Susan Mallery
Hi, Margarita. Thanks for the question. :)
From the time I was a little girl, I loved reading, but it wasn't until I was in college studying to be an accountant that I discovered writing. I was taking a full course load of classes toward my degree, but I kept seeing this flyer for an evening adult ed class called "How to write a romance novel." I felt it pulling at me for months. Finally, I told myself, the teacher isn't going to teach that class forever. If you want to do it, you need to do it now, even though you're way too busy with "real" classes.
So I signed up for the class. And I thought, if I'm going to take a class about how to write a novel, I'd better start writing one. I was so proud of myself, going in that first day with a few chapters already written, and then this smart aleck in front of me pulls out a 900-page completed manuscript! (That was Teresa Southwick, and we're still close friends.)
By week six of the class, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I used to think writers had to be exotic and live in France and wear turtlenecks, so when I realized this was something I could do, and that I could make a career of it, I was thrilled.
I had to talk to my recruiter to tell him thank you for the job offer (with benefits!), but I'm going to be a romance writer. Much to my surprise, he didn't mock me. He told me that he wrote fantasy but had never had the courage to do anything with it. He said if I didn't sell anything within two years, I could come back to him, and he'd give me a job. That was May of 1990. By August, after many rejections, I sold my first book. In January, I sold my second. They both came out in January of 1992.
One of the best things I've ever done was to sign up for that class, to take a chance on myself. :) It changed the trajectory of my life.
From the time I was a little girl, I loved reading, but it wasn't until I was in college studying to be an accountant that I discovered writing. I was taking a full course load of classes toward my degree, but I kept seeing this flyer for an evening adult ed class called "How to write a romance novel." I felt it pulling at me for months. Finally, I told myself, the teacher isn't going to teach that class forever. If you want to do it, you need to do it now, even though you're way too busy with "real" classes.
So I signed up for the class. And I thought, if I'm going to take a class about how to write a novel, I'd better start writing one. I was so proud of myself, going in that first day with a few chapters already written, and then this smart aleck in front of me pulls out a 900-page completed manuscript! (That was Teresa Southwick, and we're still close friends.)
By week six of the class, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I used to think writers had to be exotic and live in France and wear turtlenecks, so when I realized this was something I could do, and that I could make a career of it, I was thrilled.
I had to talk to my recruiter to tell him thank you for the job offer (with benefits!), but I'm going to be a romance writer. Much to my surprise, he didn't mock me. He told me that he wrote fantasy but had never had the courage to do anything with it. He said if I didn't sell anything within two years, I could come back to him, and he'd give me a job. That was May of 1990. By August, after many rejections, I sold my first book. In January, I sold my second. They both came out in January of 1992.
One of the best things I've ever done was to sign up for that class, to take a chance on myself. :) It changed the trajectory of my life.
More Answered Questions
Brenda
asked
Susan Mallery:
I have read everything Fool's Gold, Blackberry Island and have pre -ordered all three new Fool's Gold CD's and Mischief Bay. When you are writing a series, do you plan out the entire character list or do you develop it as you create the story? It seems as though it would be difficult to strategize the entire character list, locations and professions.
Dixie-Lee Campbell
asked
Susan Mallery:
I tried reading more than 1 book at a time & just became disorganized & sometimes emotionally it is hard disconnect with characters Now I try to do 1 series at a time & in sequence ( logistically sometimes can't. I get the impression authors have more than one book on the go. & different series ... How do you manage to do it & stay connected with diffferent plots, characters, feelings, etc.?
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