Friday, August 12, 2011

It’s a book, Jim, but not as we know it...

I'm thrilled to welcome author Phillipa Ashley to my blog today! She's a fellow member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, super nice, and a brilliant writer. Her first novel was even made into a TV movie starring Kristin Chenoweth!

Phillipa's post made me laugh out loud several times -- never have truer words been spoken. Take it away, Phillipa!

When is a book a ‘real’ book?

If you’re writing your first novel, I’d argue that your book becomes ‘real’ when the first draft is complete. The reason being that if you’ve finished a first draft, you’ve already achieved something significant. You’ve spent months at the keyboard, you’ve made sure your plot is not a series of events but actions with consequences, ruthlessly eliminated your clichés and turned your cardboard cut-outs into flesh and blood people.

When you’ve ‘finished’ it?

So you’ve written The End, even though you know it’s not the end at all, but the beginning of the next phase of your book, where even more slog, angst and hurdles await. Still, after the first draft, you can pat yourself on the back and book that fortnight in the Maldives or more likely, open a bottle of Tesco’s Finest Cava and rest up for the next, even tougher, phase.

Eventually, after several months of thinking and rewriting, you will get to a point where The End really does mean your book is finished. You’ll realise that, while your ms is far from perfect, it can never be perfect and tinkering further will be counter-productive. It’s time to get feedback from a critique service, or send it off to agents or a publisher.

When you’ve sent it out into the world?

You may also feel the need to tell friends, relatives and random people on the bus about your book. Perhaps you’re looking for validation, support and applause. But do they believe it’s a proper book? Well, quite often the answer is 'no'!

From the non-writer's pov, your book will probably not be considered a ‘proper’ one unless it is published. If it’s not, you may as well claim to have landed on the Moon. It won’t matter how brilliant, funny, touching and insightful your work is, or that you’ve spent years researching it and agonising over every word. Unless it’s been published, many outsiders switch off as soon as you mutter ‘well, not yet but...”.

When you get a deal?

Let’s be optimistic and say you get a publishing deal. Maybe with a big publisher, more likely with a smaller, independent press. You are ecstatic – and validated!

Er... no. Because out there in the big wide world, many people won’t consider your book is a ‘proper’ one, unless it’s published by a ‘real’ publisher – i.e. one they’ve heard of, usually Penguin, possibly Hodder (schoolday memories) or Bloomsbury (Harry Potter.)

When you see your book in print?

Despite the Rise of the Kindle, for many people, e-books still don’t count. As an example, I’ll share a conversation I had with my hair colourist last week (whaddaya mean, I’m not a natural brunette?).

Me: “Want to see my shiny new Kindle?”

Hair colourist: “A Kindle? I’d never have thought you’d have one of those. I thought you loved books.”

Me: “I do love books but a Kindle is simply another means of delivering stories to readers, the way iPods have replaced records and CDs. And my books are in print too...”

Colourist: “What a shame. That just shows what the world’s coming to. I’ll leave you to set for half an hour.”

When it’s in the shops or won an award?

For some people a book isn’t proper unless it’s in The Shops. Not just Waterstones and Tesco and Asda, but every little shop on every street they will ever drift into. And it needs to be in all the shops, in perpetuity, for it to really count.

For a few, a book’s not proper unless it’s won an award, and that has to be a big award sponsored by a coffee company, a mobile phone provider or Richard & Judy.

For a sizeable chunk of the population, your book won’t be real because it has a pink sparkly cover or butterflies or a couple snogging. It may not be a proper book unless a main character dies at the end when you least expect them to, causing you to weep for a week and throw the book against the wall. Or it’s not real unless a dozen people are killed in ingenious and horrible ways or the book is set in 13th century Outer Mongolia or an alternate universe where everyone is a yeti with telepathic powers and fangs.

Or it may not be a proper book because you, the author, are in fact, still alive.

So, if you’ve written a book, and you’re still worrying about whether it’s a proper book, I’ll let you into a secret. It is.

Phillipa Ashley writes sexy, fun, romantic women’s fiction and is the author of five novels, published as print and e-books by Little Black Dress, Sourcebooks and Samhain.

