tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post4206979405838290703..comments2023-10-15T06:31:49.268-07:00Comments on JUST THE WRITE CHARISMA: The Contract: Blessing or Curse?Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064541432630743730noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-85777292465780410942011-06-28T13:04:11.663-07:002011-06-28T13:04:11.663-07:00I can relate to Greg's comments. I self publis...I can relate to Greg's comments. I self published my first two books in my series and have finished a total of four books. When I landed my contract with Realms, I was four books ahead of the game! Problem is, now I'm writing blogs and getting ready for marketing and doing book reviews and social media. What I will be doing soon is going back and rewriting those other three books after learning SO MUCH from my editor on the first book! This is when the writing becomes work! But, like you said, Mike getting feedback from a life that is changed by your book makes it all worthwhile. My other book, "Conquering Depression" came out in 2001 and while I've never made a whole lot of money or garnered accolades, not a week passes that someone doesn't send me and my co-author, Mark Sutton, an email saying how the book saved their lives. I mean, SAVED their lives! How cool is that? God used something that came out of my wild, disordered mind and touched someone's life! I give God the glory and ultimately, I have to keep reminding myself that this is why I write to get published. It is part of God's work for my life. Notice that word: work. So, yeah, I love the freely creative flowing process but as we all know, the vast majority of getting that book out there is all about the WORK! Whew! I need a glass of iced tea!Bruce Henniganhttp://www.613media.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-35749325350227295302011-06-28T09:06:45.474-07:002011-06-28T09:06:45.474-07:00Great post, Mike. I enjoy writing more AFTER my fi...Great post, Mike. I enjoy writing more AFTER my first contract. Something about a looming deadline that makes me totally get focused -- or is it panicked. LOL Anyway, my deadlines have helped me be less of a procrastinator.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17064541432630743730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-45719240199825057922011-06-27T11:57:26.157-07:002011-06-27T11:57:26.157-07:00I'm right there with you, Mike. I wish I'd...I'm right there with you, Mike. I wish I'd focused more on finishing my series like Greg did before he got his contract. But we all have different lives with different obligations. I also know that for me and where I'm at in the process now that my series will be far different than if I'd finished it already.<br /><br />I've also had to cut back on my personal blog and I think that's fine. I need the time to write the books and if the books don't get written the blog will be useless.<br /><br />I love learning how to write better and develop my craft. As long as I have that fire I'll be happy. Some day when I'm long gone from this earth someone might pick up one of my books. It's a part of me that I can leave behind that I hope whoever reads will enjoy.Jillian Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12565274151603868808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584986441435970939.post-17069011589385724512011-06-27T09:22:15.458-07:002011-06-27T09:22:15.458-07:00I am so, so blessed. For over ten years I struggle...I am so, so blessed. For over ten years I struggled to get "The Strange Man" picked up by a publisher, but in the meantime I went ahead and wrote the rest of the trilogy. As I got closer to getting a contract, I began to see how God was really looking out for me. I was able to write the entire Coming Evil Trilogy at my own pace over the course of all these years, as my passions directed me, and now that I have deadlines, the books are already done--well, I say "done". There's always tweaking and reworking, but 90% of the work was complete on all the books before I signed on the dotted line. I'm happy to say that it's still a leisurly process for this series and I'm thankful for that.<br /><br />Of course, once the Trilogy is done and it's off to something new, I'll be in that boat of deadline-meeting anxiety :p I don't look forward to it :)Greg Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09631434183155875197noreply@blogger.com