Ack!

Nothing like discovering you have two books (only one of which is finished) scheduled for release in seven months to get those creative juices running!

Gulp.

I just found Murder Most Maine on Amazon yesterday. I thought it would be out in 2009, but evidently I was incorrect in that assumption.

Off to the word processing program now...

Writing and risk-taking

So I’m teaching my bi-annual writing class on Monday nights this month, and as I see the apprehensive/excited faces behind the desks each evening, I realize again what an act of courage it is (and it is) every time a writer sits down to commit an act of prose. (Or poetry, or whatever it is you’re perpetrating.)

I used to think it got easier as it went along. And on some levels, it does; I’ve written over 2,000 pages of fiction at this point, so I’m pretty comfortable that when I tell my subconscious to come up with something I can transfer to paper, it will. But it still isn’t exactly a walk in the park.

When you are working on an established series, you have the benefit of a pre-created world and characters who have been developed in earlier books, which definitely helps. But there’s still a lot of work to be done; each plot needs to be fresh, and as Susan Wittig Albert discussed last week, characters can’t stay static — they grow and change with time.

On the other hand, when you break from an established series, especially one that’s well-liked, it’s exciting, but also a bit stress-inducing. Particularly if your new work is in a different style, and deals with a completely different subject. (Say, sassy and filled with werewolves instead of cozy and chock-full of coffee cakes.)

Since I committed myself to writing a trilogy that would be more than 2/3 complete before the first book hit the stands, I am particularly aware of the risks of jumping off in a new direction. (And the direction changed more than once after I jumped off, to be honest — for one thing, HOWLING was originally sold as a light werewolf mystery, but the editor decided to publish it as romance once the trilogy was well underway.) And it has been tough going this last several months, as I learned my way around a new genre and went through multiple editor changes — and waited for the first reviews to hit. (Thank goodness they were good.)

But even if things had gone the other way, and my work hadn’t been well received, I’m still glad I took the risk.

Because I think the most important thing as a writer — no matter where you are in the process — is to have faith in yourself, and to allow your creativity to go in whatever strange direction it chooses. Even if it does end up in places you never thought you’d go. Because you know what? There’s something magical that happens when the brain switches off and your fingers fly across the keyboard of their own accord. Characters come to life, plots veer off in unexpected — and sometimes rather unwelcome — directions, and sparks of new ideas flare up when you’re least looking for them.

And even if you screw up, you still learn something.

Writing is a risk. There is always the possibility that you’re the only one who will see the magic in what you’ve written. (Or, the day after, the absolute lack thereof — then again, we as writers are notoriously bad at judging our own work, so you never know.)

The key, however, is keeping that creative flame alive. Because that’s why we keep coming back to it, day after day after day.

So, for those of you out there who have been putting off writing a book for years out of fear it will never get published, or have a book you’ve never gotten around to finishing because it’s too hard, or have a steamy romance in mind that your afraid your grandmother will excommunicate you for (been there, done that, by the way), my advice is: Do it anyway. Take the risk.

Because that’s what this crazy business is all about.

Happy Thursday!

Hi, everyone!

I'm taking a quick break from writing to let you know that Susan Wittig Albert's guest post is up on the Cozy Chicks today... so drop by and check it out. And if you'll be in Round Rock this Saturday, I'll be at Barnes and Noble at La Frontera from 2 to 4... feel free to stop by and say hi.

It's springtime here, and I'm experiencing a real burst of creativity, so I've spent the last several days riding the wave and working on the two books I have due this summer. I'm hoping to get finished before school lets out for the summer; I've already booked my trip to Maine, and am looking forward to some R&R. But the weather here is lovely now, so despite my rather aggressive writing goals, I did escape for a walk this morning -- the peach trees are in full bloom on the trail, the redbuds are already dropping their fuchsia blossoms, and it's time to get my tomatoes in. Summer will be here before I know it!

Okay, back to the werewolves... I'm on a roll today, and I don't want to lose momentum!

Karen

A few things I wanted to mention

Hi, everyone!

For the first time in two weeks, I am not sick. Hallelujah. And even better... the kids are back in school!

Since I've been off for a while, I'm going to make this brief so I can focus on my current novel. But I wanted to stop by and mention a couple of important items.

First, I'll be signing at the Westlake Barnes and Noble in Austin this Saturday from 2 to 4, so please feel free to stop by and see me! And Kimberly Swan of Darque Reviews just posted a review of Howling... and an interview with yours truly. Blogger Amberkatze also posted a review... she blogs from Vienna (lucky dog) and reviews lots of great books, so if you love paranormals, you should definitely check it out.

I also wanted to let everyone know that Susan Wittig Albert will be guest-blogging on Cozy Chicks Thursday, March 27 -- she'll be talking about how she created the inimitable China Bayles. I'll be posting more about that this Thursday on Cozy Chicks.

On a final note, if you're interested in taking a writing class from me, I'll be teaching one at U.T. Informal Classes at the end of this month. I hope to see you there!

Oh -- and perhaps most importantly -- I have not killed any family pets this week. So things are definitely looking up.

Cheers, and hope you're having a great week!

Strep throat, politics... and Firetruck

So I got my annual March bug last week -- usually it holds out for Spring Break, but I guess since we have no big plans this year, it decided to arrive early -- in the form of Strep Throat. I was only out for two or three days, but the timing could have been better.

I got sick Saturday night, you see, and Tuesday was the day of the primaries here in Texas. Which is not ideal if you're trying desperately to sleep so you can stop feeling like you're the bottom of someone's shoe. The bottom of a marathoner's shoe, actually. A marathoner's shoe on a track frequented by cattle suffering from gastrointestinal distress.

But I digress.

Anyway, that stupid thing rang SIXTEEN times on Monday. By four o'clock, I was huddled in bed with the covers around my ears raving to whoever would listen (not the recorded voices on the phone, alas) that if they called again, I'd start actively campaigning AGAINST all three candidates.

It didn't help.

Speaking of campaigns, I was thinking the other day how proud I am to be an American. Why? Because regardless of how you feel about them politically or personally, two of the three people currently running for the top political office would at some point in our country's history -- including, in one case, the first two decades of the twentieth century -- not have been ALLOWED to vote.

Wow.

Isn't it encouraging how far we've come?

Well, that's my pithy thought for the day. On yet another note -- I'm rather ADD today, aren't I? -- I've loved reading your comments on Firetruck's mishap last week. I plan to respond to them tonight -- but feel obligated to share the sad news that he did not last the week. I feel awful about it, to be honest, but Ian took the news well. (Probably in part because I didn't mention the whole egg noodle/disposal episode.)

RIP, Firetruck... may you have a cleaner tank and a better keeper in the fishy hereafter!