It’s A Job, Writing That Is

When I first started writing I know I didn’t accept this concept fully. I had a full-time job. I had school. I had my children to take care of. Yes, I stole time to write and I produced about three books in the span of three years. Then someone came along and said, well, this book has merit and we think it will sell. I had started to understand, just a little, this was real work. It wasn’t all sunshine and daisies.

While editing my first book, I was working on another. When that first book hit the world, I was busy editing on the second one. Still editing I was busy promoting. When I finished edits, I was busy writing the next story and still promoting. Last year, was a lesson in what it means to be a published author.

But this year I’ve not only realized it’s a calling, accepted that it has it’s own share of lumps, but it’s a J.O.B. Before NaNo I was working on an older ms to get ready to send out into the world of publication. 3/4 in I had to accept the ending sucked. It needed a lot more work than I could have put into it within two weeks of time I had. I put it aside, while thinking of all the things I could do to fix it. Then NaNo started and I wrote my little butt off. That book is done and I’ll gladly ignore it until I can read it with a fresh perspective.

And, after this short span of celebrating, I’ve survived yet another book, I’m thinking about that older ms again. The tweaks that it needs to be DONE and ready. Then, Lynne’s story that needs to be edited. Then the museum story I keep coming back to and wanting to write.

There seems to be always something in the pipe line. I’m not idle with this writing gig. There isn’t that big of a difference from when I worked at my old job. I complete one thing and have about five others on the to-do list.

And that’s not even considering crafting a query and synopsis that are the bread and butter part of submissions.

Moral of the post, it’s a job like any other. Treat it as such. Trust me you’ll have less of a headache if you do.

What are you working on right now?