A nostalgic feeling

Conference season is almost upon us. This time of year always reminds me of when I was first starting out in publishing, and I'd go to conferences HOPING to snag that perfect interview with an agent or editor that would change my life forever.

Heh.

Don't get me wrong: I love remembering those old days. I had so much fun at conferences, and had so much fun being an aspiring author. My first books released in 2007 and after 25 books out, I still enjoy the rush of having a new release. This is the first year I don't have any books out (looking for a publisher for an 8-book series), and I'm enjoying the feeling of free time, promo time, and writing time.

So to all of you who are embarking on the conference go-round -- have fun. It really can be a blast and it can be so energizing and fun. And who knows? I may surprise you and show up at one now and again -- maybe not this year, but next year, I think RT may get a visit from me. And maybe one other ... only time will tell!

J L Wilson
(Writer at Play)

Time is running out!

For my giveaway, that is.

If you haven't signed up yet, go here to get a copy of the first book in my Deadly Landscaping trilogy. Good Reads is sponsoring a giveaway and I have 10 copies waiting to get into hot little hands.

If you've already read the series, maybe post a review on Good Reads or Amazon. Love it? Hate it? Meh? Doesn't matter, a review is good no matter the number of stars.

I'm always gratified when people take the time to post a review of one of my books. It takes time to read a book and time to craft a review.

So thank you, all those folks who reviewed my books -- I do appreciate you!

Springtime and murder

Janet's post about their landscaping project leads nicely into my post about my Deadly Landscaping trilogy. It's about Cassie Whittington, a 50-something ex-software geek who starts a second career in the landscaping business. Along the way she gets embroiled in murder and romance and millionaires.

I know of what I write because I have a degree in landscaping and nursery operations. That was my "second career" thought at one time until I realized how much intense physical labor is involved. But I enjoyed my schoolwork immensely, and the experience gave me three marvelous books...

ONE OF WHICH IS IN A GIVEAWAY ON GOOD READS!

What timing! Just in time for spring!

Here's a link to the giveaway. Sign up and maybe you'll be chosen to receive the first book in my Deadly Landscaping trilogy.

The three books follow Cassie as she embarks on a new career and re-discovers romance. Of course, her new guy might be a murderer, but then again -- maybe not. She hopes!

Fans are where you find them

I recently gave a talk at a local garden fair, an all-day event with workshops, etc. I was one of twenty or so speakers, and I gave a talk about poison plants (there are many in our gardens). As an author, I've used them a lot.

I rediscovered how much fun it was to talk about writing all in the context of talking about gardening. I had a lot of audience interaction, and I was able to work in talk about my books while talking about gardening.

Sometimes you need these "surprise" events to make you realize you're having fun. Now back to writing -- I have a new poison idea I want to explore.

Just kidding. Kind of.

Author pitfalls

One of my Biggest Pitfalls is the same pitfall many people have in daily life. You see the success of someone else and think, "Why can't I have that?"
For an author, it's "Wait a minute. She's selling like hotcakes, how come I'm not?" Or it's "I know I'm as good a writer as he is, so why is he the darling of the press today?"

There's no answer to this, of course. It's like looking at posts on Facebook and thinking somebody else leads the perfect life. The whole author thing could have a variety of causes. Better publicity; better word of mouth; right place, right time.

I remember hearing Jenny Crusie talk once (Google her. She's an author and a damn good one). She likened getting published to standing in the middle of a field with a finished manuscript, holding it up to the sky, and having lightning strike you. I content that "best sellerdom" is similar. It's a lot of luck, right place, right time, and the right kind of promotion.

I have no idea what kind of promotion to do. I'm going to experiment this year with a few things and see if anything makes a difference. And you know what? If it doesn't make a difference, then that's okay, too. I'm working full-time in a pretty stressful day job. There's only so many hours in the day for me to work, write, and relax. Promo has to get wedged in there somewhere. So I'll do what I can, and let the chips fall where they may.

I just have to keep reminding myself that there are no answers to the Big Questions in Publishing, like "how the hell did he sell that many books?" Ask the questions if you will, but there really isn't a good answer...

J L
jayellwilson.com

Always look on the bright side ...

