Kate Douglas Delivers The Essential Author 101
Kate Douglas
Kate Douglas is my guest today and she has managed to sum up, in one short blog, the insanity that is a writing life. If you are a writer, you’ll get it. If you want to be a writer, this is what it is really like. Welcome, Kate!
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Okay, I’m going to start this with a disclaimer. I do not, nor will I ever, know everything there is about publishing. However, now that I’m well into my fifth year of writing for Kensington, both as lead author for the erotic Aphrodisia line and a newbie at Zebra, I can honestly say I have learned a few tidbits about the business I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined.
Like how LITTLE of this job is actually about hiding away in your office and writing! And yes, this is all taken from my actual experiences to date.
For years, I’ve had a printed sheet beside my desk. It reads:
Make it work.
Get it done.
It’s all about the book.
Well, yes and no. Let’s start at the beginning—not the beginning of writing, but the beginning of publication. You’ve got the book done, you have an agent who has just secured an amazing deal for you, only it’s for four books and the proposal was for three, and the schedule you’ve agreed to means you’re going to have a new book to turn in every three months. It’s great—you write full time, the kids are grown and three months is more than enough time to get a book written, right?
DemonFire
Yeah…sure. If that’s all you do. The first one is done, so it’s off to the publisher and you start on number two, except number one comes back and needs revisions, so you put #2 aside and work on #1 and send it off again. Then you go back to #2, only you’ve forgotten where you left off, so you reread what you’ve written and get back into the story when you get an email requesting cover art information (character description, setting, etc.) for #1. You take care of that and get back to #2, when you get a phone call requesting the synopsis for that fourth book they want that you haven’t thought of yet, but because the story arc ends with the third one you proposed, you have to figure out how to fit #4 into the #3 slot and move #3 to #4.
So, you set book #2 aside—again—write a synopsis with new characters tied into the same series and send it first to your agent for her take (which means at least some revisions) and then to the editor who never quite gets around to approving it, but assumes that you know it’s just fine. Right? Well, it is and that’s okay, so you just keep doing your job.
That means you’ve gone back to #2, which now needs some tweaking so that when it’s time to write the new #3 you’re not sure your editor wants, you’ll have a natural segue into the new story and characters. Tweaking done, you’re back on course and the book is moving along really well, when copy edits for #1 arrive, and because production is on a tight schedule, you have three days instead of the ten your contract calls for to get them checked, approved, corrected and FedEx’d back to New York.
Copy edits turn out to be an absolute cluster with a copy editor who envisions herself as the next Jane Austin and has rewritten all your dialogue into “proper English.”
HellFire
Example—the scene where the hero is fighting a demon with nothing more than a broken sword while trying to protect the heroine from certain death has been written—by you, like this:
“Duck, dammit. He’s gonna…oh shit.” He rolled, twisted and popped up behind the scaly bastard. “You fucking sonofa…”
The demon pivoted, swung one massive, talon-studded paw, and howled as Lucian rolled again, just out of reach.
“C’mon,” he teased. “Just try it. I dare ya.”
And “corrected” by your ever-helpful copy editor, to read thusly:
“Move quickly. He’s going to get you.” He rolled away, far enough to get behind the demon, and cursed.
The demon turned around and swung his huge paw, but he missed. Lucian jumped out of danger.
“Come get me,” he said. “I dare you.”
Don’t laugh. This does happen. My very first edits for DemonFire used up two entire packages of post it notes where I marked every spot in the almost 500 page manuscript where I had to “Stet” the changes.
(STET is the magical tool that keeps authors from hunting down and killing helpful copy editors who overstep their bounds—it means “Leave it the way I wrote it, or die.”)
So, the copy edits are done and you’re back to writing #2 again, but you have to reread to get back into the story when you hear from you editor with a request that you deal with some promotional stuff the publisher wants from you. Promotion is another thing I didn’t understand entirely when I first began writing. There are a LOT of books out there, and if you want yours to sell, you have to tell readers about them. That means social networking, blogging, paying for book trailers, emailing readers, doing a newsletter, running the occasional contest, signing stock in bookstores, scheduling book signings, talks at libraries and for book clubs, attending conferences, sending out promotional material you’ve had to design and have printed and, oh yeah, finishing the next book, and damn it, but look at the calendar? Where the HELL did the month go?
