4 down. 6 to go.

[mizkit]

I've just finished the rough draft for HOUSE OF CARDS. It came in at 473 pages, longer than I initially expected, but still with plenty of room for revisions without worrying about going too far over

Comments

[mcurry]

Jeepers. I mean, I'd heard it all before, but seeing it laid out in one big post like that really brings home just how....ummm....unprecedented your writing career is. *grin*

I'm glad you ended up with an agent who could work with that, rather than one who tried to push you to just write in one narrow genre, either because they thought it'd be best for your career or because they didn't trust you when you said you could handle doing so much at once. In other words, an agent who could help you take advantage of the great opportunities you've had, instead of holding you back. While I don't disagree that raleva31's post is good advice for how many writers should plan their careers, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution that'll work for everyone.

[matociquala]

what you said. *g*

[mizkit]

I'm glad you ended up with an agent who could work with that

I have an insanely good agent. She's been dedicated, spot-on about revisions, genuinely concerned about things like, oh, me signing on for 10 books in 30 months and not burning myself out, answers all my dumb questions with patience and fortitude, and is just generally everything you could possibly want an agent to be. I am so very, very glad to work with her. :)

[autopope]

For my part ...

I'm in over my head. I've got a three month extension on HALTING STATE, and I need it. On Monday I've got to put the galley proofs of THE JENNIFER MORGUE in the mail. By September 1st, I have to email a final draft of Merchant Princes #4 to David Hartwell. And I still have to pull a rabbit out of the hat vis-a-vis HALTING STATE, which is 60% written in first draft (but I think I unfroze it a little while taking time off in Australia).

The novel I really want to be writing is THE FULLER MEMORANDUM (sequel to THE JENNIFER MORGUE and THE ATROCITY ARCHIVES), but my editor at Orbit will probably murder me if I don't hand them a space opera instead.

And I just don't have the bloody energy to write 3 books a year any more. One and a half is pushing it, and I should be doing two. Sometime in the next year I am going to be way overdue on something, I just know it. But by then I'll have about 8-10 books in print and I can begin slowing down

[matociquala]

I'm fortunate enough to have a one-book year this year and another one-book year next year, but there's going to be a buttload of revisions.

eeee.

(And we love you, Catie. Just saying. *g*)

[mizkit]

Oh, well, you're still going great guns, and every time I look at your blog I tremble in fear at the 2343098670 things you've got going, so it's easy to assume you have nineteen books due this month. :)

[matociquala]

hee. it just feels like it.

I'm trying to get rid of the stuff that's written.

[peartreealley]

I find that all both inspiring and a little terrifying. *laughs* Right now I'm comfortable writing 2-3 books a year while holding a full-time job, but not all of them are getting revised to a pro level (at least I assume, since I haven't managed to tell anything :D)

But what it shows me is that if I could do this gig full time, I'd need to write 2-3 books (assuming they go to pro level and all sell), to, well, not be bored.

In order to do that, I think I need multiple genres. But we'll see.

Gotta sell the first book first ;) Er, and find an agent.

Thanks for posting this--it's good to see how another prolific writer handles things :D

[mizkit]

Yes, well, don't forget that I didn't even touch on needing to deal with revisions, line edits, and galleys. :)

[peartreealley]

Oh, I know. And I also know that in many ways I look through this all with rose-colored glasses and can only theorize based on other examples.

But I figure if I can write 2-3 novels a year (with some revisions) with a full time job, if I got those 11-12 hours of the day back (which is what my day-job plus commute takes up), I could also handle revisions, line edits and galleys :D

[mizkit]

You'll probably handle it just fine, yeah. Although I have discovered it's far easier to screw around when you don't have the rigor of a day job forcing you to write during certain hours Or Else. Mind you, that's a Catch-22 I can live with. :)