I had a problematic Christmas season. A dear friend died, and while it was a blessing (he had suffered from a terrible disease for a long time), it's still a big adjustment for everyone, especially his wife of 53 years.

My day job has also been challenging for the last few months. And I'm in the initial stages of a new book and it's like pulling teeth to write. And I need to find a publisher for my cozy mystery series. And the weather sucks. And ...

Yep, I can find reasons galore to be in the depths but my Word for the Year is "upbeat". I promised myself that this year I would be upbeat, I would look on the positive side of things, I would not dwell on misery but always look ahead, to the next thing.

Deep breath.

You'll hearing me humming some Monty Python tunes soon....

The simplest way to stay upbeat is to remember: this is all temporary. Just wait a day, or a week or a month, and it'll all change. I'm telling myself that now as I prepare to delve back into my book.

Just a while now. Soon the words will flow....

J L
(so many books, so little time)

Time to start thinking about those New Year's resolutions

Mine are going to be pretty much the same as they've always been: keep up the exercise, watch what I eat, write as much as I can, and enjoy myself daily.

Hmm. A self-improvement resolution? Let's see. Okay, I'm going to tackle something I don't enjoy and learn to enjoy it. Promotion, the P word. I'm going to tackle that in 2015 and see where it takes me. With 25 books out, you'd think I'd have some good ideas about that, but no, I really don't.

So there you have it. 2015 resolutions. I'll update you in mid-year and see where we're at. Or not, as the case may be!

J L
(jayellwilson.com)

The importance of a brain reboot

I'm heading off next week for a weekend retreat with some writing friends. We go to a casino, gamble, dish about publishing, brainstorm books, and generally have a great time.

I always come back from this retreat (7 years now) energized and ready to write. It amazes me how few people have this kind of writer contact. Either they don't have a writing chapter of an organization nearby, or they haven't been in contact with other writers.

I don't need this often, but sometimes it's a blast. There's two regular groups here at home that meet and I try to get to one or the other of those get-togethers every month. And this retreat is one that I look forward to every year. That, plus a few conferences, keep me fired up.

Now that we're heading into winter, it's even more important to get that mojo going. Too easy to slack off and relax. Nope, I won't be doing that!

J L Wilson
(jayellwilson.com)

Clearing out your brain's attic

I'm working on a big series and it's one I drafted many years ago -- a few times.

It seems like whenever I learned something new as a fledgling writer, I went back and hacked away at this series or at least one of the books in the series.

Last year I decided enough was enough. I was mature enough as an author that I could actually write this story now. But oh, it was hard to give up those old drafts. I was ruthless, though. I went through them all, read the prose (oh, Lord, some of it was so bad), tossed out what I knew wouldn't work and kept a few scenes, etc.

Then I started really writing this series and you know what -- none of what I kept will work. These aren't the same characters anymore. I've learned enough as an author that I realized the way I was using those scenes was for my own enjoyment. They didn't help the plot and they didn't help with character development.

Once again I had to step back and jettison that old work. And it was just as hard as the first time. Someday I hope to re-read some of it (it's safely archived on the D drive of my computer) and maybe -- just maybe -- include some of it in my edits as I do finally prep of this series.

Or maybe I'll just laugh at it all and finally, truly, jettison it.

J L
(more books than you can shake a stick at, although why you'd want to...)

How times change

There was a time when RWA (Romance Writers of America) was an inclusive, educational place to be for people who aspired to be published.

Not so much anymore. The IRS is leaning on them (and other organizations, presumably), to make sure the voting members are only those who are "career-focused romance writers" (define career, to start with, I dare you). This is more in line with what MWA (Mystery Writers) and what the Science Fiction writers group does (sorry, don't know the acronym for that one).

According to MWA I'm not published, although I have 25 books out and nice royalties, thank you. That's a different beef I have, but related to the one I have with RWA. The unpublished masses are what keep the chapters afloat for RWA. I see a lot fewer chapters if these kinds of rules go into effect.

Life is change, of course, and it's amazing to me how much has changed in the 10 years since I set out to become a published author. I'll be curious to see what the landscape looks like 10 years from now.

