How Do You Do It?

One of the questions I get asked a lot is  “how do you do it? How do you juggle writing books in different worlds, and the short fiction, and the freelance, and all of that?”

My joke answer is “carefully, and with a lot of caffeine.”  And the joke is that it’s utterly true.  But, on a more serious note…

Once upon a time, I was a book editor, running an imprint that published 50+ books a year.  I loved my job –the chance to work on so many different projects, each with their own voice and personality, was what got me out of bed and into the office every day.  But, eventually, the stress of the job, plus the growing number of hours I spent nights and weekends with my own writing, required a change.  I couldn’t keep giving 100% to both careers, not without something taking the hit (and that thing would probably have been me).

So in 2003 I bid farewell to the 8-6 routine of the office, and went boldly into the 8-6 routine of…well, the office.  Because, the truth is, the change in my work habits has mainly been that my commute is shorter, and I don’t have to close the door when I take that 15 minute power nap.  But from the very beginning I knew that the only way this career would work, for me, was to treat it with the same mindset: this is my job, and it has structure.

Yes, I can work anywhere, and do.  But the structure comes with me.  There is coffee in the morning, to jumpstart my brain.  There are the stretches, so I don’t cramp up from sitting too long.  There’s the usual procrastination of internet-browsing and email checking, and the quick conversations with my fellow freelancers on Skype replacing the traditional water cooler.  I get dressed – not as formally as officewear, but I don’t work in my pjs, either.

And then I chose a project to work on.  Usually, it’s on the basis of What’s Due First, but if I’ve had a sudden thought about a project, then I’ll get to that first.  If a deadline is looming, I may spend all day on it; if there are a bunch of things I need to get to, then I spend time with each. Prioritize, schedule, and begin.  It’s all pretty basic… or so I thought.

“But how do you switch between them?” people ask, certain that they would not be able to stop working in one world/project and move to another.  The only way I can answer that is to ask in return – how did you switch between classes, in school?  How do you stop working on one project when a more urgent one hits your desk at work, and then go back to the items still waiting?

But my interrogators are certain, somehow, that it’s not the same.  Oh, but that’s not creative, they reply, dismissing the effort their jobs require far too easily– and giving far too much weight to the demands of  ‘creation’ versus ‘work.’

And I think that people do themselves a serious disservice, with that.

When teachers teach, they have multiple classes, filled with kids that have different needs.  A reporter or a cop doesn’t investigate only one case or story at a time (far from it!).  A carpenter or plumber is rarely working on only one job, and an office worker of any stripe is often juggling not just projects but multiple bosses!  And meetings, let’s not forget all those meetings…

Me, I wonder how YOU do it.

Bio:

Laura Anne Gilman started her professional life as a book editor for a major NYC house, fitting her writing into the remaining available hours. In 2004 she switched that around, becoming a full-time writer and freelance editor.

Laura Anne is the author of the popular Cosa Nostradamus books for Luna (the “Retrievers” and “Paranormal Scene Investigations” urban fantasy series), and the award-nominated The Vineart War trilogy from Pocket,as well as the forthcoming story collection DRAGON VIRUS.  A member of the on-line writers’ consortium BookView Cafe, she continues to write and sell short fiction in a variety of genres.

After three weeks of book tour and appearances its not surprising I’m fighting off a cold. Melbourne Supanova was wonderful though, and made better by the fact I got to spend some time with my twin, Isobelle Carmody, who I hardly ever see. Isobelle is my kind of people in every way and I hope to have her back in Australia full time one day. I’m waiting on some Supanova pics to come through, especially the one of me with Aaron, who was wearing the biggest Fro in the history of Fros!

IMT, here is a round up of stuff. Burn Bright continues to get most gratifying reviews, which I am accumulating over here. I’ve also just done an interview with YA Concoction, and She Who is Know as Jess, and Eleusinian Mysteries are doing Burn Bright And giveaways of their own volition. Many thanks guys! And Missie at The Unread Reader has included Burn Bright in her YA Aussie Book Tour.

A lovely in depth review of Glitter Rose popped up this week too. The book is available currently for a discount, as we attend conventions. If you’d like to pick up a copy for $25 AUD, you can email me through this website’s contact form.

I received my copy of Apocalypse in Australian Fiction and Film by Roslyn Weaver this week and it’s so terribly cool to see the chapter on Parrish Plessis. I can’t wait to read it.

What else? Laura Anne Gilman is going to be guest blogging soon, so am looking forward to that. And there’ll be some more Super Creatives upcoming.

Finally, I’d like to announce the winner of the Ilona Andrews book set. Evening Green is the winner with this post on The Moment of Gratuitous Coolness:

I think a favorite moment of gratuitous coolness of mine would be in “Ronia the Robber’s Daughter” which I read as a child, when Ronia’s friend (who is the son of the rivaling band of robber’s chief) is held prisoner by her own people and she ensures his safety by jumping over an abyss to be captured by her family’s enemies who then can exchange her for him and both go free. I still remember this scene vividly and I think it will stick with me for a long time.

**Evening Green could you please send your postal details to me through the website’s contact form and I’ll pass them on to Ilona.

I’m going to blog this now before time steals the fresh memory. Having been away from home a bit the last few weeks, I was a little sad to be leaving my family again and heading to Melbourne. But tonight erased my blues altogether. My publicist and I met with a colleague (ie Persnickety Snark) on the Roof Top bar above Cookies. I walked across town to get there and spent the whole time marveling at how happy everyone looked because of the balmy evening. Friday after work and the bars and cafes were filled with smiling people. I got to Cookies and had to walk up five floors (ten gazillion steps) because the lift was broken. But it was SO worth it. We chatted about all things books as the sun melted away in favour of the merest sliver of moon. The open air bar lit with party lights and the music leaked out into the world’s perfect evening.

Then Peri and I walked a few blocks to a Japanese restaurant where we met her brothers; both delightful and full of life. We laughed and talked film and television and books and family – all the good things in life.

Now I’m back in the hotel with computer and my dessert (apple crumble and banana coconut icecream) and feeling the love for Room Service.

Tonight I am lucky.