About 18 months ago I posted a thread about having a book deal. Rather than bring that one back up, here is a follow-up thread from the other end of the process. I have the hardcovers in two boxes. I have three reviews (two good, one not-so-good). I have an Amazon.com sales rank. I have a launch party scheduled. I have a TV interview and a newspaper interview lined up. I’m living a dream I had since I was a little kid and I’m a little freaked out about it.
A few basics: I am not self-published. My publisher is a big house (and has house in the name). My book is a middle grade novel (originally sold as YA but converted in editing). I have an agent. I have a day job. I have also sold my second book and it’ll be out in 2010.
I still have a day job. Even if I made enough from writing to live on (which I don’t), the lack of benefits and reliable income makes it unlikely right now. However, I am trying to move in the direction of at least being completely self-employed by patching together writing with teaching, consulting, school visits, etc.
I assume you are not supposed to tell us the name of your book or your name either, if you wanted to, because it goes against SDMB rules?
How long did it take you to write this book? Did you mull over an idea forever or did you jump right in, did you write every day or just sometimes? Do you have any writing rituals, like I need to have a cup of coffee, use this computer in this room, etc?
I think it was Jane Yolen who said you need to have eight books in print to make any sort of reliable living as a writer.
I know a lot of SF/Fantasy writers - the one I know best has three books currently in print - and while he makes enough money now to call it a living, he is functionally supported by his wife, who has a ‘real’ job with health insurance.
I started the book in 2004 and sold it 2007. So yeah, it’s been in the works for a while. I didn’t really jump right in. Lots of fits and starts. The only ritual I have is to write every day, at least 300 words, when I’m writing something new (I take time off after major drafts are completed and in between projects).
I think it all depends on the success of your books, Dangerosa. JK Rowling was doing OK after three or four books. Harper Lee is doing fifty years after one. It just has to be, you know, THAT book.
Most of the published writers I know without day jobs do lots of traveling to writers conferences, etc., have a spouse with a good income, live in poverty, or some combination of the above.
The title of the book is the seventh word of a famous baseball poem, and (at least for me) the book is first thing that pops up when you search amazon by that word… amazingly enough. (Not really trying to get around the rules, just having fun by making it an easily solved riddle – I flat-out mentioned the title in the last thread and nobody warned me about it.)
If I’m looking at the right book, I see that it’s a pre-order that comes out soon. I wish I could see more of what it’s about, as there’s not an excerpt just yet. I think I’ll Google and see if I can find more. My son is 14 and may enjoy your book.
I found you, too! Congratulations! Not only for finishing a novel (which I cannot seem to do) but getting a publishing deal with a known name! How cool are you?
Are you thinking about Book No. Three yet?
Do you need quiet to write?
Do you work on only one piece of fiction at a time, or do you pick up and put down other bits as the mood strikes?
<Mod note>Generally, we’re quite receptive to artistic endeavors, and will allow a thread about a new book, or album, or whatever. Just don’t put it in your sig and then show your sig every. single. time. you post. So, I’m going to grant the exception. cricetus, if you’d like to tell us the book title, you may. However, this WILL reveal your True Name, which may or may not be acceptable to you. It’s up to you. If you do reveal it, you may ask to have the thread title changed, too.</mod note>
I’ve read Cricetus’ book. It’s a very nice first effort. He told me one of the charaters was partially based on me – at least on how I was as a kid.
We’re allowed to talk about published writers we’ve read, right? I’ve got nothing to gain from this, so can I recommend looking for a book called Mudville? The writer’s initials are KS.
The story is about a Little League baseball game between two rival towns that has been postponed by rain for 20 years. That is, it has been raining non-stop for 20 years. The tone is similar to Louis Sachar (Holes, Wayside School stories) in that’s it’s a mildly quirky kind of magical realism. It’s also pretty meaty for kids who like baseball.