Productivity revisited

Janet mentioned in one of her posts that she was having trouble feeling productive. Boy, do I know that feeling. There have been projects this year that just dragggggggggged and made me feel like my hands were in quicksand.

Now I'm working on a new project and I feel so productive. I'm totally in the world I'm creating, and I'm totally in tune with my characters. This is a 9 book series I'm crafting, and it requires a lot of world-building and complex plot shifts, so I'm actually plotting and trying to map out what happens from book 1 to book 9, and within each book and within each trilogy. Character arcs, book arcs, volume arcs, series arcs.

All fun because I adore these characters. These are people I want to spend time with, I want to be in their world. I enjoy my other characters (Molly, for example, is one of my BFFs and Jane is such a crazy lady I would love to sit with her all afternoon).

But the people in this book are my family. They're friends and their town is my town. They've been with me for years. I've done multiple drafts of their story and last year I decided, "enough already. Sit down and really write it." I take 6 months of every year to be with them and every time I come back, it's like coming home.

For me, that's what productivity is all about. Finding that sweet spot and enjoying it. I get it with my other books, don't get me wrong. But it doesn't come as fast and as deep as this series I'm doing. Savor it when you have it and don't sweat it if it's gone. It'll come back. Just give it time.

J L
(jayellwilson.com)

I can almost hear the voices -

shouting to be heard at RWA National Conference.

I didn't go this year. Haven't gone for a few years, and may not go for a few more. Very pricey and often inconvenient for me to get to.

But I will go to another one, someday, and I want to see if it's as LOUD as I remember. Thousands of women all in one place, talk-talk-talking. That's what I remember about the RWA conferences of the past.

I also remember the incredible energy of all those writers in one place. Many were pitching books, many were trying to pimp their books (you know what I mean) and many were just there to visit friends. It's like one big energy bundle all bottled up in one spot.

Yep. This is conference week and I feel a bit envious of those who are there. At least, I'm envious until I revel in the quietness of my home here in the woods.

I can almost hear the voices....

J L
(jayellwilson.com)

Self-imposed deadlines and why they're good

I've discovered that if I set a deadline to finish a book, then lo and behold, the book gets done. I set a very tight deadline for myself for the latest book. I started it on April 17 and I wanted it done by July 1.

Well, I didn't hit July 1. I hit July 7. But I was traveling for 2 weeks in there, and we had 2 trees land on our house during a tornado, so I was a bit distracted. I counted up my writing days, and it took me 62 days from start to finish.

Not bad.

I think deadlines are critical because otherwise it's way too easy to procrastinate, or wander while you're writing. If I have a firm deadline, I'll stay on task and keep my story in check. It's sort of amazing to me that after 7 years in this business, I'm still learning what works and what doesn't.

So on to the next deadline -- I haven't set it yet, but give me a week or so to relax, then I'll be itching to write again.

J L
(summer book out just waiting to be read!)

Unknown benefits of conferences

I just got back from a very good conference (Rom Con) in Denver. I had a good time, met a lot of readers, and re-connected with some friends I met last year.

Some conferences can be real drains on energy (RWA, for example) and some are real boosts. This is a Boost conference because I have a chance to kick back, relax, and connect with readers. I played all sorts of silly games, some with big name authors (Heather Graham, Cherry Adair) and some with readers. It was a lot of fun and here's the benefit of conferences like this:

Readers are why I write, and sometimes it's easy to forget that. But when I saw how excited people were about my current book (below) and new books coming out, I was excited, too. I forgot about the work it takes to get it there. It's all about the book and the reader, and I am the connection between the two.

I plan to savor that memory when I'm on deadline to get a book done.

Conference season begins!

I'm prepping for Rom Con in Denver, one of my favorite conferences. It's a favorite for 3 reasons: it's very well run for such a new conference, it's in Denver (so I can visit family), and it's the right size: small enough to touch base with readers, big enough to get lost in the crowd if you want.

When I first started in the publishing business 7 years ago (yikes. So long!), I went to the RWA conference. I went to 3 or 4 of those, and decided it wasn't for me. It's great to touch base with friends, but it's so pricy and crowded. I may go to the one in Denver in a few years (to see family again), but it's not on my calendar yet. A lot can happen between now and then.

