The Many Careers of ME
By Nancy Lindquist | July 29, 2007
Okay, I’ve not held every job known to man. I’ve never been a hooker, a drug dealer, or a line chef, but I’ve held a lot of jobs over the years. My interests are mutable and fluid. That’s a nice way of saying I can’t stick to shit.
My father is, of course, horrified. He cannot believe that I can’ pick one thing and perfect it. I can’t and I never understood that there was any benefit to this, until I became a writer.
Research is a huge part of writing. You can’t fudge what it’s like to be a _____ without some understanding of the thing. You can gain that knowledge through reading, studying, or doing. I do. I can tell you how a law office runs, because I spent years working as a computer training in a law office. Several, in fact. I can give you an accurate description of working as a flight attendant, because I’ve flown millions of miles. Literally.
I don’t have to be a flight attendant. I’ve seen first class and the way those people are treated is not always pretty. Because I’ve seen a variety of things and places, it’s helped with my research.
So running around, trying it all, is beneficial. Daddy will be so proud.
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The Project
By Nancy Lindquist | July 28, 2007
I’m currently in the middle of a book submission project for a large publisher of mainstream stuff. I can’t talk to much about it, because people steal ideas, all the time, and I want this out the door before I speak publicly about it.
I’ve never done a book proposal before. In the past, I’ve always written the book and then sent the thing off with a letter, outline and synopsis. This one is different. They want to know what I’m going to do to market the book, how I’m going to help edit the book and who my audience is. Typical, but I’m a little lost about it. I don’t really edit. Oh, I can, if I have to, but I am certainly not the comma police. I’m not sure if I should tell them I would hire an outside grammar and punctuation person, or not?
So, I’m buried and a little scared. This is a big deal and if it goes, it could be worth a lot of money, or not. Only 12% of writers make a living at it. That’s a dang low number.
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And The Winner Is…
By Nancy Lindquist | July 27, 2007
The winner of my release day contest is, ajmuffinman
The three most recent releases are on their way. Enjoy!!!
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The Lesson
By Nancy Lindquist | July 27, 2007
“Mom, can you help me?”
“Just a minute, I’m writing a thank you note.”
He appeared behind me. “What for?”
“To thank the person who reviewed my new book.”
His brow furrowed. “I thought she didn’t like it.”
“Nope, she pretty much hated it.”
“So why?”
He wanted to know why his mom was bothering to thank someone for something he perceived as a bad thing. “Because she took the time to read it and offer her comments.”
“Her comments suck.”
I laughed. He’s never read my books and I may never let him read my books. Still, anything mom does is 100% perfect. At least while he’s little.
I sat him down and explained how not everyone will like my work. How I’m not writing it to make everyone happy. That’s not my job. My job is to make the people who like what I do have a good read that makes them smile. Still, she’d read my work and written her thoughts. It’s nice to thank people in the world.
”Will it make her like your book more?”
“Nope.”
“I still don’t get it.”
Frustration crawled up my spine. Not of my sons doing. At least not completely. “You thank someone because it’s the right thing to do. Even if it won’t help you. Even if it sometimes hurts you. You treat others as you want to be treated and you try to understand that she was not trying to make me, or you sad. Not at all. She was just doing what she does. She was just being herself.
“You mean like when I annoy you and you still bake me cookies?”
I smiled. “Close enough.”
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Ladies! Meet Red Hot Alaskan Men.
By Nancy Lindquist | July 27, 2007
My Midsummer Night’s Steam realese is out today! So head on over to Samhain Publishing and get a copy. It’s only $2.50 and it’s a great story. I’m very proud of it.
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It’s Here and I’m Scared
By Nancy Lindquist | July 27, 2007
The sales statement I’ve been impatiently waiting for is in my in-box right now. It came in the night and I’m glad, but I’m scared to open it. I’ve stated that sales don’t matter. I think I was wrong. I don’t need to ever be on the top of, The New York Times bestseller list, but I’ve now decided that I want decent sales. I want all this hard work to mean something, in the end and sales, like it or not, are a benchmark of success for a writer.
So, it’s there. Staring at me and my hands are shaking. They always do. I’m going to open it. Right after I finish my blogs.
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Thirteen Things
By Nancy Lindquist | July 26, 2007
Thirteen Things That Surprise Me About Being a Published Author:
Becoming published is a wonderful feeling. This week book number for, okay, short story number one, comes out on Friday and it’s one of my best works. “Ladies! Meet Red Hot Alaskan Men” is part of Samhain Publishing’s, Mid Summer Night’s Steam” series and I’m very honored to be a part of it. The editor on the project is evil, but it’s a great story, because of her. I am very proud of this story, as I am of all my stories, but some things about being a published author surprised me.
