That’s supposed to be me, if you haven’t figured it out yet. Oh, you haven’t? Well, I guess that makes sense, because I haven’t figured it out yet either!
How do other writers do it? I’d like to know. REALLY. The other night I had a major deadline and I thought I was going to make it, no sweat. I got up early that morning and cranked. But one thing led to another (I’m visiting my inlaws and at the mercy of dial-up and WordPerfect - I didn’t know either still existed) and before you could say "faster-than-a-speeding-bullet," it was midnight and I had a sleeping baby in my lap as I stared bleary-eyed at the computer screen. I actually considered getting out my checkbook and sending back my advance to Berkley because it seemed like a near-certainty that they would ask for it back.
The funny thing is, as I sat there despondent with my 7-month old son (my 5 1/2 year old was sleeping peacefully in the other room, thank God), I thought of an email one of my sister-in-laws sent me when I first announced that GOOD THINGS was going to be published. It went along the lines of, "You see? You can have it all." She was referring to family, marriage, career, writing. My first response was pure annoyance, probably because at that particular moment I had piles of laundry and hadn’t taken a shower in a week (okay, three days). Then I was suspicious - was she being sarcastic? (Typical sister-in-law drama.) I finally relaxed a bit and decided that she was sincere and kind to have even sent me a note at all. Then, as I re-read her email, I concluded that she must be a near genius. As she signed off, she added, "It just takes longer, that’s all."
In my case, ten years longer. Writers often lament about their prolonged first sale - it took me ten years (TEN YEARS, in case anyone missed that), to get my act together. So, yes, I suppose we can have it all … eventually. And if you saw me this morning at the UPS store as I finagled my final copyedited manuscript (5 pounds of gobbley gook), a stroller, a car seat, and two bags of back-to-school clothing (okay, there was some new make-up in one of the bags - I’m going to give the Bare Minerals line a try), you’d have been impressed. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? I’m all over it.
Mia King, author of GOOD THINGS: A Novel, available February 2007 by Berkley Trade. $14.00 ISBN: 0425213714
In college I took a cognitive psychology course that covered a fascinating topic: how the creative process works. Researchers found that it takes ten years to achieve mastery in a creative discipline. (It’s the same amount of time it takes to create a master chess player). Yes, that’s right. TEN YEARS. The researchers backed up this claim with tons of data. You are right on schedule, my dear!
Luv,
Cleo Coyle
Latest release…
Coffeehouse Mystery #4: Murder Most Frothy
Comment by Cleo — August 27, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
I’m in Boston, doing research. I’ve said this before–
I am amazed at anyone who says, “I’ve never written anything. I think I’ll start with an 80,000 word book.”
I started writing for my local newspaper. I used the money I made to put my kids in Montessori school, thus giving myself 2 1/2 hours a day to write. When my daughter reached kindergarten age, I kept her in Montessori–so she was going to school all day. I took a seminar at my local community college where people came and read what they were working on. I listened to short stories, nonfiction and novels–then started a novel of my own. But I was still worried about length, so I started with a kids’ SF novel. Not easier, but shorter.
I’ve continued my career with my kids in school–and now out of the house. And along the way, I made enough to be able to pay a maid service to clean the house. That was a big step in the right direction. Hang in there. It gets easier. With life. And the more you write, the easier it gets to turn out text quickly. I call it the “writing muscle.” Its like any other muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
Other advice? Well, Cindy NEVER reads my stuff until a month or even longer after it’s due. So you probably have some extra time.
Rebecca
Comment by Rebecca York — August 27, 2006 @ 2:11 pm
Cleo and Rebecca, you always know the right thing to say! Thanks!
I’m feeling much saner today, and had a big breakthough moment the other night - I’m spending so much energy on this book (which was written literally years ago) that I’m not putting anything towards my next book. So all this lamenting will be for naught if I don’t keep writing! All this drama over one book …
Comment by Mia King — August 28, 2006 @ 12:48 pm
It took me ten years too, and I don’t have children, so I’m glad Cleo said that
Mia, you are superwoman! Mothers who can do all these things have my full admiration! I hope things are going more smoothly now.
Comment by Saskia Walker — August 29, 2006 @ 4:06 am
It took me eleven years, gang, and my youngest was in junior high when I started writing. Today, my galleys were due but a family emergency kept me babysitter this week, and the galleys are only 3/4 done, so I’ll fax them on the right day, but the editors won’t see them until tomorrow. > Life happens. I salute you, Mia, for doing this with little ones. Congrats!
Comment by Annette Blair — August 31, 2006 @ 4:35 pm