by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all have a healthy, happy year.
Writing-wise, 2013 will be a different type of year for me. I’d halfway forgotten this until I was speaking with my family over the Christmas holiday.
“What are you working on for 2013?” they asked.
“After my deadline on February 1, I’m on my own,” I told them. I said this with complete equanimity, but each time I said this (different groups of family), the other person was startled and appeared a little worried.
“You don’t have another contracted book after that?” they asked.
I don’t.
So I have a book coming out in 2014 with Penguin that I’m turning in at the end of this month and then I wait to see if one of my series will be extended.
My family also asked if I had ideas that I could pitch to my publisher. And I do. I actually even have an outline…or what passes for an outline for me—where I give the book premise, suspects, motives, victim, and killer. I think it’s a pretty viable outline and will make for a good series. I like my other concept, too.
But….I think I might keep those pitches to myself. I’m thinking about writing one of them later this year and putting it out, myself.
If I’m contacted about extending my two series with Penguin, I’ll be delighted to write them. I love the characters and have enjoyed writing the series so far.
If I’m contacted about writing some new series, one that my publisher would like to have written, I’d be happy to write that, too.
But I think I’m keeping my current ideas to myself.
It will be an interesting year. Last year, I wrote Knot as it Seams, Quilt Trip, and Rubbed Out for Penguin (Knot and Rubbed will come out this year, Quilt Trip next year) and one Myrtle Clover book, Body in the Backyard, for myself.
This year, I’m polishing up Quilt Trip before turning it in Feb. 1…and then I’m on my own.
My plan is to write just as many books this year, but they’ll all be self-published, unless I get a contract extension or a new project from my publisher. One of my self-pub. projects will be a short non-fiction how-to on cozy mystery writing…good to try something new.
I’ve definitely got a different mindset than I did in 2009. At the time, I wondered what would happen after I finished writing book 3 of the Memphis Barbeque series. I felt a tremendous sense of relief when my agent contacted me about writing a new series for Penguin.
Now I’m a lot more relaxed. I know that I can do well self-publishing. I know I’ve got a team of people to help me make sure my stories are ready to publish and look professional. I know I don’t have to have a contract with a publisher…I can have a contract directly with a retailer like Amazon or Smashwords or Barnes and Noble.
I’m not usually Little Miss Que Será, Será. I’m usually a basket of nerves. Which goes to show how radical this publishing shift has been over the last few years.
I’m enjoying this sense of freedom and lack of urgency. Realizing things will work out either way…and simply keeping abreast to any industry changes or any new ideas about taking our writing into the future.
I remember thinking that getting a traditional publishing contract was like a politician winning an election—you celebrate for a day, then you start worrying about and working on the next campaign. It’s wonderful that this is no longer the case in publishing.
But being relaxed doesn’t mean we don’t push ourselves. We push ourselves to reach our goals, to tweak our stories, to learn about self-publishing, to decide how much promotion to do, to keep up with industry news and developments. We push ourselves to stay creative and consider writing new and different stories or even new and different genres.
What are your writing plans for the year? Have they changed at all in the last few years?
Photo by nasirkhan from MorgueFile
Yay, that’s the spirit!
Good luck, and Happy New Year :)
Elizabeth – Happy New Year! I hope you have a wonderful 2013. I’m glad you have that sense of both purpose and equanimity when it comes to your writing. You’ve got a lot of flexibility in your thinking and that’s going to do you so much good. Of course, I love your series so I hope we’ll see more of all three of your protagonists. But I know you; you’ll come up with some fantastic ideas. When you’re ready to share them, I can’t wait to hear about them.
This is very inspiring to me, Elizabeth, because I still thought being published traditionally is the pinnacle of a writing career. Happy New Year!
Karen
Best of luck with your new endevours, Elizabeth!
I’m pretty much writing from contract to contract. I don’t have a deal for a set number of books, so I have to make sure I can pitch each book as it comes. I’d love the security of knowing that after my second book is out that the final part of the trilogy was a guarantee, but I realise the value of having to appraoch each query like it’s got to be judged on its own merits.
Dorte–Thanks! Happy New Year to you, too. :)
Paul–Yes, in that way I’ve been lucky…I’ve had 3 book deals (*most* of the time. Book 4 for Memphis was a one-off and so was the first book for Myrtle Clover.)
In the case of the Myrtle Clover series, I was told the publisher didn’t want any more books. But *readers* told me that they wanted more in the series. So I got my rights back (in writing) from the publisher and put more books out through self-pub (a move which has worked well for me.)
In *your* case, you’ve got a trilogy. I just had a series where each book was written as a stand-alone. I’d think that if the publisher didn’t like your pitch for the next book in the trilogy, they’d have a developmental editor suggest other ways to approach writing that pitched book…readers would want to see how it all ends, so it would make sense to put them all out.
That’s true, and that’s pretty much what happened with the second book. It wasn’t strong enough when I queried it, so I had to do a full re-write.
Paul–Which is a pain! But then you ended up with a stronger book, which will sell well and provide a better lead-in for book 3.
Here’s hoping! ;-)
You have options, which is a wonderful place to be. Since you’re established, your self-published books will do much better.
I still get a kick out of the fact we both have books coming out on February 5!
Happy New Year to you too.
You are such a great writer. I enjoy your work. I am confident you’ll get a new contract, but YES in the meantime self-publish.
I will continue to write in 2013. I wish I’d get that darn eBook to the eBook formatter an on. :)
T
Elizabeth, Happy New years to you and yours! Me, I’m working with Marvin on my initial read through for Escalation and hope to have it to market real soon.
Then I cam work on some other stuff in the pipeline.
I’m still trying to figure out my writing future.
