Okay, I've had a few people ask me how I'm getting so many books out so fast. Well, here's the thing.
I have a back list.
Not of published books, just of books I've written, because, truth be told, I've been writing for a lonnnnngg time. My daughter was one year old when I started and she just graduated
from high school. Much of what I've written over the years is not
publishable. But some of
those ideas were pretty good--it's just the execution that wasn't. As my
writing chops improved I was able to go back and make them better.
Back list books:
Clockwise (first draft written in 2007, based on a time travel book written in 1998)
Like Clockwork (half written in a Nano 2009)
Seaweed (first draft written in 2009 or 10, can't remember)
Playing with Matches (first draft written 2005, still revising, planned release this fall).
Jars of Clay (first draft written in 2002, releasing as three novellas, first one this fall)
It's a Little Haywire (first draft written in 1996)
Newly written books:
Clockwiser (written winter 2011/12)
Perception (written 2011, planned release this fall)
Clocked ( written 2012)
Planned to write books:
Volition (book 2 in Perception series, first act written)
Book 3 -6 in Perception series
A retelling of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell
A sequel to Seaweed
Two other factors:
I quit my job to do this full-time.
My four kids are grown up.
So now you know.
How about you? Do you have a back list? Do you have any planned releases coming up?
I WISH I had your backlist! Still, it shows determination and focus to get those titles out. Count me muy impressed!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you are able to make so much use of your unpublished back list now.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much of a back list, just a lot of unfinished projects, but this does give me hope that someday, when my children are older, I might be able to pull those unfinished projects out and make something worthwhile of them.
I have been blown away by how you got such a large body of work out there so quickly. (And I'm especially excited about your historical coming soon!)
ReplyDeleteIt gives me hope that once my daughter is grown (eight more years to go) I might have a chance of becoming more prolific. A day job and school-aged child means writing hours are limited.
Once again I love hearing the story of your journey, and am encouraged by it.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, it makes a huge difference when the kids are bigger. And it happens faster than you'd think!
Those last two factors make a HUGE difference--the part about this being FT and the kids being grown. I have a small backlist---two complete MSs, one being my first so it needs revision. Then I have a partial MS that I could do something with. It does help!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great~ :o) <3
I definitely do. Being repped and waiting while one's book is out on editor sub will do that to a writer. That and drive them a little insane. ;) LOL! So I totally understand and am thrilled that you have a back list. That means I don't have to wait so long for your books!
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on my front list! :(
ReplyDeleteWow, you've been prolific and dedicated.
ReplyDeleteI started writing when my daughter was 4, about to turn 5. Now she's turning 10. I've been trying to rework the second manuscript I ever wrote. I now see how much I've learned!
Good luck on all your projects.