So, you’re beginning to panic but the book is almost done and you might just squeak in by deadline when “SURPRISE!” FedEx is back at the front door with the page proofs for book #1 and you have to put #2 aside again and check the proofs for formatting and typos that might have been missed in the copy edit stage. You read them twice, just to be sure you’ve caught everything and send them back to NY, and FINALLY you’re down to the last chapter of #2. And then you write “the end,” and you pour a glass of wine and kick back and sigh.
Except you’re not really done because you still need to send it to your beta readers, the trusted critique partners you’ve got who read to make sure the book makes sense, because with all those interruptions it’s impossible to keep track of what you’ve just written.
And a week later it comes back, and five out of the seven think you need to rewrite stuff—only they all pick different stuff that needs fixin’. And you do what they say, because you trust them, and then you send the book off—overnight FedEx because you’re going to miss the deadline if you don’t, and you finally get to crawl into bed with a clean conscience and nothing pressing.
Until the next morning, when you get up and turn on the computer, open to a fresh, clean document page, and start the next book.
And yes, this is what I do, only I do it with two different series, which means skipping from one world to the next between books. It means learning to write with total concentration in the moment, knowing your characters and your story inside out, even when they decide to do one-eighties on you in the midst of the project, and loving what you do, because, take it from someone who submitted and got rejected for twenty years before breaking into this business, you’ve got to love it or it’ll make you nuts.
Come to think of it, even when you DO love it, it makes you nuts. And that is precisely why we write. We’re all a bit crazy and way left (or in some cases right) of center. And I doubt there’s an author out there who doesn’t love every crazy moment of it.
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Kate Douglas writes The DemonSlayers mass market series for Kensington Zebra, and is the lead author for Kensington’s erotic romance line, Aphrodisia. Her popular Wolf Tales series launched the Aphrodisia imprint in January 2006. The eighteenth Wolf Tales/Sexy Beast book released in March. Her first in the DemonSlayers series, DemonFire, debuted on February 23. Upcoming titles include Wolf Tales 10 in July 2010, the second DemonSlayers book, HellFire in September 2010, along with a DemonSlayers novella in the Nocturnal anthology with Jacquelyn Frank, also a September release.
You can reach Kate at kate@katedouglas.com
Friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/katedouglas.author
Read first chapter excerpts of all her books at www.katedouglas.com
Please leave a comment – One lucky commenter will win one of Kate’s books!
Kate – I don’t know why I’m laughing so hard, when clearly I should be sobbing and tossing my computer out the window. But this just underlines something I’ve come to believe — writers are nuts. In a good way, but still — we do this BY CHOICE? And my critique partners and I only DREAM of getting to the point where we have to worry about copy editors mauling our words. (Seriously? Does the copy editor who made those changes ever read this genre??)
Hang in there. You have lots of faithful readers who appreciate all the effort and hair-pulling you go through to bring us the books on our bedside tables. Thanks so much for giving me a much-needed laugh!!
We are nuts, Becke. Every last one of us.
But in a good way. Right? Right???
#3 Kate Douglas
Kate, thanks for the information. I may write a book someday and this information will assist in that quest. Mo
LMAO!!!! Now I know why I love you so much. But seriously if you had time on your hands do you think it make a huge difference. I do much better when I have several things going on at once. Give me more time and then I think to much just make a mess of it all.
Love the blog and it made me smile with much laughter and I needed that today.
hugs,
Tracey
I am a recent fan of Kate Douglas’s. I contacted her last month to do a review on Demonfire, which I absolutely loved, and she happily sent a copy and various other gifts. After reading the guest blog, I realize now, even more, just how stressful an author’s work may be. I only review books…for now I think I will keep it that way. Thanks Lisa and Kate.
xoxo
Just checking in to see who’s been by, and yes, Becke, it’s exactly the way I said, and the great thing is only crazy people do this sort of thing on purpose, so it’s okay! And besides, if you weren’t already nuts, you would be after a few years at this job. Good luck to you.