Her latest book, Fever Cure, is available from all good online stores including amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. The paperback will be in The Shops in the USA and available online worldwide in early 2012.


84 comments:

  1. You're right, Talli, this is an excellent post, encouraging and wise, one to keep.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So true. It's so dangerous to seek validation in the what other people see as a real book, because as you illustrated, the scale shifts considerably.

    Much better to find validation in ourselves for what we've achieved.

    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi there, what an honour to be on Talli's blog, especially as I agonised over this post during a 'doubt' phase. I think I made the mistake, when I first started out writing of not believing I'd written a 'real' book - then I made the mistake of thinking that everyone else would believe I had!

    It's taken me six years to arrive at some state of equilibrium but I still have my moments. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This rang so true! Phillipa has summed up the situation with spot on accuracy - I've heard all of those comments at one time or another.

    As Misha said in the comment above mine, it's so much better to find validation in ourselves for our achievements. That should be sufficient.

    Alas (human frailty speaking here), I'm not sure if it is, though.

    Liz X

    ReplyDelete
  5. I enjoyed Phillipia's guest post! I'm still getting used to reading on the Ipad, but I know in the long run I'll really appreciate the time it saves. It's the material that really matters. Great ending! Good luck with your book! Thanks Talli! Julie

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love this post, so much. I've gone through those stages of seeking validation, always unsure if people will take me and my book seriously.

    I've been considering getting myself some form of e-reader, but mainly to make it easier for me to read my crit partners' stuff, and to have the option of picking up books that aren't available in print. I've happily admitted that one of the reasons I pursued traditional publishing was so I could hold a physical copy of my book. That's been one of my dreams since I was a child.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great post. Oh to be considered a proper writer.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love it - thank you, Phillipa. Going through all these kinds of conversations/reactions with my first published novel just now!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Brilliant post, Philippa. I so agree. Let's not forget that Van Gogh never sold a painting in his lifetime. But they were definitely paintings.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is so funny, I'm sure her book is brillaint! LOL...

    All the best Philippa.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great post! I've nearly finished my second draft but there's still much work to be done. I hadn't considered that I'd written a book, but was thrilled to bits when I'd completed the first draft, simply for the personal feeling of doing what I set out to do and not giving up when it got hard.

    I'm continually fighting the urge to stop as I keep hearing the words in my head that it's not good enough. I keep going though and it now looks as though I may have written a book! Thank you for a great post!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is a fabulous interview - positive and full of great advice. Thank you!

    P.s. loved the title. Hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Linda - I didn't know that about Van Gogh. Gulp.

    Thank you everyone for commenting. Hindsight is easier, looking backwards, as they say!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great post! Self-belief is so importan - what a shame it often parades as self-doubt;-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fantastic post, and very funny!

    It's very hard to own your identity as a writer but, as far as I'm concerned, it's vital.

    Just nod politely and swear inwardly when confronted with one of the above :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a great post. Here I am with my finished manuscript, not knowing really what to do with it, worrying that it's not perfect. And Phillipa is right, it never will be. I should just bite the bullet and send it. But where?

    ...need to finish the synopsis first anyway.

    Thanks for the pep talk.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great post, Phillipa. And what we have to remember is that to finish even ONE draft is more than millions of people who claim to want to write a book do.

    I can remember being on the receiving end of all of those comments in the post, too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A wonderful guest post, very interesting to read, enjoyed every last word.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello Talli and hello Phillipa Ashley!! Thanks for the shout out for print books cos e-things do my head in! LOL! Oh but seriously!! Yay for a really encouraging post! Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great post, Phillipa.

    I must confess to being far too excited at getting an anthology that I'm part of into a physical shop. Only two copies, and I don't know if they'll sell, but it's a great feeling knowing that they're there.

