tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post6102215198658468088..comments2023-10-31T08:08:46.587-06:00Comments on Apparently !: Writing Under ContractAprilynne Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542901402256938872noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-41389698192550357582008-01-15T11:10:00.000-07:002008-01-15T11:10:00.000-07:00Aprilynne, I had never really thought about the pr...Aprilynne, I had never really thought about the pressures that must go into writing "the next book." I hope to get there someday. Kenny gave me the link to your blog and I hope to learn a lot about what I hope to be a future career for me! Best wishes on 1000 words a day! <BR/><BR/>Geoff Dietrichjust Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00766878694127463233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-52392283720938034412008-01-14T22:39:00.000-07:002008-01-14T22:39:00.000-07:00Congrats! I have had my first two books sold to CF...Congrats! I have had my first two books sold to CFI. I'm currently writing the second book of a series (the first book about Alfred Edersheim is out in Feb.) but for me writing under contract is very challenging. (They want the rough draft yesterday.) The most difficult part is keeping my production up. I'm such a perfectionist, the pressure makes it actually take longer.Christine Thackerayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05551874470033926037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-71320005944907236762008-01-14T10:39:00.000-07:002008-01-14T10:39:00.000-07:00Josephine, have you ever heard the saying, "Expect...Josephine, have you ever heard the saying, "Expect the best, but prepare for the worst?"<BR/><BR/>Life makes no guarantees, but you have to calculate the risks against the rewards. Aprilynne did not just get a significant deal for the book she'd already written--she got a significant deal for her willingness to commit to see a long-term project through to completion. Naturally, there are risks involved, but she's going to work against the fruition of such risks.<BR/><BR/>Expecting a bumpy ride might scare you away from seizing valuable opportunities. I have never been the optimist that my wife (Aprilynne) is, but we have learned through experience that if we work hard--even through adversity--we can accomplish amazing things. <BR/><BR/>When we got married, she was finishing a degree in Creative Writing, she had never written a book, and I was just starting work on an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. We prepared for a bumpy ride--and sometimes it has been bumpy indeed. But we worked hard on smoothing those bumps, and three children and six years later, we can't stop talking about how fun our life is. By the summer of 2009, Aprilynne will be a published author with a major young adult imprint, and I will be graduating from law school.<BR/><BR/>That doesn't mean there won't be further challenges, but overcoming those challenges will bear further reward. Life is work. Being willing to make commitments and endure those "bumps" that do crop up along the road is far preferable to cowering in fear of theoretical problems that may never arise.<BR/><BR/>And between the inevitable bumps--party!!!Kennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409210638176004680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-10376487192796838152008-01-14T09:17:00.000-07:002008-01-14T09:17:00.000-07:00Aprilynne, I'm happy for your success, but there a...Aprilynne, I'm happy for your success, but there are a lot of writers whose first books don't sell, and they're dropped by their publisher. <BR/><BR/>Your publisher may commit to putting out four books regardless of how well they do, but they might stop promoting you if your first book doesn't sell.<BR/><BR/>And you're stuck with them if they get pissy on you. <BR/><BR/>I do hope it all works out. <BR/><BR/>But there's not enough money in the world to get me to sign even a two book contract. I'm not going to make any long term commitments with anybody because I don't want to be stuck, and I don't want somebody looking over my shoulder as I write a first draft. <BR/><BR/>Did you see that Ken Bruen just got fired by his agent? He's a legend in the crime writing world, with a gazillion books out and in print and now he's twisting in the breeze. And look at Tom Wolfe switching publishers - there are no guarantees in this biz at any stage of your career.<BR/><BR/>Every writer needs to expect to have a bumpy ride.Josephine Damianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952030380866201241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-36143021847198777612008-01-14T02:02:00.000-07:002008-01-14T02:02:00.000-07:00Perfecting, writing and revising the second book s...Perfecting, writing and revising the second book sends things up to a higher level. It's hard not to second guess yourself. What I need to do is unplug myself from the internet LOL...ORIONhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01534064935115027523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-1224158567033713572008-01-12T13:01:00.000-07:002008-01-12T13:01:00.000-07:00I can completely relate to this as I just starting...I can completely relate to this as I just starting writing the synopsis for a sequel for my editor . . . sooo