Well, now I know.

Here’s what my schedule has been like for the past three months:

At the beginning of January I completed an ST partial and sent it to my agent. Then I had to finish the Samhain story that was due in April because I after that I had to complete the third Talking Dirty book, also due in April. While I was in the middle of completing those two books, I had second and third pass edits for the first Talking Dirty book. Then line edits. In between the edits I completed Having Her for Samhain and sent it away.

Once those were done, I resumed writing the third Talking Dirty book. While that was happening I got first pass edits for the second Talking Dirty book. Then was asked to be part of a new Entangled continuity – I accepted. This book was due June. In between writing the last of the third Talking Dirty book and the first pass edits for the second TD book, I got edits and line edits for Black Knight, my next Samhain book. Are you with me so far?

After completing line edits on Black Knight, I finished writing Talking Dirty with the Boss and managed to get that in before deadline. Then I had second pass edits for Talking Dirty #2. While I was doing that I wrote the partial for the continuity I’d been asked to be part of and sent to my editor for her thoughts. After that I began my next Samhain story/proposal. While I was doing that I got third pass edits for TD bk#2. I’m now in the middle of editing my new Samhain story in preparation to send to the agent. Then I’ll be planning and starting the partial of a new Entangled series submission. I need to get these in the works now so I get publication slots for later next year. Once that’s done, I’ll be writing the rest of my continuity book.

And in between all this writing and editing, Finn released so there was blogging and angsting and promo about that. Talking Dirty with the CEO will also be out next month and so there will be MORE blogging and angsting going on! Probably even more than with Finn since Entangled do heaps of blog tours etc.

When you’re unpublished you’re took busy trying to get your book accepted to think about other stuff like promo, deadlines, dealing contracts, royalties, filling out cover art and cover copy forms etc, etc. Or how much time all the edit rounds take. But I think it’s worth keeping in the back of your mind just so you know what to expect. And it’s not just the practical side of writing you have to think about but the emotional side too. The pressure of deadlines, of edits, of your book releasing and getting crappy reviews (because oddly enough it’s only the crappy ones we really remember), the worry about how the next one will do or whether your editor will like your next idea, etc, ad nauseam. All of which impacts on your writing time and sometimes not in a good way.

Anyway, this is all to say that’s why I haven’t been blogging so much. And to give you unpublished writers heads-up as to what you can expect once you get your book accepted. Admittedly the above example is extreme because I have a lot of books out this year but that’s kind of the way I planned it. Mainly because I’m a firm believer in the idea that the best promo you can do is write the next book.

So anyone have any questions about the above? Am happy to answer. If not, just gaze in wonder at the power of my awesome (while I quietly have a breakdown in the corner).

And then also this morning, as I was trying to figure out whether to keep going or not, I happened to have a good talk to a very wise friend of mine. This friend does a lot of hiking and climbing and he told me about a NZ climber he knew who nearly got to the top of Everest but experienced a disaster when a storm hit him and his climbing partner. His partner died and he lost all half his foot and lots of fingers to frostbite. Apparently this climber, after coming back down from Everest, descended into bad depression, alcoholism and nearly took his own life. But he was a strong guy and pulled himself back from the edge, got fit again, and went back to climbing mountains because that’s what he loved to do. This is, I know, in no way, shape or form akin to writing. I’m not going to die if I don’t get published and I certainly won’t lose a limb waiting in the slush (except my mind maybe!). But it struck a chord with me because this journey certainly feels, in many ways, like climbing Everest. What makes it worse is that I nearly got to the top once, only to be turned back before summitting. And the hell of it is, when you get turned back, you know that the only way to get back up there is by climbing the whole bl**dy thing again. There are no quick routes. There is no helicopter to get you part way up. You’ve got to start climbing – again! – from the very bottom.

The thing about this NZ climber that really struck me though – and this is true for most climbers – was his mental toughness. He lost so much and yet pulled himself out of the darkness and got back out there because climbing is what he loved to do. How much discipline and determination would that take?
My point with this is that if this is what I want, I’m going to have to cultivate a bit of mental toughness myself. And I have to remind myself that the thing about climbing Everest is that with every ascent, you learn more about the route you’re climbing, the weather, the dangers, and perhaps a few good handholds here and there. You’re more prepared for the journey. And you’re more determined – you’re not going to let that mountain beat you. It’s that preparation and that determination that will – hopefully – get you to the top.

Getting published has been a dream since I was little, and it’s been two years since I’ve been actively pursuing this dream. And it’s hard work. Really hard work. Everest is the world’s highest mountain and it’s a b*tch to climb. I’ve had to start from the bottom five times – and it’s worse now than it was because now I know how hard it is and how long it takes. But I am tough. I will keep climbing. And I really hope that the view from the summit is worth it.

Alrighty, that was a very long-winded analogy wasn’t it? Don’t mind me, this is an extended pep-talk to myself but if it helps any of you then that’s all good. If anyone else is climbing Everest and needs a hand, I’m here. I’ve got ropes, oxygen for when we get really high, and lots of freeze-dried food.

Oh, and lots of chocolate.