Do you remember that song; Waiting is the Hardest Part? And I know that my fellow authors who also write erotica are now chuckling at the ‘hardest part’ and will rib me later or in the comments below, with responses like: ‘if waiting is the hardest part, you’re writing it wrong’ or, well, you get the picture and I honestly can’t wait to see what the remarks might be. Blushing will commence, for sure.
But…
I find many things about being a writer/author difficult. But for me, I think the waiting is the hardest part. Or perhaps, I am just the most impatient person ever born.
From the moment inspiration hits, you begin that author’s journey from idea to published works. But in the meantime, there is a lot of time spent in preparation to that end. There is the period from idea, through WIP and possibly research, to the completed first draft. Author edit for grammar and punctuation; plot errors. All this time, waiting on you to complete the work.
Then perhaps a crit partner or beta reader comes into play, but most often your partners are fellow authors and they appreciate that time is of the essence. Read it, review it, send it back with hopefully only minor changes and minimal wait. Corrections, author edits again, final manuscript ready for the submission process.
This moves you onto the potential publisher stage. Haul out your detailed research of PP’s or ‘your publisher’ and queue the query letter. Which brings us to my favourite and yours too, I’m sure, the synopsis. This and blurb writing are my most dreaded tasks. As forewarned, I am way too wordy to sum up 147,000 words plus into 5 pages and actually make it seem interesting, and not end up reading like a preschool book, he went here and she did this. But you do what you have to do. More time spent fretting and keyboard smashing over the proper minimal wordage.
Query letter, synopsis, manuscript or partial, depending on your publisher’s requirements. Check. Send. Wait... Anywhere from 6 weeks to 10 months for evaluation. And if you are good and or lucky, a contract will be issued. Wait for it to arrive, sign, send back. Wait. Edits. 2nd edits, Line edits… and you wonder if release day will ever come. When it does you are excited but still you pause to see if your work is not only enjoyed but accepted. Reviews… critiques… sales?
And then, gluttons for punishment that we are, we start the process all over again with something new.
Congratulations… You’re an Author… Hurry up and wait.
Leave me a comment. Tell me what the hardest part is for you as an author, and readers tell me what makes you most impatient, whether waiting for a new book or the next release in a series, or something in your life that makes things difficult. Leave a valid e-mail address; I’ll be giving away one .pdf copy of Swap picked at random at the end of the day. Check back tomorrow and I will announce the winner on Thursday September 6, 2012
H K
Great post, HK, and so very, very true. Since I write MM erotic romance myself, I guess it's pretty obvious which part(s) are the hardest for me ;) Apart from that, yes, the waiting sucks (no pun intended...). The worst is definitely waiting for a response to a manuscript submission. When I first set out to get my books published, I was close to turning into a nervous wreckage and even now, one of the features I appreciate the most about my current publishers is that they respond fairly quickly. Of course, it's still a long way from that acceptance e-mail to release day, but those in-between steps are all ones I really look forward to. I even love edits - yeah, I am a bit of a masochist.
ReplyDeleteYou're definitely not alone with your impatience, I'm right there with you. However, I find it really helps to just keep busy and tackle the next story that wants to get written. For me, that's the best distraction ever.
I wish you all the best for Swap
Thank you, Sage. Yes, those hardest parts are obvious in your genre. And the blushing and giggling begins. :) I have to agree with you too, the minimal wait time at TEB is tops and much appreciated. I'm glad to know that the waiting gets easier with time and you're right, staying busy is the best solution. Thanks again for the good wishes, sending the best back to you as well.
DeleteIt's been a 4 year jorney for me...that's a long wait! But, now I am at edits with my publisher and my book comes out in March 2012. No matter how long it took, I am sure it will all be worth it in the end. (Although I have no patience either!)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you!
Thanks Brandi. It's good to know that I am not the only one short on patience. Good Luck with your book. And I hope time flies by until March for you.
ReplyDeleteHi, Heather,
ReplyDeleteIf you think waiting is hard now - before the days of epublishing, you had to wait literally years to see your book come out. Things happen really fast these days, by comparison. Especially if you're pubbed with TEB - they're like clockwork in getting back to authors, sending a contract, sending edits....
Anyway, a huge congratulations, and may you have many (short) waits in the future!
Hi Lisabet, thanks for stopping by. This is great.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what that was like before epublishing. Even sending out your entire manuscript snail mail and hope it arrived where it was supposed to, on time and in tact. I shudder at the thought. The back and forth. I appreciate the immediate response that the publisher has received the ms.
I would not have been published. That's a given.
And you are so right about TEB they are incredibly prompt and reliable in all areas.
Thanks again, Lisabet!