A Romantic Life?

People seem to have a preconcieved notion that being a novelist is a golden career without the stresses of other careers. We're rich and famous. Authors live on a different plane, without worries, where words flow seamlessly from the end of our pens. The sky is always blue in our world and we're always taking note of the people around us because we just might want to put YOU in our next book. This just ain't so. Writing is hard work, sometimes painful work. We're rarely rich and only famous in our hometowns if they're small.

Even I had these misconceptions when I started writing, and I'd been editing for many years by that time. A little part of me still wants to believe it can be true, but a few more years in and I know better now. Authors are business people--some more successful than others. And that all depends on how much you're willing to invest.

Once the proposal has been created, or for the first-time author the complete novel, the author must become a sales expert, pitching their work to either publishing houses or agents. They talk market niches. Then negotiate contracts, if they don't have an agent, or at least discuss the negotiations if they do have an agent. Then it's time to create their work of art--only to have it reviewed by editors and rewritten sometimes multiple times. Just when you think you're done with the writing phase the manuscript comes back like a long forgotten boomerang--to review line edits, copy edits, and galleys. Then the marketing and publicity begins, first in approving (or in my case rewriting) cover and marketing copy, then in "negotiating" a marketing campaign (or this can happen on the front end in contract negotiations).

I'm always looking for new, fresh ways to reach potential readers. This, in my estimation, is the hardest part of being an author because the media is flooded with requests from authors to promote their book. But Oprah has only so much time in the day to read and tell the world about a great book she read--besides, I don't think my books have enough of an edge for Oprah to "get" them. Perhaps I've underestimated her, but odds are I'll never find out.

By nature I'm a very private person--that's why I decided to become a novelist in the first place. I get to stay home in my bathrobe and create imaginary worlds without dealing with office politics on a regular basis (unless it's time to talk to my publisher about this, that, or the other thing). So, when it comes time to speak in public and do signings I am stretched most as a person. At least people are kind, even if many do avoid eye contact when I'm sitting behind a table at a bookstore signing.

Then there are a countless details to manage--web site maintenance, a quarterly newsletter to write and send, e-mails to answer, signings to set up and coordinate, speeches to write, contact lists to update, mileage to track, office supplies to buy, research and then more research, taxes to manage and file, a blog to keep updated...

All this is on top of being a wife, mother, sister, friend. "Juggle" is too easy a word to sum it up, more like "manage the chaos!" For me, maintaining a peaceful home for my family is top priority--that means I can't always do everything other authors might do to promote their books. If I were a single woman with no other concerns I'd be doing it all too, and more. But I'm not. It's just that simple. Sometimes I have to say no and I pray that doesn't hurt the potential sales of my books. Last year I crossed Southern Minnesota visiting 100 bookstores to promote Dandelions in a Jelly Jar--it was a lot of work! I won't be doing it again.

Robert Whitlow once asked me how I can possibly manage being the mother of five children, editing and writing. Here's how--my house fell to ruin; the older children took more care of the younger ones than I liked; dark circles ringed my eyes. I wore myself out. I look back now and think not "How did I do that?" but "Why did I do that?" There are only so many hours in the day and I better use that time for things that matter.

My friend Ted Dekker knows how to make it all work. He got a substantial contract for his first three books. He believed enough in himself and his writing not to settle for less. He knows how to promote himself and his books. He's out there. And he's merciless about perfecting his craft--I truly admire that about him. But he also has an amazing wife backing him up so that he can be free to do all that he does. I have an amazing husband too, with his own amazing career.

For me it's about priorities. Yes, my books could live on long after I'm dead. Not likely, but it's possible. And I am dedicated to creating excellent books, but if I regret not raising my children the best way possible then I will have failed in this life.

So I must set aside time for writing within the ever-shifting balance of my family's needs, at least two hours per day. If I can't do everything, that has to be okay. This job isn't about glamour; it's about meaning. For me that is the flexibility to be who I want to be--a creative person using my gifts, and a mother, wife and friend.

My children will care for me in my old age; my books will sit on a shelf.

More tomorrow,

Traci