The Mindset of a Published Author – Part 1

This post is inspired by the fantastic job that the A&E channel did with Stephen King’s biography on Halloween morning.  Talk about a determined writer.  I especially loved the point when he took charge of his writing career and treated it more like a business. 

In my pre-pubbed days, I had time to write write write and it didn’t really matter what I wrote as long as I liked it.  Today, that still holds some truth, so that much hasn’t changed.  However, other things have.

My friend Melissa Carmichael reminded me of a quote I had heard before: “Write like you’re under contract, even if you’re not.”  Now that I am, I don’t have a choice in the matter.  But, I also have to write like this is a business.  Now that I’m published regardless of format, it’s more important than ever.

With my YA is finished, it’s time to come up with new ideas.  My maternity leave is coming up and I’ll have a little time on my hands to get some writing done.  Yeah.  Yeah.  I know what you’re going to say.  That baby will keep your hands full.  I’m more than sure of that, but I’m also sure that a baby doesn’t stay awake 24-7 either.  This will be a great time to steal away some time to write, so why squander it?

By treating this like a business, that means coming up with ideas is more important than ever.  I have stories I need to write for sequels that have sold.  While those weigh heavily on my mind, I also have to fuel my need to write something new.  Balancing the two can be somewhat difficult depending upon which is screaming the loudest.  However, when I get fantastic fan mail, like the one recently where a reader said I’ve revitalized her love for werewolves, it’s hard to put aside the third book in my Hunting Club (half-werewolf) series.  So, that’s at the top of my list.  Second, I have outlines I need to work on for other stuff that is currently being shopped.   Fingers crossed there will be some good news soon because I don’t work on anything where the first book hasn’t been contracted yet.  It’s a waste of my time when I could working on something that actually has a chance at selling.

So whether you’re a published author or not, just keep in mind that your entire mindset changes when you receive your first paycheck for writing.  You have to have a plan and constantly think about where your time is most valuable.  And while we’re at it, let’s be honest.  If you were only doing it for the love the craft, then you wouldn’t be trying to land an agent or NY.  You’d be giving your work away for free. 

So other than taxes, how do you treat your writing career like it’s a business?

Happy Halloween!

Of course I’m not letting this wonderful holiday go by without a word or two.  After all, it’s my most favorite time of the creepy year. 

Have a safe and Happy Halloween, folks!  I’ll see you Monday with a new post about what boggles my simpleton mind. 

But if you’re looking for some frightening fun in the mean time, then hop on over to Temple Library Reviews where I tell Harry what scares me.  One thing.  TLR is on Bulgaria time, so I have no idea when the post will go up for us US folks. 

Oh, and since Halloween always seems to yield some good news for me, I found out that it’s official.  STRIPPED will be coming out in trade paperback on June 1, 2010.  Woohoooooooooooo!  That’s assuming I can get the galleys done by November 23rd.  Interestingly enough, that’s also my due date.  No pressure.  *sigh*

Nesting

Lately, I’ve been pretty much off the radar with a LOT of people (i.e. my buddy and confidant, Kathy Calarco).    With so much going on and time winding down before my due date–I’m 35 wks with Baby Girl already assuming the head-down position–I’ve been busting my butt to get things done and not all of them are writing related. 

So what’s on my To Do list?

1. Finish putting up the sticky decorations on BG’s walls.

2. Pack for the hospital.  Do you think I need to bring a baby bag?  If so, what the heck do you put in it other than diapers, wipes, and Desitin?  The milk containers are on my chest, so no worries about bottles just yet. 

3. Get as much done on the day job before I go on my 8-week maternity leave.

4. Plot stories for STRIPPED part 2 and book three of my werecheetah series, write a novella (already contracted), finish revisions for TSIH, and give a once-over on a short story (possible series in the works) I had targeted for Samhain. 

5. Stop by the fire department and get a sexy fireman to show me how to put the baby seat in right.  Um…I *know* how to do it, but there’s no way I’m passing up a gawking opportunity like that. 

6. Set up my hair appointment because it’ll be the last thing on my mind before I give birth, and I’m not ready to let what little beauty I have go to the dogs just yet.  I don’t care how much pain I’ll be in.

7. Figure out how we’re going finagle a Thanksgiving meal around BG’s birth.  She’s due on the 23rd, so anything is possible, including an interruption on Thanksgiving Day.  As long as I get my turkey, stuffing, pie, cabbage, and green bean casserole, I’m good.

