Thursday, January 17, 2008

Wait, Wait, Wait

Tip of the Day: A new literary agency specializing in YA opened this week—blissliterary.com.

So what do you do in that LONG waiting period between signing your book contract and your book being released?

No, really. What do you do? Someone tell me what to do! I don’t know what to do with myself!!

Kidding. Kind of. But seriously, sometimes there is a freaking long time to wait in between sale and publication. I sold my first book in May 2007. It won’t be out until Fall 2009. F-O-R-E-V-E-R. When I first started thinking about this I was like wow—I’ll be ~~~ years old and my oldest will be in 1st grade! I could have another 2-3 kids in that time period! Kidding of course, I’ll just have that one more that’s already paying rent in my belly. :-)

But back to my dilemma—what should I do to pass the time? I keep writing obviously. And reading tons and tons of great YA books. And critiquing great books for my CPs. And then there’s that other life stuff to do too. But then I think ok, now it’s January and there is still almost two more years to go! Now what?

Maybe you guys can help me think of more stuff to do to pass the time. Here’s what I got so far:

1) Blog

2) Work on my Web site.

3) Think of fun promotion stuff for when the book comes out.

4) Edit whenever wonderful editor asks.

5) ???

What else should I do with myself? One fun thing I find myself doing is telling anyone who will listen that I’m an author. Which is really strange for me—usually I’m kinda private and don’t talk about myself a lot (Yeah, yeah. Stop laughing A2A Girls!). But now I’m having fun trying to see how I can fit it into conversations. And I write it on all those forms now that ask for occupation. And the other day when I was registering at the hospital for an ultrasound the admission’s lady said, “I’ll just put homemaker.” And I said, “oh no, you put author”. So that part is fun! But help me think of more stuff to pass the time ok? Thanks!

Kristina, Miss Soon-to-Pub

11 comments:

DeenaML said...

"Homemaker"? That's really an option? Sheesh, like it's 1832! ;)

Keep emailing me to pass the time! I'm in the Waiting Game as well.....

Amanda Morgan said...

Hahaha! "Oh, no, you put down author!"

That's the best quote ever. :)

Kristina Springer said...

Re: homemaker. Yeah-- I'm starting to get irritated by it really. Every time someone finds out I have three kids they ASSUME "homemaker". Like, they don't even ask for occupation. And what is "homemaker" anyway? So if you are in an office from 9-5 then you don't take care of your home? And if you work doing different things that don't take place from 9-5 then you are home making it during those hours? :-) True, I've been with my kids during the last 4 years during that time frame but I also tutored, taught college, freelanced articles, and wrote books. But we can wrap that all up in "homemaker".

Kate Fall said...

"Homemaker" is such a euphemism for "house drudge." Or at least that's how I felt when I was home with my kids full time. Not that there's anything wrong with being a house drudge, but it's not really an occupation, is it? More of a temporary lifestyle choice. And what any of this has to do with getting an ultrasound is anyone's guess. If they want to know if you do heavy lifting, why not ask if you have any clingy preschoolers?

So why do they ask? Did she ask if you write about nuclear explosions and may have been exposed to radiation? Or if you're a reporter or travel writer who just got back from malarial lands?

Ghost Girl (aka, Mary Ann) said...

Haaa! You tell 'em, girl! I think the PC term these days is SAHM (stay at home mom), but I'm like you; I have started putting "writer" in that little occupation blank.

Hmm...what to do. You could redesign your writing space. Make it the perfect writer's haven. If you're like me, your stuffed in a corner in the basement with the playroom stretching out behind you, you and your stuff at the beck and call of your little cherubs. You can check my space out here: http://thebrokentree.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

(Sorry--haven't figured out how to put the link in a comment, yet.)

Anyway, my book is waiting for that "sold, but in process" status, so I am beginning work on my next project. It involves some research, which I enjoy, so that will keep me occupied. In the meantime, I've been reading everything I can get my hands on about contracts and promotion.

Of course, now that I'm getting back into my routine, I also have a herd of rogue dust bunnies to corral! So off to the rodeo!

Emily Marshall said...

Ha...I love that you really stuck it to the hospital lady. "Listen, dang it, I'm an A-U-T-H-O-R." I could totally see myself saying that sometime in the future.

Anyway, just keep writing more books. That's my suggestion. Or a nice vacation might be nice. Though a little hard with 4 little ones. Maybe Disney World or something would work.

Oh, or did you know the movie 27 Dresses comes out tomorrow? That'd be fun.

I don't know. I'm with you, that's along time and a long wait.

Kristina Springer said...

Mandy-- Thanks :-)

Kate-- they don't really ask- they just fill out a form and start to write it in. I like your other questions. :-)

GG-- good idea about fixing up the space! I've been working on cleaning out my office lately (yes-- I have a lovely office yet I still write at Starbucks. Go figure. In my defense, my office does not have a door.) Maybe I'll get one. And paint. That'd be fun. Post your link again-- the end got cut off but I want to check out your space.

Em-- I've been totally thinking about doing a little vacation like now over a weekend. Just can't figure out where to go yet. And we totally want to go to Disney World in like 2 years. :-)

Ghost Girl (aka, Mary Ann) said...

Okay...brace yourself. Here's the link again:
http://thebrokentree.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

A space of my own is one of my top 5 fantasy elements right now!

Ghost Girl (aka, Mary Ann) said...

%$#%$ For some reason, it keeps cutting off the .html part of the link address. Anyway, if you copy everything else and add .html, you should be able to get that blog page.

Kristina Springer said...

Oh GG-- it's so cute! And are you telling me that your kids let you actually go and write down there? Or is this when they are asleep (which seems like never around here. Oh, how I long for the days of nap time). Maybe if I actually get a door I'll be able to write in my office someday. I'll take some pictures soon (post-cleaning-- ha!) and post.

Ghost Girl (aka, Mary Ann) said...

Believe it or not, once in a while the kiddos let me write, but mostly I do it while they're at school--now that they are both school age! However, with more independence, they have also developed more complex tastes in activities, which means they spend more time with video games--big distraction for the writing mom.

Nonetheless, this is my little corner and I guard it with my life. They know that no one is allowed to touch anything on my desk or worktable. They're really good about it too.

I still think they're little muses disguised as pint-sized fascists! Oh, how I love them!