And Mo, thanks for stopping by, m’dear. Sorry I haven’t kept in touch better–see above!
Tracey, you’re right. I really do better amid chaos, and if it doesn’t already exist, I create my own.
Steven, now do you see why I gave you a raincheck on the interview? Still want to do it–one of these days.
I just wanted to add how much I loved Demonfire. This is a new genre for me but now I’m hooked. I’m looking forward to reading Hellfire!
Kate
Thanks for including this blog on your newsletter. Wow, I can’t even imagine. I prefer my end of the “writing”…Go to the store, buy the book, ignore housework, read book.
Have a great time in Ohio.
Catherine
LOL…Catherine, there’s a lot to be said for your side of the process! I’m an avid reader, and I find that I get a little desperate for my reading fix when my schedule gets crazy.
Catslady, thank you so much! I’m working on StarFire now–the third book in the series.
I’m with Kate. After finishing a book, I really get crazy for some reading time.
I dabble in erotic scenes, and cannot imagine having to write a whole book!! my couple of pages (only for myself to enjoy) takes me forever cuz i am never satisfied. always correcting and rereading. i am overjoyed that kate is brave enuf to tackle this feat. she excels that is for sure.
Hi Kate,
What a great article! Thanks for sharing. I always look forward to the fruits of your labor!
Happy writing,
Lea Ellen B.
Terry–if you think about a book as a whole lot of scenes all stuck together, it’s not nearly as intimidating. When I wrote the first book in the DemonSlayers series, which needed to be between 110-120,000 words long (Wolf Tales run around 85,000) I was freaking out over the length. Then I realized that if I wrote 2500 words a day, which is a very easy day for me (I generally do around 5000) that I could write the book in less than two months. Breaking it down into “doable” lengths makes it a lot easier to face! And I hear ya on the “correcting.” I go back every day and reread what I wrote the day before and always end up changing and fixing and tweaking. So glad you like what I end up with!
Thank you Lea-Ellen! I blog so often and I always wonder if readers just think I’m totally over the top, around the bed or just odd…
Hmmm…that was supposed to read “around the BEND,” but considering what I write, I guess bed works…
This was just brilliant and I especially loved the idea of STET as a smoking gun.
If only more folk realised that this was the reality of writing, not sitting around in a summerhouse, sipping wine and tapping out the occasional pretty word on an ancient typewriter… *rolls eyes*
I still want the summer house…
Me, too, Lisa, though doubt I’d have time to use it! LOL…the only thing that is true is that I often do spend days in my jammies, but only because I don’t have time to get dressed. I’ve gone for days w/o ever stepping outside, and we live in a beautiful place in the mountains, surrounded by tall pines and wonderful walking trails. I spend most of my life writing, but then I much prefer my fantasy world to the real one!
Fiona, Stet is just about the only weapon an author has that gives complete and absolute satisfaction! Btw, I have a character named Fiona in StarFire. LOVE the name!
If anyone asks me “Why does it take so long for my favorite author to have another book out?” I can reference this post. Love all the peeks behind the curtain to the final production. To paraphrase the Irish blessing “May you meet your daily word count. May your editor use pink ink. May all your edits go smoothly.” Have fun at RT.
Lindsey, I love your Writer’s Blessing! May I quote you?
Lisa, yes you may quote my Writer’s Blessing. Thanks
Lindsey, it’s not always that nuts for everyone–most authors are smart enough not to book themselves as heavily–though I’ve never had a time when it wasn’t. I think the biggest surprise to me was how time seemed to speed up when I was working to deadlines. Weeks fly by like hours–it’s probably because I’m so lost in the books as I write them, but the last five years have passed like the blink of an eye.