I've been to a couple of RT conventions, the ones that were convenient for me to attend (i.e., near me so I could drive). That's chaos, with so much going on it's hard to keep track of things. It's a bit too much for me, so I doubt RT will be on my calendar in the future.

I've gone to smaller conferences (Love is Murder, Malice Domestic) and those are good, but LIM is tough to get to (Chicago in the winter?) and Malice is a bit of a trek (the D.C. area).

I think I'm getting burned out on conferences, so I may take next year off. It's tough to squeeze them in since I work full-time and have limited vacation hours, hours which I'd like to spend with my family. Of course, I think I say that every year, and every year I'm off to a conference.

So we'll see what happens -- I'm happy be at Rom Con this year to talk about my latest book, one of the most challenging ones I've written out of the 27 books so far. It should be a very good time!

Another summer, another summer book!

Yep, finally. My summer book is here and what perfect timing--a summer book for a vacation weekend.

I wrote this book for my sister, who (like me and my other sister) worked during the summer at an out-of-state resort. Our parents encouraged this when we were in college as a way for us to earn money and get some good life experience. The heroine in the book is a combination of me and my sister from that summer long ago. And the hero, Nate, well he's every girl's hero, I think. A combination of shy and bold, sweet and sexy. What's not to love?

So head over to my web site and check out the buying links for this book -- all kinds of ways to buy it, and all kinds of reasons to love it -- Emily and Nate have a story to tell, and I enjoyed telling it.

J L

Oh rapturous time!

It's green outside.

To those of you in warmer climates, this might not be a Big Deal.

To those of us in the Midwest, we are giddy with joy. Buds are popping on the trees, flowers are blooming, and all the nasty flaws of winter are being covered by a beautiful carpet of green.

I know. In a few weeks I'll probably be complaining about how hot it is and how buggy it is and how humid it it. Feel free to remind me.

For now ... just bask in the Happy.

J L
(30 books and counting)

Inching into spring

I am FINALLY seeing some green in the landscape around me. I'm in the Midwest and winter has been a long time going and spring is a long time coming. We're in that odd in-between place, the Ugly Time.

The fun thing is that I finished a manuscript and got a great idea for a new one, so I'm already starting it. I'm hoping to spend spring on that book, then in summer I have other books to work on. Plans, plans, plans. I don't have a lot of garden plans this year, but that always changes the first time I walk through a landscape nursery and see all the flowers.

It's nice to look ahead finally. Spring was so far off just a month ago, but now -- it's here! Get out there and enjoy it!

J L
(30 books and counting)

Deadline -- met!

I always set a personal deadline when I write books. I find I work better with a deadline. I try to do a first draft in 3 months. That might be a rough, ugly, draft, but it's done in 3 months.

I was 5 days late this year for my first WIP. Of course, I have reasons for it -- family was visiting, I was in the hospital, etc. So I'm pleased. It was a race to the wire to get those last pages done, but it's finished.

Now I'm doing first-round edits, then I'll let it sit for a while before re-reading it again. So I'm in the "almost done but not quite" phase and "what will I work on next" phase. It's like when I work in the garden: I can't work on that now (because the ground is still somewhat frozen) so what will I work on next? Mapping it out in my head and then *maybe* following that plan later.

Spring -- time to start new things, right? Perfect timing!

J L
(30 books and counting)

Perspective matters

It really helps to be busy. When you're busy, you take a lot of things in stride. At least, I do.

I've been frantically busy in my day job, and we're house hunting (again). My husband got a job in a nearby town and we're considering moving. So we're looking for a house, prepping our house to put on the market, I'm working on a new book that must be done in a week (3 chapters to go, whee!), I have family coming to visit for a week, I'm crazy busy at work, and I lost a tooth.

Yep, a tooth just fell out. It was one of those that had a crown, a post, and glue keeping it in place. The thing lasted 10 years longer than it should have, but one day it just fell out.

I barely noticed. Quick trip to the dentist. "Let's pull it." Okay, but not today. I'm too busy. So I'm getting it scheduled for April sometime (it doesn't hurt, so it's cool).

On any other day, I would have been all "OMG, a tooth!"

Today it's, "Next."

Perspective. It's all about perspective....