8. Baby shower on Halloween Day!  Woohoooooooooo!  I’m trying to get people to dress up.  Heck, I might dress up.

9. Put together my list of people to call when I go into labor.

So as you can see, my plate is pretty full for the next month.  The weird thing is when I think about everything I have yet to do, I wonder if this is what my childbirth educator was talking about when she mention nesting.  It’s not just about cleaning for me.  It has to do with making sure everything is ready and set before I go.  To the hospital, that is.  I don’t want to go anywhere until I know everything is in place.  Otherwise, it’ll plague me to no end.  Heck, it might take one of those sexy firemen to drag me out of the house and cart me to the hospital.

But then I started to wonder if my nesting was anything like plotting a story.  I wouldn’t know because the only preparation I do is write a book-cover blurb to give me an idea of what the story is about and where it’s going.  The rest is pantsing. 

I have to wonder if perhaps I had taken these same measures before starting a book, how would it affect the way I write one.  Would it?  I honestly don’t know and don’t want to experiment either.  But am I curious.  What sort of rituals or things do you do to prepare you for starting your next project?

4 Books for STRIPPED!

Another fabulous review from Long and Short Reviews for STRIPPED.  Man, oh man, do I love this story even more.  I need to get that  sequel going.  But in the mean time, here’s a snippet:

Ms. Colette grabs her readers from the beginning and keeps a tight hold to you until the end of the book, where she leaves you begging for more. She has created a world unlike any other. The pace is fast and the action is unforgiving. Her character descriptions were just enough to leave the reader wondering and searching their own imagination. The scenes were off the chart, as in out of this world. As a reader you will never expect the suspense, the drama, and the thrills. Throw some side stories thrown into the mix, and some steamy sex, and you have a read unlike any you’ve ever experienced before.

With a review like that, I have nothing but love for the folks over there.  A big, old thank you to Wild Plum for reading my book. 

An In-Your-Face News Report

There has been a lot of good stuff happening around the web lately, so I thought I’d take a moment to share.  And because I can’t find anything else that interesting to blog about with regards to my life.  I’m still pregnant and 33 weeks along as of Monday.  Tuesday is my OB appointment.  Saturday is my childbirthing class.  My baby shower has been moved to Halloween.  Woohoo!   

Um…  Well, like I said.  Nothing that interesting.  Oh, and I’m lovin’  Lovin’ LOVIN’ my YA paranormal.  Got some serious revision time down on this thing.  Oh, and one more thing.  Have I told you guys how much I love fan mail and how my books are getting around by word of mouth?  Oh, man, do I love this writing thing. 

Okay, so like the news…

First, my heartfelt condolences to Kate Duffy’s family, friends, and authors.  In case you haven’t heard by now, she died last Sunday of cancer.  She’s edited some NY Times bestselling authors while at Kensington, so I know she’ll be sorely missed.  One thing that always struck me about her is she’s a tell-it-like-it-is type of person and never afraid of the backlash it might cause.  I loved that about her.

Second, I don’t know if you guys remember my friend Kalayna Price from ConCarolinas, but her golden goose has landed, baby.  Not only did she sign on with Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency, but about two weeks later, she landed her first NY contract with Ace/Roc.  Way to go, girlfriend.  I’m so happy for you. 

Third, I’m still waiting for my girl Nicki to confirm, but she won the Maggie for best single title.  A huge CONGRATS to her.  I met Nicki at my first Moonlight and Magnolias and she’s a trip to hang out with.  I only wish I had gotten to spend more time with her.

Since I love giving people a leg up, my buddy Harry has also started a new blog and he has a great intro describing his passion for writing.  Check it out at: http://throughaforestofideas.blogspot.com/.

My girl, Jax Cassidy has redesigned the Romance Diva’s website and blog, so make sure you check those out.  There’s a reason why I think she’s Ms. Design Extraordinaire.  Just scroll down on the homepage and check out that pretty STRIPPED cover, if you don’t believe me. 

And before I forget, my girl Ryshia Kennie has a new book coming out this month, so I’m sure she’s both excited and nervous.  But more about that later.  I’m planning something special for her release. 

Other than several friends of mine getting back into the writing groove, that’s all I have to report.  Perhaps it has something to do with the phases of the moon. 

Any good news you guys want to share?  I’d love to hear it.

Lurves Me Some Kate

The fabulous Kate Douglas is over at Hooked on Romance today, so check out her interview. 