1. I thought I would be rich.
I thought all authors were rich. In reality only 12% manage to eek out a living at writing. That’s among PUBLISHED authors. That was a bit of a shock.
2. I thought that it would be easy to get other books published.
Turns out I’ve had all my rejection letters since I’ve been published. There have not been many of them, but two publishers I’ve badly wanted to crack have turned me down cold. Both sent me the indignity of the pre-done form letter. Both broke my heart, but gave me resolve to try again.
3. You are actually expected to market your own book!
I’ve had other authors tell me, in a snotty tone, that if I had gotten published with a big, New York house that I would not have to do any marketing. None of those authors were published by big, New York houses. Reality check. You have to market your own book. I just pulled down a proposal to author a Chicken Soup Book (piles and piles of paperwork there) and they ask what your marketing strategy is. Everyone expects you to market your stuff. Unless you’re Stephen King.
4. The kids are not impressed. You’d think being a published author would make them at least squeal. Nothing.
5. Some of your friends and family expect you to ship them all the copies of your book, for free.
Some of them have no intention of getting it themselves and expect you to buy it for them. I would think this was a factor of being a member of my family, but I’ve heard other authors state this too.
6. You have to be good at many things.
Writing, becoming published (an art unto itself), marketing. It’s a lot. Not horrible, but it can be a bit of a shock.
7. Some people will adore you, just for being published.
I had a woman follow me around on a cruise telling me how wonderful I was. She’d not read my work, in fact she would be appalled, but she thought I was some sort of mini celebrity. At first, it was flattering. It got a tad intrusive when she came up to me at dinner and wanted photos. I didn’t get to eat. If this woman had been an actual fan, maybe I would be a bit more flattered, but it felt uncomfortable.
8. You never get tired of the thrill of holding your book in your hand.
9. No matter how good you think your work is, you are always surprised and pleased when people love it.
I’ve kept every piece of fan mail I’ve ever recieved. Always will. I love them. When it sucks to be me, I re-read them. They offer me a validation that I find refreshing.
10. You will still shake when a letter comes in from a Publisher about whether or not they’re going to take your work.
11. Writing is hard work.
The first couple of stories came to me easily. Now I worry about my characters all sounding too much alike and whether the romance is real enough.
12. You never stop second guessing yourself.
Just when you think you’ve fixed one thing about your writing, another crops up and you’re re-writing like a madwoman. There is a learning curve in writing, but it’s a subjective thing and it’s hard to perfect something that’s subjective.
13. People will always sniff and point out someone who is more famous, a better writer, etc. when they find out what you do.
I get the negative comments about being e-published and about writing romance and about writing erotic romance. The sniffs and sniggers. Not everyone certainly,. Not even a five percent thing, but some people will try hard to put you in your place. Even if you’re already well aware of your flaws. Never apologise. If you’re published, YOU’RE PUBLISHED and to demean that is wrong. Never let anyone make you feel like your work is, “not quite good enough.” It was good enough to be published.
Visit other Thursday Thirteens.
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Wordless Wednesday
By Nancy Lindquist | July 25, 2007
My mom in 1958 as the, Stewardess of 1984 as seen by United Airlines.
More Wordless Wednesday participants.
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COMING OUT THIS WEEK!
By Nancy Lindquist | July 24, 2007
“Ladies! Meet Red Hot Alaskan Men.”
I am SOOOO excited about this book. I had the evil editor from hell, but she was a marvel and made this a great read. I’m so thrilled to be able to share it with my readers and, as always, I am having a contest for my newsletter folks!!!!
Remember, I write naughty romance. That’s a polite way of saying that it’s steamy to the point of boiling your fingers off, so don’t say you weren’t warned. Isn’t this a great country! I just love freedom of speech.
Dying to own it?Well, on Friday, bright and early, pop on over here: http://samhainpublishing.com/coming/ladies-meet-red-hot-alaskan-men and buy your little self a copy!
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Sales
By Nancy Lindquist | July 24, 2007
I’m always curious about the sales of my books. More than royalty checks, which are nice, but honestly I write to make readers happy, I wait for that magical day each month when I get an e-mail that shares my sales figures. The day is coming, soon, when I learn if, “I Shagged the Sheriff” sold well. I’m on pins and needles. Of course, I cannot share the sales figures with anyone, so I won’t, but it does make me all curious and excited. Sort of like Christmas, to see a book headed off into someone’s hands. I love that feeling!
I’m not a total ultruist. I do have four kids and bills to pay, so I can’t sniff at the money. I have a new roof to put on the house, too. Okay, my royalties may not buy a new roof, but they will pay for part of it. I love being able to contribute something to the family budget. Sometimes, it’s luxury items. A movie that we were waiting to see and a nice meal out for the older two. I love being able to do that. Not all stay at home moms can work too. I feel grateful to live the best of both worlds.
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