I think back to when I wrote CREEP, long before I had an agent or a
publisher, when I had all the time in the world to just sit and write. I didn’t have a blog or a Facebook author page or a Twitter account. Nobody was asking me for interviews or guest blog posts. I wasn’t going to conferences. There were no reviews to stress over. There was just this book I was writing, and all my energy was spent on making that book the best book I could write.
Those days are long gone.
Not that I’m complaining. Life is good! I’m on the verge of releasing a second book, and I have a terrific agent and an amazing publisher supporting me every step of the way. Over the past couple of years I’ve formed so many great friendships with fellow writers. I’ve received great reviews. I’ve been featured in Suspense magazine and was June’s Fun Fearless Female in Cosmopolitan Philippines. I’ve written for the National Post. I’ve been to ThrillerFest three times and am looking forward to my first Bouchercon this October. I’ve met Jeffery Deaver. I’ve had dinner with Margaret Atwood.
So, no, I’m definitely not complaining. Life is amazing, and if you’ve been reading my blog from the beginning, then you’ve been on this journey with me, and you know how crazy-amazing it’s been.
| CREEP and FREAK |
And if you’re a long-time reader, then you also know that I’ve always tried to be honest about my writing life on this blog (maybe too honest!). I’ve always tried to paint an accurate picture of how things are, and how I feel, and what I think.
And keeping with that, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the days when it was just about the writing. When it was just me and my laptop, in a quiet spot in the house, and the only thing I needed to accomplish on any given day was adding a thousand new words to a manuscript nobody had read yet. When there was no pressure. When there were no expectations. When I didn’t have to worry about finding enough hours in the day to do everything that needed to be done.
In 2008, a typical writing day looked like this:
- Write 1,000 new words for CREEP
Now a typical writing day – today, for example – looks like this:
- Contribute thoughts about what makes a good ending and send to the National Post
- Write a guest post for Open Book Toronto about my work space and writing process
- Tweet and Facebook a teaser about the great Suspense magazine review for FREAK (to be published in their August issue – they called it a “five-star thriller”)
- Tweet and Facebook a teaser about the fantastic Kirkus review for FREAK (to be published August 1st – they said it was “taught and fraught with surprise twists” and “addictive”)
- Finish reading a fellow author’s debut novel and send a blurb to his editor
- Work on a synopsis and proposal for the new book
- Respond to emails from my editor, agent, and New York publicist
- Check in with my Toronto publicist and discuss venues for a future Toronto book signing
- Write 1,000 new words for the new book
- Write a blog post for The Serial Killer Files
- Tweet and Facebook about FREAK’s release on August 7th
- Tweet about blog tour for FREAK
- Check in with my UK editor about sales for CREEP and promotional plan for FREAK
- Tweet and Facebook about CREEP’s mass market paperback release on July 31st
I haven’t accomplished all of these things yet today, but by the time I eat dinner (around 7-ish), hopefully everything will be done.
Right now it’s all about the hustle. And I totally get that it will continue to be all about the hustle for a long, long time, because I’m a new author with a lot to prove, and I’ve worked hard to get here, and this is not the time to slow down.
But man, what I wouldn’t give for a little flow. What I wouldn’t give to just coast for a few weeks, and not write anything, and not promote anything, and just lie around, reading books for pleasure and totally unplugging from anything related to social media.
Maybe someday.
But not yet.
Not yet.
(Totally stole those last two lines from Gladiator.)
Everyday I'm hustlin'!
If you're busy, it means things are working fine. Expect some crushingly high sales for FREAK!
That line, "Be careful what you wish for" comes to mind. But if you look at all this as your job, because it is, you'll feel much better about it. Working people have 8 hours of new tasks to accomplish everyday. That's what they get paid to do. We writers are just paid way, way, WAAAAAY after the fact. When we write our first books, we sit back and say, "That was fun. Think I'll do it again.". But the experience will never be the same as it was the first time. A little birdie named Jenny told me that last year. Scared the crap out of me, but I still wished for the same thing. Now I know what I have to look forward to.
I can relate! I don't even remember my life before signing that first contract.
Next book will be epic, Jennifer!
I think most published writers long for the old days when we could just write and not have to worry about everything else. I know I really miss those days, but still love these days too. Good luck getting everything finished. 🙂
As this being your primary job the best part is that you set your own goals and work on meeting them. You have a publisher and agent that keeps you on your toes but you don't need to see them each and every day. Being able to work in your own environment is a plus. Not having to deal with whiny co-workers is another plus. One of the reasons I found working from home a pleasurable experience… 😌
Jennifer, great to meet you at ThrillerFest and I totally get your day. I think the same thing from a year or so ago when it was just me and my writing and no one else or other obligations. Its fun and exhausting and thrilling all at the same time, isnt it? Wishing you success with the juggle and onto more books. And thanks for quoting from my fave movie of all time! You will find that time to lounge around and just read..but not yet 🙂
Remember when….
Still, it's wonderful that you're swamped!
You're like Wonder Woman!
…Minus the cool bracelets.
So, more like Writer Woman! 🙂 You can do it!
All that business still sounds like a good thing to me! At least you got those 1000 words done. 🙂
I won't miss those days one bit as long as I don't have to go to my day job. It might still be hard and it might still be work but it will be the work I WANT to do (well, mostly; not sure about all that tweeting and facebooking!)
And 1,000 words a day is pretty darn good (imo)in amongst everything else you have to do!
