There's writing and then there's writing

Odd disconnect for me yesterday.

I went to a professional writing conference -- my 'other' writing, one for technical writers. I've spent the last 3 years going to fiction writing conferences, so this was totally different.

I found it very energizing to listen to people doing research in the field and to talk with others who are coping with very similar problems that we're coping with. I think I've been to so many fiction writing conferences lately and have been focusing on promo and 'business', this was refreshing to talk about writing. These people just want to research and present information in the most appropriate and appealing way -- which is similar to what I'm doing in my 'other' career. It was great to find the similarities and the differences.

Now back to the 'the other' writing'.

we have a cover!

Yea! The cover for my first book. Man, I was sweating bullets over this cover. An author has very little input into the design, so I wasn't sure what I'd get. I've seen some bad covers in my day, and there's a story about a writer who hated the guy on her cover so much she put a sticky-smiley-face on him at a book signing [which sold more books, of course]. I was so worried I'd get something that didn't reflect what was in the book. I made my requests and hoped for the best.

So when I got this I was happy. It's got all the clues: the computer, the brownies, the coffee cup on the desk, the wycinanki (that's 'paper-cutting art' to you folks who haven't read the galley proof).

The other tricky part of this is that I write for 3 publishers. I'm hoping they will all look somewhat similar. I know, I know -- what are the odds? But I can hope, right?

For now, I am basking in the glow of my first cover.

Finally ... a direction!

I mean for my latest WIP (Work in Progress).

I've been sort of struggling lately, not sure where it was going. This happens sometimes ... I get some characters in my mind, a few scenes, and I start to put it down on paper but I don't know where it's going.

This one had me worried because it's a time travel book, so the plot is always a bit more complicated than a straightforward murder story. I wasn't sure where it was going, but I've got it whipped now. I know how it's going to end.

Whew. I was worried for a while. Now that I know how it's going to end, I can march forward to that point. Now I have a time frame and I know my characters have to be put into certain situations in order for it to end as I want.

Now it's just a matter of getting it all written.

Easier said than done ...

Making contact ....

I saw a writing friend the other day who'd moved away but was back for a brief visit. She's signed a couple of writing contracts with my publisher (Cerridwen) and is just getting started on the whirlwind.

We had a good old chat, talking about the changes we've experienced since we talked last. She used to be gung-ho to get published by a New York house and be a 'real' writer. But now that's she gotten her feet wet with a small press, she's starting to rethink that decision.

I think this is interesting because she's feeling the same sort of -- "hmm, I've accomplished this. Is it enough?" -- feeling that I've had. I think we focus so hard on that big milestone of getting published that when we accomplish it (or almost accomplish it, in my case, since I have a month or two to go) we're left with a sense of "What's next"?

I have to admit, it was a relief to hear it from someone else. And it was lots of fun to talk Publishing with someone who's with the same house, who has similar questions, and who is on the same journey I am.

That's a side benefit of all of this ... the people you meet along the way.

Why do I do this kind of stuff???

Why do I set myself up for this stress?

I signed up for 2 pitch sessions at the RWA National Conference.

I promised myself I wouldn't do it this year. Why do I need to? I've got 5 books coming out, I've got 2 editors who love my work, I've got assurances that more will be bought.

So why did I sign up with another publisher? Well, I know why -- I think it doesn't hurt to have many irons in the fire, and this is a good publisher, one that other writers just LOVE. It's not a big NY house, but the more I write, the more I feel I'm probably happy with that.

And the agent is a solid agency, and maybe they'll want to represent me and push me into that NY spotlight (where I'm not sure I want to be.)

But prepping for it and preparing my notes and practicing ... oi, why do I do it? I was staring at the online signup form and thought, "I could skip this. I don't have to ..." And almost without trying, my fingers moused that little cursor to checkbox and BAM before I knew it, I was signed up.

Oh well. I can add the pitch to my "June things to do". And really, practice meeting total strangers doesn't hurt, right?

I must be a sucker for punishment ....