It is always a great compliment when a reader finishes your book and asks, 'So when is your next book coming out?'
What is not so great is when you don't have a firm date to give them. Even though authors generally hate marketing their product, you can't help but realise you have lost a marketing opportunity by not having another product to offer an interested customer.
I was interviewed recently for a newspaper article and the journalist was very interested to know when my next book would be published. Thinking on my feet I answered, 'Hopefully by the end of the year.'
Seeing the interview in print I decided that December 2013 is officially my deadline for my next book. No more vague, 'I'm not really sure....' answers - December it is!
It's not like I'm starting from scratch - I am working on it. I've just let it be pushed aside by the demands of my day job(s) and the constant push trying to promote my first book The Beach House. But that is no longer an excuse - I'm on a mission. My fifteen year old niece has recently taken to asking me (increasingly bluntly) how much work I've done on my new book. I'm onto it Charlotte, I promise!
Unlike The Beach House, I have not yet decided on a title.....I'm hoping it will come to me soon as I get more involved in this new book and let TBH take a back seat for a while (in my mind at least - for readers I very much hope it stays front seat!).
I'm looking forward to having a new book on my bookshelf page on my website very soon.
Watch this space - I'll keep you posted.
Great blog Helen!
ReplyDeleteA deadline can be a powerful thing can't it? Even if you pluck it from nowhere, having a date by which you've told the world (and yourself) that you'll be done can really help keep you on task.
I help clients create a timeline for their books. Although I often come up against a fair bit of resistance at first :) after we set an end date we can start to work backwards to look at what needs to happen by when, in order to reach the goal. It's amazing the structure and focus the process gives, even for creative types!
Happy writing Helen!
My partner jests, 'is this next novel going to take nine years?' (my first did). It really helps!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know the feeling - my first book took 10 years all up! Definitely want to improve on that this time :-)
DeleteOhhh .... I fully understand where you come from. It always sounds better to give a date than just a shrug. I've downloaded a neat little spreadsheet which helps me keeping me on track :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! And all the best with your efforts to publish book #2
Thanks Iris. The spreadsheet sounds like a good idea :-) All the best with your writing projects too.
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