I'm right there with you. Every day is a never ending battle to get on Twitter. But hey, just think, someday you'll get to go on vacation, won't you? For a few weeks. Just to lie around and do nothing. I mean, eventually. (I was supposed to go this summer, but that didn't happen, so I feel your pain, and I took mine out on my latest ms. 2000 words a day. I don't have a publicist or any of that other stuff, so I do get to write somewhat.)
And I still owe you a chicken dinner, so if you ever get to NC…
:hugs:
It couldn't have happened to a better person. And I mean that just as facetiously as a jealous, struggling writer living vicariously through you can be! 🙂
Oh, and — CONGRATS on the awesome reviews for the new book! They'll just keep on pouring in, I'm sure of it.
I see myself in your list of to-dos, Jenny, so remember that being a successful writer allows you to help those who follow in your footsteps. I hope your blog readers know that you've been so quick to do that, to lend a hand to those of us trailing you. You've been generous with your time, even though you don't have much to give. Success comes with its trappings, I'm sure even the Queen finds her crown heavy sometimes, but you've earned it and I hope you take time to enjoy it.
Wow, that seriously seems like a busy schedule. I had heard about writers who said similar things about being so busy, but now you made me see exactly why!
But I'm so glad that you accomplished your dream and I'm sure you'll soon get time to relax on a beach, and sip piña coladas…with me!!! 😀
(PS: dinner with Margaret Atwood? WOW!)
If only you hadn't bothered sending Creep to an agent / publisher…..I'm kidding of course. It has to beat a 9 to 5.
I hear you bbut it's great you have this. Imagine doing a corporate rat job that you hated and had to work around the clock! Eek! Really happy things are going well with you. D
That's exactly the song I was thinking of when I wrote this post, LOL. Thanks Ben. This book release is just as scary as the first!
Dammit, that is what I told you, isn't it? 🙂 It's a great job and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I do miss just writing without all the other stuff going on. I need to get over it already!
Knew you'd understand! Thanks Alex! Here's to epic books for us both.
It's wonderful and crazy and stressful all at the same time, isn't it? Thanks, Cherie!
I love working from home. It's great to not have to commute into an office every day, so definitely no complaints! 🙂
It was great to finally meet you too! I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again at future conferences.
And yes, "fun, exhausting, thrilling" – you nailed it! 🙂 How does everyone else manage so well?
Ah yes, those days from yore… 🙂 Wouldn't change a thing now, but I do miss it.
Here's hoping you can sneak a little flow into all that crazy-talented hustle!
You sure are crazy busy these days, and I'm sure sometimes it's hard. But it's also kind of totally awesome, right?
I can really relate (except for the getting published part)! But this sounds very busy. It is nice to hear about your day.
http://www.modernworld4.blogspot.com
wow, busy, busy, busy. keep up the good work.
You've GOT this, girlie! "Erryday I'm hustlin" —that's in my head too! ha! This is such an exciting for you! I can't say enough how happy I am for you and how much you inspire me to keep "huslin"! -and yeah, I'm a little jealous too -like David. But the good kind, sister! 🙂
Man, you're buuusy. But you're doing something you love, so it's all good. Except when it's not, and you really want the pressure to ease up and maybe some time to yourself, and then you say 'to hell with it!' and do something fun for yourself, because you've earned it. You have my official permission to play hooky when you need to (need, not just want). *gives you coffee, shoves you back to your desk*
Note to self: must get cool bracelets ASAP. 🙂
Thanks, Carrie! Hugs, girl.
Definitely a good thing! Just need to work on my time management skills so I'm not so overwhelmed all the time, dammit! 😀
When it's work we love, it doesn't feel like work at all does it? I'm loathe to call writing "work", though, sometimes, it does feel a little bit like it. 🙂
Maybe I should take my next vacation in NC, so we can have that chicken dinner together! You don't have to twist my rubber arm… 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
No need to be jealous! This will be you someday, whining to me about it, at which point I'll laugh and tell you to suck it up. HAHA.
And thank you. Your support and encouragement for the last couple of years has been more than I deserve. Hugs.
Wonderful points, Mark, and making time for your book was nothing but a pleasure! Authors did that for me, and I know you'll pay it forward too.
And you're not going to trail me for long… I smell bestsellerdom in your (very near) future!
I SO WANT TO SIP PINA COLADAS WITH YOU! You have no idea, Moni! Haha. Hugs, girl. You're one of my favorite people, hope you know that. 😀
It beats the shit out of 9 to 5! Haha. Thanks Ricky.
I hear you, buddy, and you're so right. I don't miss my corporate day job at all! Things are great, I just need to remember on days I'm stressed that I actually WANTED this, haha!
How've you been? Good, I hope!
Awwwwww Casey! Thanks girl! 🙂
It's all kinds of awesome! 😀
Thanks Budd! Hope you enjoyed your visit to Toronto!
Thanks, Yvonne! Life is all about the hustle, isn't it? Hugs.
Yes, NEED. not want. So true! And thanks for the shove, girl. 😀
Btw, I haven't been able to access your blog – do you still have it?
Writers are essentially self-employed, and you know what they say about self-employed people… they have very demanding bosses. You have a LOT to do every day, and have to do a lot of hustling to get 'er done, but you owe it to yourself to enjoy some down time every now and then. Enjoy your wonderful merry-go-round schedule, but get off every once in a while so you don't get too dizzy. Sounds like your writing career is off to an awesome start. Congratulations. And thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog to read Anne's interview. Count me in as your newest groupie.
Someday it will turn and be less hustle and more flow. Because you are awesome.
And I totally love quotes from Gladiator.ha