At the end of September 2006, I got The Call.
The Call was from Medallion Press, for a story I was just about to retire. Let’s face it, I was just about to retire myself from writing at all.
I’d been writing seriously for six years, and my submissions record so far could be accurately described as, “close, but no cigar.”
It was a complete shock. And suddenly everything changed.
I have deadlines. Cover art sheets. A bio to write. A website to design. All that promo stuff (that I thought I was safe to ignore until I sold) to get to grips with.
Four months on, though, I still mentally lump myself with the unpublished, still look with awe upon the published. I’m on loops and in company with published authors, I have *gasp* an editor (in fact, I have two, wheeee!), a contract, a bio, a schedule, a release date… But I still feel like the kid with her nose pressed up against the sweetie shop window. Maybe I’ll feel different with my book in my hand, maybe I won’t.
Sometimes published authors tell us (see, I’m still doing it!) that being published just means there are more pressures, more demands, more doubts. So far, that’s true. But they didn’t mention how different I’d feel about those pressures, demands and doubts.
Because the other thing that’s changed is my degree of commitment. I’m far more prepared to prioritise writing over other things in my life. I’m working harder at making time, no excuses. And I’m overjoyed! This is what I’d always hoped would happen. Being contracted has flipped my switch to ‘professional’ and I’m loving every minute of it.
Years ago, on eHarlequin.com’s community boards, I said writing was like a long, lonely trek across a desert. Publication wasn’t the palm-tree ringed, gleaming oasis on the other side. Publication was when you were given the camel.
He’s evil-smelling, cantakarous and a pain in the arse (literally), but at least your feet don’t hurt anymore. And you can cover so many more miles with his help.
Well, I’ve got my camel, and I’m going to ride it.
Wish me luck.
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Oh, NICE!
Well, I have a lot of respect for camels…
Ride that camel, baby!
*bravely resists asking whether it has one or two humps, and whether it spits…*
(PS Congrats.)
Oh it definitely spits, Julie!
Anna, I love your post. You ride that camel!
That’s it exactly!
You should write.
Oh, wait …
You nailed it — the big difference between unpublished and published is attitude. Professional is a mindset. But being an UNpublished professional means you’re carrying around the doubt that even if you do everything right, you still might not make it. Published is professional mindset with a camel — you did it once, so you know you can do it again.
You worked six years to get on that camel?
Respect, kid.
You ride that beast.
Congratulations! Enjoy your camel ride. And now of course I will have “meet me at the oasis” stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
Thank you Edie!
You worked six years to get on that camel? I certainly did, Kevin.
Thank you. I’d hoped so much that if I got there, I’d be able to take a different attitude to work, and I was! Feels good.
Hey, there’s worse songs to be stuck with, Charlene.
I live in fear of Husband playing “I’m forever blowing bubbles,” from West Ham United…
Way to go! Enjoy that Camel. They are actually a lot of fun to traverse with.
Look at you! You’re your very own caravanserai now, with editors and publishers cover artists in tow!
Thanks, Michelle!
LOL, Sela – Forget blowing bubbles, now I’ve got the old Flanders and Swan, “In the Desert” song going round my head…
http://www.nyanko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fas/anotherhat_des.html
I love that. Riding the camel! Such a great way to put it.
M
Hey Anna,
Love the camel!! As you know, after my own long trek across the burning sands I too sold last fall (Nov 06 to Samhain Publishing) and it’s been a wild ride ever since! I agree with everything you said from the still quite not believing to the ‘professional’ switch firmly in the ‘on’ position.
Just yesterday at my local RWA chapter, I was talking to my mates about the silent auction we hold every spring where members bid on chapter one critiques from published authors.
One member piped up “hey, we can bid on you now!†I was completely lost as to what she meant for a full sixty seconds until I realized with horror that she meant because I too am a published author!
Then I quickly begged off as I participate in our monthly critique sessions after each meeting. The idea of some shelling out cold cash to get my opinion? Oh, perish the thought!
Congrats to you ~ you deserve it! Wanna race?
Christyne
Hooray for the camel!
And I saw your name in the first sales in the RWR…You had better believe it now.
I am so very proud of you.
Hugs and congrats, but I’m so pleased for you.
congratulations! HUGE CONGRATS for that matter! You ARE a published author. That’s major. You should be proud. I’m so happy for you. It’s a long, hard road to get there, and you’ve done it! You go girl!
Wonderful analogy, and congrats again, Anna.
(So there’s a line here at the coffee shop-table of folks who either want to read your post too, or smack me for the cackle!)
I hope your camel just gets cushier with use! This is only the beginning–well the middle–you just finished the beginning–for someone with your talent!
LOL, Anna. I love the camel. I’ve just got my new camel too, and still learning about the smell and the spit and the pain that goes along with it.
And I also can relate to group members suddenly looking at you differently. The same month I sold my first manuscript one of my chapter members said, “Now you can give a workshop.” Huh?
I didn’t know anything more than I knew the week before! But the learning curve veers sharply and quickly, doesn’t it?
Great post, Anna.
Ride on! May that beast behaaave for you, Anna. Love the metaphor, BTW
and can’t WAIT for the release of your book.
That’s great! And a great post too. I think I might be on the verge of being published by Harlequin Sweden after only half a year of serious writing. That said, I wrote a lot (not romance, poetry and short stories and novels, I almost had a novel for youths published) in my teens and even though I haven’t been doing any fiction writing in the meantime I’ve still been writing a lot and reading a lot. I’d love to get my camel and everything that goes with it – cover art, editorial advice, feedback from readers….
Wonderful post. You nailed it. LOL.
So sorry I couldn’t get in earlier today! Time zones are not my friend, and then I was running late… anyway.
Thanks Megan!
Absolutely wanna race, Christyne!! You ever seen a galloping camel?
Congrats to you, too.
Thanks Michelle! You know, seeing my name in the First Sales column of RWR actually made me nauseous…
Aww, thank you Nell.
I am proud, Anne, but I know I’m lucky, too.
Thank you Karin!
Hey, Anna, you gave me an idea… perhaps further sales are CUSHIONS!?
Hoo boy, Natasha, this learning curve needs crampons…
And congratulations!
Thank you Loreth!
Fingers crossed for your camel, Stella! But keep on crossing the desert with or without it.
Thank you Bernadette!
In fact, thanks to everyone who’s read and/or commented. I’ve had fun!
Here’s wishing camels on the camel-less, and cushions for those already riding.
Anna, I am so happy for you!
I remember the camel comment. I have a camel sitting here on my desk, waiting to be ridden.