Things used to be simple when I wrote for Kensington. I had to turn in one book a year. Easy, right? I wrote my Bad Hair Day mysteries and nothing else. It wasn’t until the publisher turned down my option book that I started writing in other genres to see what would sell.
Now it’s years later, and I’m still seeking a home for my two new mystery series. Meanwhile, Wild Rose Press picked up my romances, and I am preparing to launch a new paranormal series. Then Five Star published my tenth Marla Shore mystery. So years after I thought this series was dead, I’m writing it again. Before starting the eleventh book, I completed the first three books in my romance series. So those are all done, except for the edits, page proofs, and promotion.
And herein comes the juggling act. I am attempting to move forward with Bad Hair Day mystery #11, but I keep having to halt work on this project to do page proofs and revisions for the Drift Lords series, not to mention planning the promotional campaign for the series launch and taking time off to go to the Malice conference.
Meanwhile, those two completed mysteries linger in the back of my mind. Should I continue submitting them to small press or self-publish? If the latter, should I publish them as stand-alones or as the first books in new series?
Before deciding on these titles—and we’re still waiting for responses—I would like to self-publish my deceased father’s book. He hitchhiked across the U.S. in 1929 and his story includes some fascinating adventures. So my projects include:
1. The Drift Lords series from The Wild Rose Press
2. A new Bad Hair Day mystery
3. The possibility of self-publishing three titles
4. The possibility of one of my other mysteries selling in the interim
Never before have we had so many options. It’s an exciting time but it’s also all consuming. Who has free time when we can publish our entire body of works, and then when we have to spend hours on the social networks promoting them?
Do you find that your writing production has increased with the advent of new technologies? How are you balancing your writing projects, promotional efforts, and private life?
I completely understand your dilemma. How does one find time to write? I find myself craving to have a little time each day simply to write. With my new novel Tulip Season: A Mitra Basu Mystery being out, I have to spend time on promotion. Something that works for me: First thing every morning doing a bit of writing before going into other tasks. That little time brightens my day. Ask me if you want more tips.
I’m not published, but I do feel pressured to produce more in this digital age.
And even if you’re unpublished, the various powers that be are always drilling into you that you need to start building your fanbase early. So, just as published writers are juggling trying to squeeze in writing time amidst edits, marketing, etc. the unpublished are already getting a taste of that.
It’s a good thing I like writing so much. If it was only a lukewarm hobby, I’d toss it in a heartbeat.
But the news isn’t gloom and despair. This year I’m writing more consistently than I ever have in 10 years of pursuit. And by the end of the year I hope to have a better idea how to juggle projects that are in different stages–something I haven’t quite mastered since I seem to only have first drafts on the go.
But I’ll get there. 😎
Nancy, I feel your pain.
For me, it’s a novel, a screenplay and, if negotiations pan out, a series of novellas, all against the backdrop of a pretty demanding Big Boy Job. What’s the old saying? If you want something done, give it to a busy person.
I think the secret lies in the allocation of resources to the efforts most likely to give you the best return. For promotion of my books, I buy ads on Facebook and other outlets where readers are likely to find them. I do not participate in blog tours to writers’ sites, because I don’t believe they sell books. That’s the same reason why I don’t do book trailers or book marks.
Over the years, I’ve accumulated a newsletter mailing list with close to 2,000 email addresses and another with 1,200 mailing addresses. These are known fans, so I send them an announcement that the new book is available.
At the end of the day, though, I believe that the single 100 percent effective way to sell my current book is to write another one. And another one after that.
John Gilstrap
http://www.johngilstrap.com
Bharti, your method is what works for me, too. Get my writing tasks done early in the morning before all the distractions.
BK, it’s good that you are remaining productive while being mindful of the marketing tasks ahead. It is true that unpubbed authors need to get started building mailing lists, websites, etc. And now there are more ways than ever to get your finished work to readers. If you’re persistent, you WILL get published.
John, I don’t see how you do it all plus hold a regular job. As for allocating marketing resources, it’s hard to know what works. As you say, probably the best bet is just to write the next book.
I’m in the same boat lately. Balancing a day job, writing, narration, and church work.
The last two months I was on convalescent leave and was able in that time to complete one novel, start the next, write a screenplay and begin filming it,narrate/produce three audiobooks and negotiate contracts for three more audiobooks.
Then this week I went back to my day job and find myself wondering how I’m going to keep up and whether or not I actually need a full 6 hours sleep every night.
Been there, done that, Nancy. I’m trying to work on two books right now, book one in a mystery series and another romance. Then, my publisher comes up with an ideas for a new season novella series. I have four chapters finished on a manuscript that would be perfect, so now I’m added that to the mix. Oh, and there’s that blasted full time day job that pays the bills. Can we say buried under. LOL
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Wow, Basil, you need to go on Convalescent Leave more often. You got a tremendous amount of work done in that time. Is retirement from your day job beckoning yet?
Carol, a novella can be a blessing or a curse, but in your case it seems to be working out. I’d hate to be going great with a book project only to interrupt it to write a shorter piece. And the one novella I wrote didn’t seem to do much for my career. I see you’re juggling two genres like me.
Call me crazy but I have this mindset that everything ALWAYS works out. So, I mete out my time accordingly. The pressure gives me a welcome push. Perhaps I’m becoming addicted to the adrenaline rush. 🙂
I’m constantly on the go, but I’m creating my passion–now focusing on five projects, maintaining my marketing, keeping up with family and friends while considering myself completely and entirely blessed.
Granted, I’m tired at night, but I go to bed smiling. I’ve waited a long time for these moments. I couldn’t be happier. xox
Kathy, you deserve your bliss. You’ve worked long and hard to achieve success.