    ReplyDelete
  21. e-books not real books? GAH! I would slapped the hairdresser a doozy. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm booking that fortnight in the Maldives today! Bloody hell, I've earned it! ;)
    I try to remember that with each story. Even if nothing happens with it, i did it. I wrote a book.
    What a fun read this was!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Fabulous post, Phillipa. And so true! Finishing a first draft is such an awesome achievement that I think it def counts as a book. Mind you, I've had 3 bks published by Harlequin, and people still ask me when I'm going to write a 'proper' book. Grr.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lucy - yes, but they have people snogging on the cover. That doesn't count. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have just downloaded the Kindle edition of Fever Cure, which of course doesn't count either!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow. I'm honoured. Fever Cure doubly doesn't count because it's an e book and it has people snogging on the cover.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Phillipa, thank you loads for such a brilliant post and for coming on the blog today. I get so annoyed when people suggest ebooks aren't 'proper'. It's true what you say about validation...

    ReplyDelete
  28. And thanks, everyone, for all the wonderful comments!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thnaks Talli - and everyone. You know, the ironic thing is that biggest thing that makes people think I've written a real book is that is was made into a movie - which was simply an enormous stroke of good fortune.

    The producer was browsing amazon uk looking for ideas and he just came across it. Lottery winning chance there. But when they hear about the movie, they want to know if it was releaseds at the Odeon/on UK TV/starred Tom Cruise/have I made millions from it (NO)? Or it's not really a proper movie. :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love the idea that your book is real even when it's only the finished first draft! Thanks for the interview, Phillipa and Talli. :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Very nice post, even this non-writer enjoyed it. Richard

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great post, thanks for the advice! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. That's so true! This post really helped me today, mostly because last night I finished the first draft of my first novel! I've been trying to convince myself that it actually IS a book, but until I read your post I wasn't so sure.
    Thanks so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love this...and the colorist/Kindle conversation--awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great post, Talli. This is exactly what I needed-encouraging words.
    Thank you to you and Phillipa.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Funny!
    Can I still claim I've landed on the moon though?

    ReplyDelete
  37. I smiled allo the way through this! Awesome - and another reason hardly anyone in my real world knows I write yet! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Loved reading this! It really was the perfect read this morning for myself. Thanks Phillipa and Talli :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Beware of the people who keep feeding you excuses about your book not being a real book! ;-)

    Great post. Loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi Talli and Phillipa .. isn't it just wonderful .. how we get left hanging in the air of what we think is the beginning of a 'fair' discussion ... and our conversationalist partner wanders off to the next colouring .. leaving us to set.

    Now that's a good one - leaving us to set .. and mutter and ....

    Cheers great fun - thanks Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a fantastic post. I have two books and an agent, but I'm still so far from crossing the defining finish line where you are considered a "real writer".

    Even best friend said that she'd read my book, once it's published, and not on Kindle. She wants an actual book in her hands.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  42. An encouraging post - my favourite kind! Thanks Phillipa. x

    ReplyDelete
  43. What a fun interview! I had to laugh at the description of "slog, angst and hurdles" after the first draft. ;o) Amusing about e-books. Yep...I'm one of those who don't consider an ebook a "real" book. It's just one of those computerish high-tech thingies. Love my hard-copy books, especially the COVERS.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I understand what you mean, Carol, but my most recent book certainly felt real when I was writing it, every bit as real as the four written for print/e book publication. Without e-books, many authors would not be able to bring their stories to the reader at all, which would reduce your reading choice. Happily, most books also come out in print now, after the digital edition - via Print on Demand - but they can be a lot more expensive.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Love this post - I laughed out loud at the hairdresser part. :) And it's all so true - so many people think like that! Maybe we should all go back to listening to records to experience 'real' music. lol

    ReplyDelete
  46. Absolutely fantastic post. And oh so true.

    Happy Weekend to both of you!

    ReplyDelete
  47. LOL! She is so funny. I laughed through the whole interview. Random people on the bus, I've been tempted at times, I will admit. Lovely, inspiring post!

    ReplyDelete
  48. An excellent topic for a post, Talli.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Great post, Phillipa. I bet your hairdresser has an e-reader within the next couple of years! They've been slower to catch on here in the UK than in the States, but the revolution has begun. Even I, despite saying not too long ago 'I much prefer a REAL book', have just bought a Kindle - and have read more on it in the last week than I usually do in a month.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Terrific guest post, Phillipa. Thank you for sharing with us!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I have finished several, but have never written THE END - it just seems . . .
    I'm not sure what it seems like, but there it is :D

    ReplyDelete
  52. Very encouraging! Great post!
    I'm going to go a step futher and declare all those piles of paper and computer files I have, to be "real" books! Someday...

