Avoiding The Trap, And News
My weekly post at The Midnight Hour is up. I was inspired by Angela James’s recent RTB post about one-manuscript writers. I do have a sort of law about one-ms-writers: thy first book shall not ever sell, for even if it doth not stink your pimpage of it reeketh most hardily. Heh.
Maybe I’ll get a lot of flak for it, because I feel strongly about this. I avoided the one-manuscript trap by sheer chance, because I wanted to write a trilogy and was too dumb to get scared after I finished the first book. Once I finished the second, it was like, “oh hey, I can keep doing this! What do you know? Wow.”
Now, twenty-two finished manuscripts later, it’s almost old hat for me to have two books cooking at once. As soon as I finish one project I’m on to the next, without giving myself a chance to get cold. I leave selling them to my wonderful, beautiful agent, thank God; that’s not my job anymore. I’m happy to be free just to bumble around and write whatever takes my fancy.
I really do honestly think you can’t just finish one book and stop. (Again, don’t bring up Harper Lee. She’s an anomaly.) To be a writer and have any kind of shot at selling something you need to produce an oeuvre and keep producing, to up the statistical chance of someone liking something you’ve done.
Oh, and to hone your craft. That too.
In other news, things are looking up. The DHM’s dad is back at home after an operation, and seemingly doing fine. We’re beginning to discuss what we’ll do if there’s another medical emergency or if he’s (God forbid) unable to care for himself anymore. It’s one of those discussions you never want to have but that are absolutely necessary, and the DHM understands that. We’re all just glad Oji-san is still around to have the conversation with.
Thanks to everyone for all the good thoughts, support, and wonderful emails sent (especially Reader Tami Hawes, who send a very timely reminder. Thanks, Tami!) All the positive energy really helped.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