I love your blessing–especially the “pink ink.” Would be much more pleasant than her terribly authoritative red pencil!
ll I have to say is that I LOVE reading books, But I will never attempt to write one. Never been a dream of mine! I will add though WOW all the stuff you all go through to get a book done is amazing I will forever be appreciative for all the work you all do!
LOL…all I ever WANTED to do was write books, so I certainly can’t complain now that I’m getting to do what I love. It’s just that sometimes I look at my life and sort of shake my head and giggle. It’s truly nuts! It is, however, very gratifying to know that readers appreciate the effort it takes to write a book. thank you!
Ha! And you didn’t even get to the part where the sink backs up, the dog barfs, and somebody hasn’t picked the zucchini in two weeks. Real life? What means this “real life”?
You have time to plant zucchini? I’m impressed! I haven’t seen the grandkids in over a month and they live just an hour away. Most of the time, I have no life outside of my fantasy world, though the only “real world” stuff I honestly miss IS time with the grands. Going down this Saturday if it kills me! But c’mon, Jessa…you love it, right?
I tried planting a garden. Everything died from neglect.
Oh, Kate. I’m tired just reading this. LOL. But yes, you are sooo right. We’re all a little nuts to be in this crazy business. Thank goodness for our sense of humor.
Ya gotta have a sense of humor. Either that or a very stout rope for when you want to hang yourself…I keep telling folks, this is not a career for sissies!
Well this is freakin me out. I have about 30,000 words written on my first book that will hopefully one day get published, but after reading this I’m just a tad terrified. But with 2 kids and a step kid(partime)running around it will probably be five years before i get it done anyway. Its hard to get anything done, and there’s no way I would be able to do all that and see my kids. kinda discouraging
Your amazing though, keep it up
Kirstie,
DON’T PANIC!
I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old at home with me every day, all day, and my husband is in the military. My first book, The Path to Freedom, took about 4 years to write and was published in 2008. It took me 1.5 years to get the second book written. A Taste of Liberty was published last month. I have a contract on my third book, which only took a few months to finish and my 4th book took even less time. It is a fantastic cycle that starts when you get readers encouraging you to finish a book. It just doesn’t feel like work. You’re busy as all get out but it is so exciting!
Take it from a fellow mom with little ones still at home – you can do this and still have time with your kids.
-Lisa
No need to freak out–most authors are smart enough not to sign contracts for four novels and two novellas in a single year… and today is a great example. I hit my weekly goal writing last night and ended at 80,000 words on a 120,000 word story, so took the day off today to do some cooking and bake cookies for my husband for the week I’m away next week at the Romantic Times conventions. And wouldn’t you know it, page proofs for my September novella Crystal Dreams showed up around three. Need to do them tonight so I can fedex them back tomorrow, since I’m leaving Monday. There’s always something!
Ok little less freaked out now. I just hope if the first one ever gets published I can actually quit my job and write full time. I guess I’m hoping to make good money on just the first one lol. Well I guess we’ll see. If you have any pointers for me though that would be great lol
First pointer –
Don’t write for the money.
Write for the love of the story.
What Lisa said. Very few authors actually make a living writing, and while I do, if you were to figure the hours I work vs. the income I make, I’m right around minimum wage. The point is, I love writing, so spending seven days a week, sometimes fifteen to eighteen hours a day writing, isn’t as awful as it would be if I was doing something I didn’t like…like flipping burgers in a fast food place!
I wrote when my kids were small, but I didn’t have any luck selling. Of course, I was also working as a newspaper reporter, and I found it difficult to segue from non-fiction reporting to fiction romance. I signed my first NY contract when I was 55 years old, and I don’t regret a bit that I was that old. I’m 60 now, having the time of my life and following the career I’ve always known I wanted. I think the best advice I can give you is to stick with it, keep improving your craft and never lose your love of writing.
I guess we just have to be thankful for having the energy to keep up with the crazy schedule before we get too old and crochety (or older and crochety-er)!
