Jennifer L. Armentrout's Blog, page 34
September 4, 2013
Iza Made a Big Girl Decision
I made a big decision today. Something that is huge for me considering that when it comes to writing, I can be a bit of an anal obsessive workhouse. If I’m not writing, I have not-writing remorse, which is kind of like buyer’s remorse. It’s because I LOVE writing and literally have no problem writing every day, which is probably a good thing, because with the exception of the time I took off to move, I pretty much write seven days a week.
In the last three years, I’ve written 24 books, which is about an average of 8 books a year. I can on most occasions turn edits/revisions around in less than 48 hours because I hate when they sit in my inbox glaring at me every time I look at my email. Usually I can finish a 105,000-word novel in about 20 some days, give or take a few without killing myself. But lately, the last couple of books I’ve written has taken me anywhere from a month and a half to about two months. And yes, I know that’s still super fast but because I usually write them so much faster, somehow I end up feeling like I’m slacking. Which is stupid. I know. I feel like I need to insert a Forest Gump quote here: “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Something happened today that was kind of an eye opening experience for me. I’m about a month into writing this book, and of course, I feel like I’m not writing FAST enough. By 2:30pm EST, I’d written roughly 3600 words and I was feeling pretty darn good about this… until I realized I still had about 10 more chapters to write and I’d set a deadline which required me to actually turn the book in ahead of schedule, because for some odd reason, my anal obsessive brain looks to do things like that. The 3600 words didn’t feel so much like a success and I felt crappy about it, because in my head, I should almost be done by now.
And then it struck me. I’m giving myself shit for having only written 3600 words by 2:30pm. For reals? Here I am, willing to rush myself through one book to just get to the next book that needs to be written, because ya’ll know, that does excellent things for quality, instead of giving myself ample time to finish a book. Approaching writing that way is stressful. Especially when you don’t need to.
If smacking myself didn’t look strange, I’d do it. With glee.
This was such an eye opening experience for me, and the most cliché thing popped into my head. Writing is not a race. It’s not even sprint. IT DOESN’T INVOLVE RUNNING OR JOGGING OF ANY TYPE. Thank God for that. I don’t know what writing can be compared to. It doesn’t really matter.
I looked at what books I needed to write (which are all books under contract and are in a certain order. For example, I cannot write two paranormals back to back) and looked at the schedule I had created for myself. It required that I write 3 more books this year. I also had to keep in mind expected edits, all the upcoming book promotion I had with lots and lots of travel. I had this schedule that left little room for anything other than 10-hour writing days of 6,000 words or more.
And I asked myself if this was really necessary. The answer was not so much.
So I decided to do something major today. I readjusted my deadlines, giving me breathing room to slow down. What that means, and the point of this post, is that it doesn’t affect books with already scheduled release dates. Those books have been long since written and are part of the 24 books.
For example: Unchained (09/13), Trust In Me (10/13),, Sentinel (11/13),, Tempting the Bodyguard (11/13), Bitter Sweet Love (12/13), Be With Me (2/14), White Hot Kiss (3/14), and Don’t Look Back (4/14) are not in a way, shape or form affected by this. If those release dates change, it has nothing to do with my writing schedule.
And the push back on my novel deadlines on books to yet to have a firm release date probably also won’t be effected by this. But if they do cause the books to move a month or two out, then I’m sure all of you can be understanding of this and would prefer to wait a month to get a book I had more time to write.
I hope that clears up any questions about my earlier post. That’s it for now. I leave you with this.
Allure Cover Reveal
I have a beautiful cover to show off on my blog today for Allure, the second book in the Hoodoo Apprentice series by the wonderfully talented Lea Nolan.
Isn’t it gorgeous?
Worst. Summer. Ever.
Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper’s sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries.
Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Face with the horror of a soul-eating boohag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all.
Allure releases October 1st
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Praise for Conjure!
“Richly filled with exquisite imagery, a compelling story, and a strong, smart heroine, Conjure will keep you up way past your bedtime.” ~ Trinity Faegen, author of The Mephisto Covenant series
“A true adventure, complete with pirates, romance, a flesh-eating curse, and ancient magic. I couldn’t put it down!” ~ Inara Scott, author of The Talents (Delcroix Academy) series
“If there is one book teens and adults should have on their must read list, Conjure is it! Fans of young love and adventure will hurry to the end of each chapter, in anticipation of what will happen next. Unfolding at an easy pace, this tale is magical and spellbinding. Nolan is one to watch!” ~ RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars Top Pick
“Conjure is a sweet, adventure-packed romp for young teen readers… There are pirates, lost treasure, curses, and ancient curses, chases, narrow escapes, and secret letters galore.” ~ New York Journal of Books
“This is an unexpected read: exciting, dangerous, adventurous – everything we want from a good book. Yet Nolan puts that creative twist on all the elements, making Conjure something special. Conjure is recommended, 4 out of 5 stars.” ~ Teen Librarian’s Toolbox
About the Author
Lea Nolan couldn’t read until the third grade. After a lot of hard work she finally got the hang of it and quickly learned the best way to get out of doing chores was to tell her parents she was reading. Soon she was hooked, devouring books by Roald Dahl, E.B. White, Judy Blume, C.S. Lewis, and anything with a shiny Newberry Award sticker on the cover. Books provided a portal to enchanted lands where anything was possible and characters relied on their wits to wiggle out of sticky situations. Today, even though she’s all grown up, Lea writes the kinds of stories she sought as a teen–smart paranormals with bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history. She holds degrees in history and women’s studies concentrating in public policy and spent fifteen years as a health policy analyst and researcher. She lives in Maryland with her heroically supportive husband and three clever children, who’ve figured out how to get out of doing their chores.
