Thursday, May 13, 2010

6 years after The Call

It has been 6 years since I first got The Call.

How can that be, when it feels like I only just sold my first book?

So what have I learned in that time?

The publishing industry is fluent and ever-changing. Learn to roll with it.

You're only as good as your last book.

Revisions are a good thing. A great thing, in fact.

You can create a great plot, you can't create a great voice. Use yours wisely. Hone it.

Reviews are the subjective viewpoint of one reader. Focus on the positive, ignore the negative.

Give back to the industry that gives you so much.

Surround yourself with positive people. Negativity/jealousy is a major energy sap.

Be grateful, very grateful, when the cover fairies wave their magic wand for you.

Social networking is fun and a productive promotional tool, but the book comes first.

Stray out of your comfort zone, explore your creativity, write something different. You never know what the result will be.

I'm sure I've learned loads more than that but that'll do for starters.

11 comments:

Kerrin said...

yay congrats Nicola! the publishing industry is much richer place for readers for giving you that call!!

Joanne Dannon said...

Congrats Nicola - wow, you've achieved soooo much in 6 years - well done :)

BTW - good post :)

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Thanks Kerrin and Joanne :)

Lacey Devlin said...

Congratulations! I hope you have a celebration of some sort, even just a little one :) Thanks for the gems of wisdom!

Kate Hardy said...

Congrats, Nic! Hasn't the time gone quickly?

And lots of very sound advice there.

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Thanks Lacey and Kate.

No celebrating yet, with all the sickies in the house.

Might when we're all better :)

And the time has flown, Kate!

Mira Lyn Kelly said...

Awww! Six years, you are amazing, Nic! Congratulations and thanks for sharing those pearls too :-)

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Thanks Mira :)

Rebecca B said...

Congrats & Thanks for your words of wisdom!

Fiona Lowe said...

SIX!! WTG, congrats and well
done:-

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Thanks Rebecca and Fiona!