Paul–Fingers crossed!
Margot–And I’m excited about the new Joel Williams books. :) Congrats on pulling off so much in a busy 2012!
January 2, 2013 6:20 AM
Diane–I think it helps, for sure.
Yay for Feb. 5! And it’s coming up super soon, too. You’ve planned your blog tour and I haven’t even thought about it. Sigh.
Karen–I think that’s something most of the trad. published authors are re-thinking! And it’s exciting that it’s just a beginning and not an ending.
Stephen–Oh, cool! Didn’t know Marvin was back in business. That’s good news…I know y’all worked so well together and Marvin is such a great guy.
Alex–Maybe, for you, it should be “creative future.” Because you have other creative pursuits besides writing (although, of course, I’ve got a bit of a bias toward writing…) :)
Teresa–Thanks! And I’m glad to hear you’ve got writing in the works for 2013. :)
I’ve got a couple of names of formatters, if you need any. :) Not expensive and quick turnaround, too.
It always excites me to see a solid midlister have control of her destiny. Levels of success may vary, but nobody can kill your series or kill your career on you.
My new year plans are to shake of distractions and just write.
Happy New Year, Elizabeth.
I’ve had a great experience with self-publishing so far. You have so much more control over the publication and pricing. There is less pressure when you know you have long term distributors. Books don’t stay in bookshops for long and publishers won’t always keep the same authors on their books. The readers should be our focus as authors and as long as they can access your books it doesn’t matter so much whether they buy them online at amazon with a trad publisher or from amazon itself.
My 2013 goal is to finish my WIP, my first novel, and get it query-ready.
Elizabeth, if you were just starting now, would you still start in traditional publishing? Or go right to the self-publishing? My thinking is that, at least to start, being surrounded by a seasons agent, editor and other pro’s is probably the best place to start building a readership, but as you said here, the industry is changing pretty rapidly.
Elizabeth, as so many authors are rushing toward the Holy Grail of a traditional publishing deal, I’m delighted to hear another voice of reason.
Little by little, I’m gathering a mental list of folks who’ve been traditionally published, and are choosing self-publishing; not settling for it, but choosing it. It’s helpful hearing the reasoning behind it, and seeing that it’s not a desperate move, it’s just the logical choice (which has been my stance all along.)
So interesting to see your change in thought process here. I have one book and another idea for cozies (or nearly) but totally plan on pitching for traditional contracts. BUT… you have had 3 series traditionally published (I know Myrtle is now self, but it started the other way)–and I think you’re ready for huge success with it. Give a shout if you need a reader for any of these projects. I feel like self-pubbed need a couple extra rounds of beta reading, so I am happy to do it.
It is so helpful to read your posts and your point of view. Thank you! I’ve written several books and this year I plan to take the plunge into self publishing a mystery novel that I hope will be a series. I’ve waited a long time for a traditional contract — having come close a couple of times — and I now want to try to have a little more control over my own destiny and I’m so happy that I do have options now. And reading about experienced authors like you, who have seen both sides of the equation, makes it easier to take the plunge. Thank you for helping make me less of a basket of nerves, too.
The Daring Novelist–That’s right. And the income goes on in perpetuity (I’m expecting that income to ebb and flow…but at least it’s there). And I’m in charge of my career…for good or bad! I have the ability to ruin it or make it a success…but at least I’m the one with that power.
Hope you can cut out your distractions–I know that’s hard.
Fiona–That was part of my decision, too. Books cycle in and out of bookstores–online you can build up your reader base by offering *all* of your books for sale. Nothing out of stock. I think it’s crucial to building up a readership.
Emily–Best wishes for reaching your goal! Know you can do it.
I think I received much more from my traditionally-published background than my publishers probably got from me. :) My editors were amazing. *But*–you could learn just as much from an excellent freelance editor (and I understand a lot of editors from the big houses are starting to go freelance now)? It’s just finding that really talented editor.
I’d still have gone traditional. But I’d be developing my own ideas on the side. Maybe putting out my own self-pub project in the meantime while I was trad. publishing (there is lots of dead time in traditional publishing where you wait for covers, edits, etc.)…and compare my experience with both and my income from both.
Joel–That publishing contract just isn’t the only option anymore. Sometimes, it’s not even the *best* option.
It makes me a little sad, I’ll admit–but the times are changing fast. Placement in bookstores (even the excellent placement I get from my association with Penguin) is less important each year. So…if we don’t need that placement, we have to consider what option will bring us more sales and more income. Self-publishing makes so much sense.
Hart–Thank you! I’ll keep that in mind. :) I can’t blame you at all for pitching those ideas of yours.
My success with self-pub is very minor compared to those who’ve really made a killing with it, but it’s a whole lot more regular than with my traditional published income–and I’ve made 10x more with each self-pubbed book so far than I’ve made with my traditionally published books. But I wouldn’t trade in my experience with the publishers. I learned so much from the editors. I’m happy to continue working with them, too…just not on the stuff I’ve got in my Word file. :)
Julia– And I’m one of those who isn’t at all bitter about my traditional publishing experience…it was incredibly useful to me, very educational, and I’ve enjoyed the people I’ve worked with.
For me, it’s primarily a financial decision. Second of all, I like putting out books more frequently than I can with traditional publishers. Hearing from readers who just finished a book of mine, and knowing I’ve got another book for them in a matter of months, is very rewarding.
I love your take from both sides of the publishing aisle. Traditional and self seem to be moving towards each other a lot lately. Great post.
Raquel–Thanks. And thanks for coming by!
Hi Elizabeth – sounds like 2013 will be interesting. We learn so much from you – that any aspect you tackle will be a learning curve for us all ..
Good luck with the year ahead .. cheers Hilary