Or is it? Even as I write these words, I'm hard at work on a companion book to the series. A few of my friends from the Pioneer Hearts were discussing what you call a book that's an offshoot from another series. Several names were bandied about, and I like the term 'companion.' It's done, for the most part, and I've begun shopping it around to various publishers. So, I'm
waiting to hear back from them.
Most every author who goes the traditional route to publishing waits to hear back from the publisher on whether they want to take a roll of the dice with our works. Then, our faithful readers must wait until the book can be fit into a publishing schedule, and when it can be available in print. We're always waiting. And the bigger the publishing house, the longer the wait.
The finalists for RWA's biggest awards of the year were announced last week, and everyone who entered, whether they thought they had a chance of finaling or not, waited on Friday to see the list of names, which kept growing throughout the morning. Finally, at 3pm, the last of the finalists were announced and added to the list and we all stopped waiting and went back to whatever we'd been doing.Even if I am about to jump ship and self-publish a novella just to get the experience behind me, it's still a waiting game. First, I must wait until the publisher I sent it to gets back to me. I'd rather not spend my own money getting it edited if it's ultimately to be picked up by a publisher. Then, after the 12 weeks the publisher has requested to review and make a decision, if I decide to self-publish, I need to be fit into an editor's busy schedule, find a cover artist, formatter, etc, etc. I'm sure there are a million other little things I'll need to take care of, and wait on, once I get into it.
And while I'm at it, royalty checks for the last half of 2015 are due by the end of March. It's nearly time for that to show up, but as yet, I've not received word about what to expect, and nothing's shown up in my bank account.
The Waiting Game. That's what being an author is all about.
Becky the waiting is definitely the hardest part. You need LOTS of patience.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many aspects to publishing, each of which requires endless patience. There's no such thing as an overnight sensation.
DeleteI hate waiting for money. Mostly because as a fiction writer, I can make up a lot of disasters that could have happened to my check. A lot.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your novella!
You're cracking me up, Lynn. And given me another thing to worry about.
DeleteWe had a post office employee throw away a bag of mail here just because she didn't want to deliver. Wait, what? Isn't that your job?
DeleteHow about waiting for the muse? I spend too much time cleaning the bathroom and kitchen waiting for that elusive pixie to jump start my writing.
ReplyDeleteHow about waiting for the muse? I spend too much time cleaning the bathroom and kitchen waiting for that elusive pixie to jump start my writing.
ReplyDeleteI seem to have a rampant muse in my head, so much so that I can't sleep at night, since the muse is running around like a hamster in its cage. Sometimes it's best to just give into it and start writing at 3 am.
DeleteCatherine, the muse can't find you in the kitchen. You have to be sitting writing what you're thinking of as crap when she comes and sprinkles the fairy dust. No more cleaning. Ha.
DeleteExcellent post! I often wonder if I'll ever adapt to this waiting game. Would love to be Zen about it all. Hope you had a Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne. I am not the most patient of people, so being an author has taught me quite a bit about restraint.
DeleteWaiting is torture, however, we're not alone. Actors wait, directors, wait, artists wait, patients wait, I'm afraid life is one big waiting game.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me that I'm waiting.
Tema Merback
Writing as Belle Ami
You're right, Tema, life is one big waiting game. But as long as we can have fun while we're waiting, it's worthwhile.
Delete