I do write because I love it, I’ve always loved it. When I was about 13 my mom bought me a typewriter for my birthday cause we couldn’t afford a computer and it’s what I wanted. It would just be alot easier if I didn’t have to work at the same time. I think about the book while I’m at work, I even take a notebook with me everywhere I go, I just get frustrated that I can’t write all the time. I enjoy and love my kids to death I just wish I had a pause button sometimes lol
I don’t know if this helps at all, but I found my productivity surged when I got a smartphone (second hand Palm Treo) and “Documents to Go”. It is Microsoft Word for my phone. I can write wherever I am and when I sync my phone to my computer it automatically updates my manuscript. I used to keep a notebook too but a notebook means transcribing your notes and effectively doubling the work. (Like you, I think a “pause” button for the kids would be awesome.
Thanks to you both so much, you really helped me out. good luck to both of you in the future.
LOL…well, Betty, I’m pretty old and crochety, but luckily I’ve still got the energy to keep doing what I love. I think that’s the most important part of this–you have got to love what you do, and the excitement of facing each new day and each step in the story will keep you going.
I think we ALL want a pause button! Wouldn’t that be great? The kids will grow up so fast–I can remember my frustration, wanting to work on the book and having to haul the kids here and there and everywhere, and then they were driving themselves, and then they were grown and gone…and now they’re hauling their OWN kids around! It feels as if it happened in the blink of an eye, but I never gave up on my dream of writing, and you won’t either. Not if it means this much to you. Sometimes things just need to be postponed for awhile. Good luck!
I’ve written stories since high school for my friends, my family, my students, or someone that simply inspires me. To give you an idea how long ago that was, my grandson will be twenty three this coming August.I was blessed a few years ago to have some of my dialogue performed on stage by a local dance ensemble. Writing can be therapeutic,but when on such a tight schedule as you describe Kate,it seems almost impossible to comprehend if your books weren’t out there speaking for themselves.You make it seem easy. Yet I know from my own experience, it can be rough and probably the reason I get cold feet when the time comes to consider submitting it to a publisher. It’s obvious one has to love writing in order to hang in there with all the expectations from agents, publishers, family, and your readers.I’ve told you before and I don’t have a problem telling you again.I admire your ability to create wonderful characters and story lines.Your tenacity in the craziness that goes with it.Your obvious sense of humor in your stories and when we exchange correspondence.It is quite refreshing to someone like me that prides herself with a sense of the absurd, but most of all your patience. With all the responsibilities you have coming at you from all directions, you’re an inspiration to those of us,who complain about feeling snowed under with our own day to day madness. LOL, it makes me realize it’s OK to be a little nuts and still be sane.
Thanks so much, Karen. You know I always enjoy our correspondence. (I’m convinced we must be related because we both seem to appreciate the same sort of absurdity. Scary stuff!) I’m really enjoying the fact that so many of you who have left comments are writers yourselves–whether you’re published or not, only another writer really appreciates the drive that makes us (figuratively speaking)put pen to paper. Of course, if you’re a serious reader, you understand as well the amount of effort that goes into creating a believable story. I love the imaginary world and the opportunity to share my vision of it with readers. The fact mine tends to be a bit warped tells me an awful lot about the folks who like my books…but we don’t need to go there!
Now I’m off to do page proofs. One of those wonderful little FedEx surprises I wasn’t expecting today! Ya gotta love it!
Thank you so much for guest blogging here, Kate.
Lindsey Ekland is the winner of our drawing for one of Kate’s books.
This was a wonderful blog and a great conversation in the comments! Please feel free to continue chatting. I hate letting a good conversation go.
For those of you who will be at the Romantic Time Booklovers’ Convention, be sure to look Kate up there!
Thanks for the opportunity, Lisa, and thanks to all of you who stopped by. Lindsey, congratulations, and when you contact Lisa, please let her know what book you’d like for me to send. I hate to mail one you might already have if you’re a regular reader of mine. If you’re not, here’s hoping to get you hooked!
Awesome post, Kate!!! And can I just say, WHEW! What a schedule.
Thanks, Darynda! It is definitely nuts. But fun! WAY too much fun!