I first met Kate back at RT 2006 (or whenever it was in Dayton, FL) and she was just getting into her career.  She’s been putting out her Wolf Tales books as far back as I can recall and has a new series coming out called Demonfire.  The premise is very cool for this one.  She’s frank and to-the-point, but with a slice of great wisdom.

STRIPPED’s “Cultured” Review

Are you tired of me posting these things yet?  Well, you’ll just have to bear with me because I’m loving it.    The little book that could has received a rave review again.  This time, check it out at Pagan Culture.

I’ve read about many amazing women in urban fantasy, but this is the first time I meet a stripper-bouncer-half werewolf-witch-friendly-crossbow sniper who is experiencing some serious memory issues. Impressive, isn’t she? But Alexa wasn’t the only super heroine in this novel; the author did some significant ass kicking too—with her writing of course.

What  I like most about this review is that I got my Paganism research right.  I always get nervous when it comes to using other’s cultures or beliefs in my work because I don’t want to offend anyone, if I can help it. 

A huge thanks to Magaly.  This chick rocks!

Queen Bees and Wanna Bes

All writers experience this, though it’s usually not talked about in public.  At least, I think it isn’t.  So, let me be one writer who doesn’t mind bringing it to the forefront.  If a friend of yours had hit the big time and suddenly didn’t want to acknowledge you exist, what would you do?

A few years ago, one of my crit partners told me a friend of hers had hit the big time by landing NY and her attitude toward her “lesser” writing friends had changed.  While I won’t go into details, let’s just say she knew this person when and leave it at that.  Because of her snotty treatment, she had lost herself a fan as well as a friend.  In fact, she had lost two fans because even I refuse to buy her books.

At this point, most people might think it was jealousy on my CP’s part or her screaming sour grapes.  Trust me, that wasn’t the case.  However, it had left me thinking for a long time about how I’d react had I been in her shoes.

I’d feel hurt.  If we had bonded over this treacherous road to publication and so-called friend decided I needed to get my own ride the rest of the way because her limo was full with her and her big head, there would be a whole slew of emotions coming from me.  Hurt would be the biggest of them all. 

My CP’s friend had landed her first NY contract a few years ago and has been banging them out of the park ever since and my CP is very happy for her.  From what I understand, this writer has earned her bumps, bruises, and stabs to the gut.  But what I don’t understand is why do some writers feel they need to change after making that big sale to NY?  It’s like they have this image to uphold and their chin goes up right along with it, snubbing the rest of us little folk.  Said writer can’t afford to associate with anyone who hasn’t obtained NY-published status yet because she acts as though it will ruin her precious image. 

For the longest time I’ve felt like there was this clique that existed among all genre writers.  We’re right back in high school again where this large chasm exists between the Queen Bees and the Wanna Bes, and so-called writer friends are doing everything to make sure their status is maintained in the QB crowd.    Sorry, but I don’t play those kinds of games.  Never have.  Never will.  And if I’m “inducted” into the Queen Bee crowd when I land NY, rest assured, I’ll continue my rogue ways and associate with whomever I please.  To hell with the status quo.  I like me just the way I am.

One thing I’ve been desperately trying to do is not to lose contact with the friends I’ve grown close to during my writing stint.  Regardless of where they are in their careers, I think it’s important to maintain those bonds because they keep you grounded and they will most likely be the last ones to desert you when things go wrong. 

While I might disappear out off the internet radar for a while, it doesn’t mean I’m ignoring anyone.  It’s a matter of trying to balance the  full-time job, writing, and just plain motherhood exhaustion.  If I don’t hit you up via email or your blog after a month, then I give you permission to remind me that you’re out there even if it’s just a “Hey.  What’s up?” on my Facebook page.  So while I’ll always make new friends along the way, resassured I’ll be doing everything to make sure I don’t lose my old ones in the process.

So given the above situation with my CP and her NY-pubbed friend, what would you do?  How would it make you feel?  Has it happened to you already?

Guest Blogging at the Temple

Today, I’m guest blogging over at Temple Library Reviews and sharing the books and movies  that have revitalized my love for vampires again…and those things that didn’t.  Check it out here.

Four Coffee Cups for STRIPPED!

Reviews like this one from Coffee Time Romance make me love this writing thing more each day.    Check it out here.  Trust me, you won’t regret it.  Go on.  Read it.  I’ll wait.  *bigger cheesier grin*

A huge thank you to Maura for reviewing STRIPPED.  You got me.  You really got me.

I enjoyed this story so much that I went back and reread it after reading it once. The characters just jump off the page, and I could picture each one clearly.

-Maura at Coffee Time Romance & More