And Jane has given me a one dime advance on a story. 😆
I’ve been very oddly stymied during Nationals. I never have trouble writing. But I’d just finished a book, and Nationals happened, major distraction, and for once, I just couldn’t get my head together. I’d decided to write a story, shortish, just for CC, and it wasn’t happening. I stayed home yesterday and finally got a start on it.
Then Jane asked, last night, “When’s the last time you didn’t write to contract?”
Well, since about 1976, honestly.
She said she’d give me a nickle advance, and get moving.
This morning she handed me a whole dime and said she was doubling my advance. So I’d better get at it, eh?
Cost of living increases on ‘A penny for your thoughts’ 😉
Has to be. 😆
I’m not at all surprised,remember what went on
just before the Nationals? A spambot loose,loss of sleep getting ebooks ready. You let down and
relaxed a bit during the Nationals,and now expect
the brain to jump to it! I have no doubt that you have already got it revved up and willing to
concentrate. You guys live faster than most people I know!!
I understand about the contract/assignment. I wonder, in terms of novels, do you have a next one lined up? Or is the publishing world in a state of confusion about such things?
No, I’ve contracts for 2 more novels with DAW, and have little doubt I’ll have more when those are done. But I want a mental rest: hence the short story. Just a small break.
*chips in another dime*
How exciting the words “new” and “story” are, when put together on your blog!
Though I read most of your work when I was considered to be YA myself, I hope you someday consider writing something specifically and strictly for teens. We’re having a zombie/vampire surfeit in the field. Need actual science fiction with maybe actual *SCIENCE*…
Jane and I thought of doing a science fiction collaboration for young readers, but couldn’t interest a publisher. Who knows?
I really like your short works and am looking forward to this one !
Gosh, CJ, maybe all us readers ought to toss a buck or five in the tip jar… you can call it “the Advance Fund”! 😀 ‘Cause we ain’t picky, you know (as regards what, exactly, you’re writing next)… if you’re writing, we’re reading!
Aw, you’re kind. But I’m well-started now. I think the dime is working. I’ll be putting it straight onto the site.
I was going to toss a piece of silver with Morgaine’s likeness on the front, and Vanye’s on the back. But, I couldn’t find a coin like that. So, whatever you’re working on…
😆 you guys are so nice to us.
You know, I’ve never found the last Morgaine novel. I suppose I could order it online, but the lovely thing about well-stocked bookstores should be serendipity; when I’ve had the urge, it wasn’t there.
I wasn’t niggling you about the books and contracts, I think variety is great and healthy. I was just curious since the whole book business appears, from afar, to be in such an uproar.
No, Reptile isn’t niggling, I am! 😉
I had a thought: why don’t you pre-sell your next ebook in the series?
I’m thinking along the lines of the way Lawrence Watt-Evans is writing his fiction, where people donate money towards him writing. After he hits a certain dollar amount, he writes a chapter (not to exceed one per week). Then for all the people who contributed more than $25, they get a physical copy of the book when it gets printed.
You’d be writing to contract, then: with everybody who pre-purchased the ebook. It wouldn’t be “to contract,” in that you wouldn’t have a contract in the sense of signing something and agreeing on any particular content, but you’d have a financial contract with everybody who purchased ahead of time.
Now, it might be a bit more pressure than having an editor, in particular if, say, you allowed for pre-purchasing on one of the older series. On the other hand, it might give you a good indication of where we, your readers, really want you to go. Cyteen, perhaps? 🙂
Actually, Lynn is talking about some such, and it may be a model for our future, particularly if publishing gets crazier!
Good! I’ve pointed LWE your way, as well, in the hopes that he’ll start epublishing as you guys are. 🙂
That’s how Sharon Lee and Steve Miller financed Fledgling and Saltation.