Jennifer Niven's Blog, page 555

The Things That Help Me Write (or: Thank God for "Supernatural")

When Judy Garland was just a talented teenager at MGM, she worked a very demanding schedule– sometimes 18-hour days, one after another. To keep her going and to ensure she would be able to perform, MGM supplied her with sleeping pills so that she could rest between scenes, and then, when it was time to [...]

The Things That Help Me Write (or: Thank God for “Supernatural”)

When Judy Garland was just a talented teenager at MGM, she worked a very demanding schedule– sometimes 18-hour days, one after another. To keep her going and to ensure she would be able to perform, MGM supplied her with sleeping pills so that she could rest between scenes, and then, when it was time to roll the cameras again, they would ply her with amphetamines to wake her up.

Thankfully, I haven’t ever used either, but there are certain things that do keep me going when I’m working a grueling schedule. And right now I’m working a very grueling schedule–producing, writing, editing, designing, outfitting, directing, scoring, and starring in a trailer for the book; editing the first pass galleys of Becoming Clementine; continuing to research (when time permits) and outline the Hollywood book; writing the Hollywood book; doing publicity/promotion for past and future books; and redesigning my website, among many other things– which is why I haven’t blogged a word for over a week.

So, in no particular order, these are some of the things that are helping me through (aside from my boyfriend, my mom, my cats, my hilarious and loving family, my friends, my readers, and my ever-supportive and encouraging literary agent):

Supernatural (few things help inspire or comfort me more than watching the super-hunky Winchester brothers hunt monsters and battle demons– it’s perhaps the one thing that seems harder than writing)

Exercise (namely: Physique 57)

Google breaks

Singing songs into my best friend Joey’s voicemail

Things to look forward to– whether it’s getting together with friends or an upcoming Charles Boyer film on TCM or a walk around LACMA with my boyfriend at the end of our work day

Our new car– the cutest, sexiest Mini Cooper S you ever did see

The Bachelor and my Tuesday morning discussions with Mom during which we analyze the show (and the people on it) at great lengths

The Walking Dead (See Supernatural comments above, only in this case, of course, sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes and company have to battle zombies)

The anticipation of John Carter

Stepping out into the CA sunshine at least once a day

My new office desk chair (no more back pain!)

My new office reading chair (see above)

The never-ending gratitude– even in the face of tremendous deadlines– that comes from knowing I’m getting to do what I love to do

The knowledge that someday, many, many months from now, I will have a break.

Becoming Clementine — the cover revealed!

One of the most terrifying moments in a writer's life is the moment her editor says, "We have a mock-up of the cover for your new book, which we'll be sending you soon." The reason this is so terrifying is that you never know what they're going to send you. It could be magnificent. Or [...]

Come Fly with Velva Jean and Me!

Novelist John D. MacDonald once said, "If you would be thrilled by watching the galloping advance of a major glacier, you'd be ecstatic watching changes in publishing." I'd like to amend that just slightly to say if you would be thrilled by watching the galloping advance of a major glacier, you'd be ecstatic watching a [...]

On Valentine's Day

As I sit at my desk on Valentine's Day, researching and reading about 1940′s Hollywood– today's subject: Clark Gable– I can't help getting a little misty-eyed thinking about one of my favorite couples, Carole Lombard and Clark Gable. Other than Gone with the Wind, I've never thought much of Gable, even though his Hollywood star [...]

In Search of the Perfect Reading Chair

Now that I've handed in the copy edits, here are the primary things I'm working on: ~ Creating, shooting, appearing in (!), and producing a book trailer for Becoming Clementine. (More on this later…) ~ Updating my website for Becoming Clementine, building web pages for the book as well as redesigning my homepage to feature [...]

Ten Good Things About Working (Really) Hard

As I emerge from the Excruciating Land of Copy Edits (14- to 16-hour days, every day for the past nine days), I think it's time to stop feeling sorry for myself for not having a weekend last week (or, as is all too common, some weeks) or regular sleep or time to exercise, and think [...]

The Women Who Spied

Three days after handing in the copy edited manuscript, I am still recovering. I'm back at work on Velva Jean in Hollywood (that's not the title, by the way), but I'm still feeling a little too depleted to write anything vaguely coherent. So for now, I wanted to share some of my research for Becoming [...]

Behind the Book — Writing Advice from My Uncle Bill

My mother, Penelope Niven, and I are both writers, and because of this my family often participates in our author events, traveling with us on tour (when possible) and purchasing multiple copies of our books to give to everyone they know. When my grandmother Eleanor was alive, she would call up bookstores in the greater [...]

Behind the Book — My Editing Journal

If I were keeping a journal right now, the entries would look something like this: Monday, January 30, 2012– I manage to make myself go to Physique 57 today, the only thing I know that's harder than editing a book. I figure what better way to clear my mind and get ready for the day [...]