The Cozy Chicks | Cozy Up To Some Killer Books

Switching Gears

In this business we often talk about how we have to change hats. Writers have to be the creative storyteller when we’re writing and a salesman when we are promoting our latest book. That’s very true. And that “split personality” aspect of the fiction business can be disconcerting to many writers. Some are shy and don’t really enjoy speaking to lots of people at booksignings. Others revel in it.

But there’s another aspect of writing commercial fiction that can also be unsettling for the writer. And that part is entirely internal. It’s the switching back and forth between stories which is an essential part of the process of getting a story from our imaginations to the printed page.

We learn how to do it once we sell our first book. And if we’re writing a series, as in mystery, then we’re up to our necks in it fast. Before the first book in the series is even published, we will find ourselves writing book #3, doing editorial revisions on book #2 which we turned in previously, and promoting book #1 which is due out in bookstores before we know it. Believe me, if you’re not already organized, you become that way fast.

But there’s also another type of switching gears that can be disconcerting for a writer as well. That’s when we’re trying to find time within that jam-packed schedule I just described to develop new characters that are dancing inside our heads. And that can be very difficult.

I experienced that situation this summer. I thought I would have “lots of time” to spend with the new characters that danced onstage last year and kept me busy all last summer. It didn’t work out that way. Plot outlines for future books had to be written, revisions for already-written books came in, other demands intruded. And time passed.

Now, the small window of opportunity I had mentally carved out of the summer schedule closed. Now, it’s September and I’m back on another schedule. Deadlines loom and Molly Malone and her friends will have to wait. I did manage to snatch a few days here and there to continue plotting Molly’s story and write a few scenes, but I didn’t get to write as much as I’d hoped.

But I’m an optimist by nature, and I have a feeling I’ll find some time for Molly. Here and there. Between the cracks. Whatever. Because characters will keep dancing inside our heads whether we’re busy or not. Whether we have time or not. And if there’s a crack, they’ll find it. A little piece of time when we can scribble down a scene. That’ll work.

That’s the good thing about learning how to switch gears. We get a lot of practice. Anybody else switching?

13 Responses to “Switching Gears”

Although I’m not a writer, I find I too have to switch gears. The summer is over and we’re back to our “school routine.” Even that has changed with my daughter’s school starting an hour earlier than my son’s. No more lounging around. It’s up and out for me these days.

Our lives are in full fall swing with soccer, hubby’s twice weekly rehersals, sunday school preparations and then teaching on sunday mornings. And that doesn’t include the extra shifts I’ve picked up at work or all the other “mommy stuff” that gets done every day.

And I’ve started walking again. I walk my daughter to and from school so that’s a MAJOR gear that’s been shifted. Hopefully more things will shift as time goes by!

by debbie on September 11th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Sometimes I feel like all I do is switch gears! I’ve got a lot of things that I need to get done and as a result, my writing is suffering and keeps getting put on the back burner.

by Becky on September 11th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Debbie—Boy, does your schedule bring back memories. I was a full-time mom years ago. And I know what you mean—-your days are jam-packed. Nonstop. You are going all the time with family stuff. I hope you’re finding some time for yourself. You know—the walking can also be time for you. Don’t take cell phone, Ipod, music, friend, dog or anything else. It’s a wonderful to be alone with your thoughts and creative ideas start zooming in, too.

BTW, what kind of rehearsals is your husband involved in? Acting? Singing? Just curious.

by Maggie on September 11th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Becky, I know what you’re saying. And how you feel. It’s frustrating. Some writer friends would get up an hour earlier (obviously morning people) and write before family got revved up. Others would stay up at night (with help of caffeine). I used to do that. Write way late after family went to bed.