different from writing a synopsis for shopping-to-publishers. Good feeling. Scary feeling. Strange feeling!Maggie Stiefvaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842527558335640093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-69884700209615223082008-01-12T10:29:00.000-07:002008-01-12T10:29:00.000-07:00I am amazed at your ability to write under 'contra...I am amazed at your ability to write under 'contract'. In the movies or tv, writers get writer's block and they draw a blank. In your case, though, your imagination and creativity seem like the water in our kitchen faucet, it's always there when you need it and plenty of it. It just keeps coming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-88598165750791901082008-01-11T18:41:00.000-07:002008-01-11T18:41:00.000-07:00I'm finding all of your writer posts since you got...I'm finding all of your writer posts since you got your deal to be really interesting and informative. It's a neat look into the 'other side', so to speak. <BR/><BR/>And your second book will go just fine, I bet. :)Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16069519441705275973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-28805634576760680792008-01-11T09:21:00.000-07:002008-01-11T09:21:00.000-07:00Amen. I've so been where you are, writing a book u...Amen. I've so been where you are, writing a book under contract, and the pressure is hard to describe, isn't it? All the stages an author goes through in this business are unique in their own right and I find myself constantly growing, which is a wonderful thing.<BR/><BR/>Have fun writing!Holly Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02336717023482533615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-72418314431099233312008-01-11T07:31:00.000-07:002008-01-11T07:31:00.000-07:00Great post and great point. I think any author wo...Great post and great point. I think any author would feel that pressure to prouduce after their first sale: whether the second book is under contract or not (the biggest difference is just the time to write it, but that can be negotiated up front). <BR/><BR/>It's also nice having that next book under contract because you can talk to your editor and agent along the way and get feedback as you're writing. That way you don't go through the whole process only to find out the editor wanted something different.Carrie Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751498516235657725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-91833167312038749652008-01-11T07:17:00.000-07:002008-01-11T07:17:00.000-07:00That's very interesting, Aprilynne. Thanks for sha...That's very interesting, Aprilynne. Thanks for sharing. It gives me something to think about as I query agents. Keep sharing! :*)Tyhitia Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070000168178880911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-69869824037539788332008-01-11T06:12:00.000-07:002008-01-11T06:12:00.000-07:00I've thought about that a great deal, myself. If i...I've thought about that a great deal, myself. If it ever happens, I wonder how I will deal with that kind of pressure. Hopefully I can be as upbeat and optimistic as you are. :)David L. McAfeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832559731007346034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-55721336633169233542008-01-10T19:49:00.000-07:002008-01-10T19:49:00.000-07:00That was a huge thing for me, Angelle. I had all f...That was a huge thing for me, Angelle. I had all four books of the series plotted out before my book sold and i was hoping against hope that i could get a four-book-deal so I could be sure that I would be able to put out the whole story arc.Aprilynne Pikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17542901402256938872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-43541293690112178172008-01-10T19:46:00.000-07:002008-01-10T19:46:00.000-07:00i always thought that writing a book under contrac...i always thought that writing a book under contract might in some ways be more pressure, just because, well, if a book you need to shop for sucks, it basically just sucks for you (and your agent, if it's not your first book i guess). but with someone already invested in you, you already have that much more to live up to. you can't just shelf it and be like, okay, that didn't work, i guess i'll try something new. you're legally bound to produce something of worth. tough. but it's exciting that you're working on a series bc it gives you so much room to play and grow the series and plot out so far in advance bc u know you WILL be able to do all of it!Karissa Chenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040462951542159071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-58966734005387554022008-01-10T18:31:00.000-07:002008-01-10T18:31:00.000-07:00That's fascinating, and it makes total sense, too....That's fascinating, and it makes total sense, too. Congrats on your four-book deal right off the bat. That's really impressive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27889919.post-20153500712235842622008-01-10T18:22:00.000-07:002008-01-10T18:22:00.000-07:00Too many exciting things going on in your life.......Too many exciting things going on in your life.....Isn't it wonderful?!!<BR/><BR/>:)KCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com