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What do writers DO between books?
Work on another when not changing diapers
I changed gears and directed a charity panto after my last one. We raised almost £3k for local causes into the bargain!
Read books...read books...read more books...
If you are a writer ... you write... Between books I wrote several disjointed essays for myself, half research half outline, basically just a collection of concepts.
One of them became the framework for my next book. It turned out to be a productive exercise for me while still giving me a break from the intensity of working full time on a book.
The best writing advice I ever got was... "Just write"
I used to write short stories. Haven't done that in a while.In 2014 I wrote three novels, back to back, each about 100K. Possibly my post productive year ever.
There is no such thing as "between books". When a writer is "finished", they're no longer a writer. When a real writer is "finished", they're dead.
What happens between writing books?After selling three copies of my first book in two months I all but gave up. I mean, what's the point in writing if there is no exposure, no audience and no feedback to encourage and push you on. I was crushed by the experience and turned from creative writing to the promotional side of things, something that doesn't always come naturally to writers and can often pose a significant hurdle.
And then one day the first review arrived and from that moment everything changed.
So from my experience the best thing to do between books is to hold fast to the belief that if you have produced something worthwhile, and this is the right avenue to explore and travel that it will sooner or later be confirmed, one way or another.
Until that is discovered, stay positive and don't abandon the day job.
Dangerous Perceptions: Part 1 - The Road To Nowhere
Try and give myself some head space to let the next book emerge from the fog of having finished the last one and gone through the process of turning it into an e-book.Going for walks helps the process, as does talking to writing friends.
I was "between books" for over 10 years. I did write, but mostly short essays for a website I ran. When not "between books," however, which is pretty much any time other than that 10+ year hiatus, I typically have several books in the works, so I can't claim to be "between books." Some of them get worked on steadily and some don't but one is always available if I need it.For the "idea void" that you describe in your blog post, I think the trick is to do something else for awhile. (Ray Bradbury once advised the same thing, so I'm guessing I might be on the right track.) Do something mundane or ordinary, or do something new and interesting, but don't consciously focus on finding ideas. The unconscious/preconscious/whatever it is part of the mind will be back there, doing its thing, and eventually something will bubble up to the surface. Give it time to work its magic.
I write short stories and try to think of new marketing angles for the books I have already published.I must admit I do feel 'down' and hope the inspiration for the next book comes soon.
This is when we need to be in contact with fellow writers and I use my wordpress blog to do just that. Anything is better than spring cleaning!
Hopefully what writers do is read other books, research, and whatever else might help improve their craft.
I have 6 projects on the go - I write short stories, novellas and novels. There is no in-between time. Rather I have to MAKE time to read (and shower and eat and sleep). I just retired and my head is full of the unwritten stories, I thought about during my working years. I don't have or want any down time.
I finally sleep and go to social occasions in the evening. Oh yeah, and I have conversations where I'm actually present and not thinking about a character. It's totally boring. I prefer to write.
R.F.G. wrote: "Work on another when not changing diapers"Truth. Or chasing down a pee-covered toddler... And write on pages pre-scribbled by said toddler who was just "making a list".
that all brings me back to drinking heavy....
Melissa wrote: "R.F.G. wrote: "Work on another when not changing diapers"Truth. Or chasing down a pee-covered toddler... And write on pages pre-scribbled by said toddler who was just "making a list"."
I have to chase the 'poop monster' often enough, and it rarely extends its terrible reign.
Luckily, She hasn't cracked my password yet. I avoid paper because She sees it as tasteless but okay as extra fiber.
Between books? There is no "between books" for me. I always have at least two writing projects on the go in various stages of completion, so when I'm done with one there's another waiting to be completed. When I'm actually not writing, chances are I'm either reading, eating, sleeping, doing housework (since I've been unable to convince a house elf or some brownies to come and do it for me), catching up with e-mails and posts on social media sites, or remembering I have a hubby and should probably spend some time with him.
Ditto everyone else who said there is no between.I'm either writing, editing, or plotting. It's a continuous cycle :)
A.J. wrote: "Feel 'lost' when your book is finished? Latest blog:http://awaines.blogspot.com/2015/01/w...
A J Waines: author of Girl on a Train and [book:The..."
Even though I'm officially retired from Corporate America I still do freelance web content for former business clients so I'm usually writing rather boring stuff. On the creative end, I do what I call Seven Minute Takes. For seven minutes every day I do stream of consciousness writing on whatever pops into my head. (No editing allowed.)Over the years some of these Seven Minute Takes progressed to essays and articles or ideas for a novel I'd like to write.
Writing a novel was just one of several items on a bucket list that my late wife insisted I create upon retiring in 2001. It was an intresting and educational experience. Since it's release on Aug. 9, 2011, I have focused upon spending time with my four adult children and four grandchildren, a fairly active social life, and completing the last of the items remaining on that bucket list - a minimal three-day visit to each of the fifty states. Forty-three down, seven to go.