I’ve also used the lunch hour when I was at work. Took a spiral notebook and wrote a page or two while I munched. Whatever works, girl.

by Maggie on September 11th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I have three situations in my life where switching might or might not take place. As a priest who also teaches, there is some switching between my role as a priest and as a teacher - but not as much as I thought there would be. My priest nature often takes over in school, so that it has enabled me to see the real people behind the concerned parent or recalcitrant pupil more often. As a result I am able to (I hope!) treat people with far greater respect, although I get the impression that children might sometimes regard that as having a soft touch. But I’d rather it was that way and I was (almost) always polite to children than the other way round!
The second area is the social groups which I encounter: my family, my religious community (the friars with whom I live), the parish, knitting acquaintances, the school where I work. All different to greater or lesser extents - it helps me to have a few moments spare when switching between social groups - although I remember one occasion last July when I went from school to my sister’s birthday party and then back to my religious community one evening. I was rather knocked out by this, but relieved to be on my own eventually.
Finally there are languages - I was brought up to speak several languages (not sure why, but it helped me as an adult!). Switching between certain languages is not too bad, but switching between Russian and Polish means I often mix words in sentences more often than I’d like…
(Thank heavens, with no offence meant, that I am not a writer! Heaven only knows how I’d cope with that sort of switching… I take off my hat to you…)

by Rudolf on September 11th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Seeing that my job has offered buyouts to a number of departments I have decided to take them up on their offer. I see this as a sign to switch my focus on my needs and desires rather than other peoples. I’d like to get back to finishing the one book I have started to write and plot out the others that are still in my head. I find it hard to pick up from where I left off so many yrs ago do you have any advice?

by Callie on September 11th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Maggie, My dear hubby is the music director at our church. He holds handbell choir rehersals on tuesday evenings and voice choir rehersals on thursdays. He’s also in the Musician’s Union and has various “gigs” here and there. He plays a bunch of instruments besides the piano and organ. Plus, he sings occasionally with a Gospel Quartet. This is all on top of owning his own painting/wallpapering business. Talk about switching gears!

As for my “alone time”, now that I had my carpal tunnel surgery (fully recovered, thank you!), I can get back to my crochet projects. I’m so excited!

by debbie on September 12th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Rudolf–Your schedule sounds as demanding as any parents. It sounds like you are parenting. And those languages—wow. I’m impressed. I speak adv beginner Spanish and the same for French. French has always been my favorite since I started studying it in high school. And I love a chance to use it when I’m traveling. But I’ve found that a lot of Spanish words want to slip in when I’m searching for the correct French. Probably bec our family had an 8month Sabbatical in Mexico City back in the 1980’s. I had to “take care of business” in Spanish while there. Great fun.

by Maggie on September 12th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Okay, Callie, I’m gonna put my accountant hat on and recommend drawing up a financial budget and plan right now. A strict one. Invest that money when you get it in a shrewd way that allows some of it (most of it) to be earning interest/dividends, whatever while you have an allotment to spend. Budget fiercely. Budget out one year, two years, five years. See how long that money will last. Will you be able to live on it? Will you have to take a part time job?

You’ll need a financial calculator for this. TI used to make good ones. I’m still using mine from 1998. There’s a way to input an present value of amout invested, interezt rate, number of years, and see what amount would be available yearly for withdrawals.

Don’t let that financial wording scare you. It’s easier than you think. The calculator does the work. However, this may be more information than you wanted to hear when you asked. Sorry. The CPA in me woke up. I had to plan ferociously before I quit my job.

It is not easy and there will ALWAYS be unanticipated expenses.

by Maggie on September 12th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Debbie—You are married to a very creative man. He’s using his creativity in his work and in his avocation/hobbies. Good catch!

by Maggie on September 12th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Weeeellll, I’m writing a new proposal, different genre. We’ll see how that goes. I also like to knit! Switching gears is good for the mind sometimes, IMO!

by Heather on September 13th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Daily. Hourly. Minutely, if that’s a word.

by Karen on September 13th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Heather & Karen—oh yesss. I’m at a writers’ conference now, presenting and networking and signing, but not writing. And I*’m getting antsy.

by Maggie on September 15th, 2007 at 6:15 pm

Switching Gears

13 Responses to “Switching Gears”

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