to do? If I see mid-paragraph head-hopping in a story I go wild, but my first stories were full of it.

The Enigma of the Industry: Dawn

I picked up a book the other day and wanted to throw it against the wall. (No, I'm not mentioning the name). The same example of bad writing that I've mentioned before stared back at me from this NY Times bestseller's novel. Cliches, wordiness, excessive use of modifiers and the first paragraph had at least, wait, let me count... 10 inactive "was". This is the writer's latest release. They have 61 published novels to their credit, so it's not like they're a beginner.

In three years, you can see the difference in my writing. So why do I see this in a well-seasoned writer's work? To me it's like they aren't even making a conscience effort to write "well," let alone good or great. Since when was it more important to get the story out, than to write a great story? Where do writers cross the line to writing because they need to tell a damn good story and writing because they have deadlines?

Does this happen to every sucessful writer? Why? Damn it. You know they didn't start that way. Is the pressure so high, we can't take a moment to think about what we're penning to paper? Okay, I know that they have deadlines, but come on. We rookies are expected to tighten, control the inactive voice and modifiers. Getting into print demands it. Shouldn't staying in print demand it as well? And don't give me some sappy story about deadlines. Phttttthhhp. You want me to continue buying your books, make a conscience effort to write well like every beginner must.

How do writers who do the above maintain their place as NY Times Bestsellers???

Somebody please explain.

Tell me, Barbara. You know. You have the pressure of the deadline.

Topic for this Week: Enigma of the Industry

This week we'll be presenting our views on the Enigma of the Industry. Does the publishing industry set many writers up to fail? Why are sequels so often a disappointment? Why does the work of some seasoned authors seem to decline in both quality and substance as they make a name for themselves? What elements, in our humble opinions, cause this?

This is simply a discussion--how we see things, what our take is--based on our various experiences and opinions. What do you think? Are we hitting the cruxt of the matter? Totally off the mark? We may not even agree among ourselves on some points. Feel free to jump into the discussion with your own comments, perceptions, and arguments. We're all ears.