So important it makes you throw up
Wow, you learn something new every day. Check out these two posts from best-selling author Tess Gerritsen.
Maybe this shows I’m not ambitious enough, but I would rather have a calm, happy life than be this “successful.”
Your take?
Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Best-Selling Authors, Writers, Authors
February 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
You are as ambitious as you need to be. Focus on learning the DVR.
It’s imagined pressure. Once you reach that financially independent level that this author surely is at, knowing what makes you happy is key - though you should be aware BEFORE you reach that level… money happiness, just increases flexibility and options.
Clearly that author does not have the appropriate people in place around her. I’m sure her fanbase is enough that they would pout, but anticipate the next book, even if it was not on a deadline. And if the publisher doesn’t like the deadline that the author picks, then I am sure, in this author’s case, there’s another publisher inline who would gladly accept the publication date - and as a result get the opportunity to hire alot of those people the author feels responsible for…
February 9th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Hmmm that was money -does not equal- happiness, but I used the mathematical representation - which happens to be html tags too.
February 9th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Thanks for supporting me on learning to use my DVR, Patrick. One little word like that can really keep me going when I’m overwhelmed (”What does this button do? Dang! I erased everything!”)
I’m glad to hear what you had to say about the success/vomit thing. It’s so weird, don’t you think? Or maybe I’m just too new to all this to understand how it could get so bad.
But I agree that an author with a strong fanbase can let a little time go by to recharge. Look at how long we were all willing to wait for J.K. Rowling.
February 9th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
It’s a challenging thing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve paused a show, come back, started watching - forgot that I had paused, flipped channels when the commercial came up and then flipped back only to realize what happened and miss 15 minutes of a show/movie.
Best to hit record if you plan on watching the whole show/movie…
The vomiting is weird. Especially when it sounds like one of her things is that people at her publisher would get laid off if not for her. I’m sure there’s pressure at the top, but remember Dean & Kris - the writer - at that level - has ALL the leverage. In most cases the writer always has the leverage. It’s their name on the book.
Maybe the author in question signed a bad contract. Who knows. It sort of goes back to THIS Know your limits and how to say ‘No’. You are responsible to and for you.