I will get back on this if I ever reach that state. I usually have several in the works at any given time.
Lachesha wrote: "I have a few books that I am working on at once. I am also a home schooling mother of 4 and a wife. I make and sell hand crafted items such as quilts, journals, exc. and I paint."Hat is off, I know you're busy.
Promote the books because an author should always be promoting in some sense. Also I either plan the next book or write poems and short stories. An author's work is never done.
There's no real between, as I'm always working on something to do with my writing, but I will squeeze in some reading and knitting, and playing on Goodreads apparently.
Honestly, for me, there's no actual "in between." Most of the time, I'm working on several things at once, not just writing, but painting and drawing comics. They all feed into each other.
I am either writing, thinking about writing, or feeling guilty for not writing. Oh, the writing life...
I catch up on everything I couldn't do when I was working on the last book; Like cleaning my neglected house, making lists for the spring planting, conversing with humans, etc... This helps me clear my head of the old characters so I can start dealing with the new ones and bring them to life.
im always working. so if not working on another book (or 3) or programming/debugging a video game or fixing my poor computer yet again... then im laid out sick from overwork again. lolz
Suzy wrote: "You can't just write the book and start on the next one without trying to sell some of what you've just finished."I can. And do. Some of my stuff has not sold one copy and I'm fine with that. Sales will come in time. I'm not worried about it.
Suzy wrote: "You can't just write the book and start on the next one without trying to sell some of what you've just finished."Sure you can. Especially if you're in it for the love of writing more than anything else.
I mean, yeah, you need to spend time on marketing, because pmarketing is important; especially for an unknown self-published author. But if you're writing just for the success and cash, and planning to wait until you get one or the other - or both - before you write more, then you're quite likely to have a disappointing and long wait. Of course, you might get lucky and have an instant best-seller with your first book, but the chances of that happening are pretty slim. If, on the other hand, you're writing because you love to write, then you can just continue to enjoy the writing experience, regardless of sales figures.
Stuart wrote: "What happens between writing books?After selling three copies of my first book in two months I all but gave up. I mean, what's the point in writing if there is no exposure, no audience and no feed..."
Thanks for the pep talk, Stuart. I also have experienced very few reviews from my first self-published book. But I keep plugging away on the marketing end, and a couple of key reviews should be available soon. I hope they create some buzz, because I just finished the sequel!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Continue writing in all and every manner, read, live, research, blog, promote, practice photography, better myself, grow my online presence."Between books" I think is very relative, subjective even. It's that time that you haven't yet (officially) declared you're working on the new book or decided what will come next.
Cheers!
There is no 'between books'. I finish writing one, hand it over to my editor, and start working on the next one. If life is busy, I might have a week between the two, but it isn't usually any more than that.
I get busy plotting and writing the next. There are just so many stories to tell!
Gideon wrote: "Drink heavy.."Wasn't that Hemingway's answer?
I usually have two books going at a time, so there is no "between."
D.A. wrote: "Stuart wrote: "What happens between writing books?After selling three copies of my first book in two months I all but gave up. I mean, what's the point in writing if there is no exposure, no audie..."
I'm trying to drum up reviews myself. I get a lot of positive feedback through other channels, but people are so busy or unsure how to write a review that they don't always take the next step to write one.
Your book sounds really interesting!
I love so many of these replies. I keep looking for a Like button!
A.L. wrote: "Read, write, watch movies, work, sleep."Sounds exactly like my life!
Thanks Susan. I like the idea of a Like button also.
Suzy wrote: "Promote, promote, promote! Trying to find readers and reviewers!You can't just write the book and start on the next one without trying to sell some of what you've just finished. And you're not g..."
I think the biggest mistake I've made so far is spending so much time trying to figure out the best way to promote and juggling social media and worrying about how to get exposure instead of focusing mainly on getting the next book written. I won't do that again.
Lately, it has been attending to family issues. I have my first author appearance coming up so I have been trying to get ready for that and getting over the flu. (Wow, it has been a scary few weeks.)I am also trying to get back to the editing and revision of Book 2 which has been painfully slow due to issues stated above.
Otherwise I try to do some reading and enjoy the outdoors when spring comes along. I like snow, but this "polar vortex" stuff is like a nightmare of last winter.
Suzy is spot on with "promote, promote, promote." I do spend a lot of the time I would prefer to be writing 'working' the last book trying to reach readers. It's a balancing act to fit everything in. Would love to hear other writer's tips for marketing their last book.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Girl on a Train (other topics)Federation City (other topics)
Girl on a Train (other topics)
Dangerous Perceptions: The Road To Nowhere (other topics)
Jinnik (other topics)
More...
Latest blog:http://awaines.blogspot.com/2015/01/w...
A J Waines: author of Girl on a Train and The Evil Beneath
UK http://www.amzn.to/14M9mSw
US http://www.amazon.com/A-J-Waines/e/B0...
Both reached No 1 in 'Murder' and 'Psychological Thrillers' in UK Kindle charts.