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love the wisdom in this post. I have been through much of what Phillipa described--seeking validation outside myself. It is so much better to find personal satisfaction with one's work.
    Lovely post.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Great post. I love Phillipa's book and look forward to reading this one.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Great interview and inspiring too! And yes, I would indeed tell ll the people on the bus.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Similar to doubts of when is a writer a real writer. Good stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Thanks Talli and Phillipa.

    This is such a true to life post.... Thank you for the encouragement and letting us in on this valuable secret. LOL.

    Have a great weekend ladies.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Ohmigosh i love this one. My first book was a commissioned work of non-fiction and funded by the Australian govt. BUT to some people ( namely people in my extended family) it wasnt a REAL book since it didnt get bought up by a megaworld publisher and its not in every shop from here to Timbuktoo. Now Im getting ready to self publish my YA Fiction series on Amazon etc and aw hell, there are SOOO many more people telling me THATS not a real book either. (my mum - "um but how can u really be an author if we cant even SEE yr book? its on a computer/kindle?"
    So, yes, i know all about writing 'real books' LOL. This journey is about constantly reminding myself- I'm here, Im a real writer and Im writing real books.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Wonderful! I've got to keep this in mind next time I get that glazed-eyed "why don't you self-publish and keep all the money?"

    ReplyDelete
  60. Thanks Phillipa and Talli for the great post! I often have doubts about myself being a "writer" because of my lack of credentials, but your post gives me hope. :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. What a fantastic read. :)

    I loved every part of it, especially The Shops. In fact, I want to hug this post as it's perfect in every way, and now I am off to Phillipa's blog!

    ReplyDelete
  62. This is a brilliant interview. It's such a shame that many people don't recognise a "real" book just because it's been published as a e-version. It doesn't make it any less a book and it doesn't make a writer an less an author.

    CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
  63. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Thanks so much for this. Until I read this post I really thought I was the only one feeling a sense of deep 'literary inferiority' as a writer with a small publisher. I just wish some of those well-meaning, but non-writing friends would simply say 'well done' and not ask for a business profile of the publisher.... and as you so rightly say, assume I'm just a little bit crazy thinking I'll ever publish that book...

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thank you for all the lovely comments!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Excellent and inspiring post. And as a playwright turned novelist, I sometimes think that plays are only ever real (in the minds of the public, anyway) for the short time they are actually being watched on stage. On the other hand, I've begun to realise that this is probably why I've taken to Kindle like a duck to water. I love 'paper' books too but all those years as a playwright have made me able to live with different delivery methods of 'real' work! Many thanks for the insight!

    ReplyDelete
  67. Great post. I think for me it would be when I had the published copy in my hand.I'm terribel for seeking validation and I'm trying to get out of the rut now. :O)

    ReplyDelete
  68. > your book becomes ‘real’ when the first draft is complete
    I like that bar, and I think it makes sense.

    I think it's what separates all the "starters" from the "finishers."

    ReplyDelete
  69. People have different definitions of being published, that's for sure! Most will be impressed enough when they discover your book on Amazon & B&N.

    I like how Phillipa wrote that it's real after the 1st draft. I agree w/ that because it's quite an accomplishment even tho' a lot more work needs to be done.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Oh, I love it, and I laughed too! I think this is why it's so important to have writers for friends -- they understand what you've done long before anything ever reaches The Shops!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Ahhh this post made me smile with relief. Thank you xx

    ReplyDelete
  72. You were write Talli, this is a post worth reading. I loved it and I can imagine a writer having a chuckle over it. I'm forwarding to friends.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Even after I finished my first draft, I was shy about showing it to other people. I don't want to show it to anyone until I revise it. I keep thinking that they'll have questions about certain scenes or characters and I'll respond by saying, "Oh, that's just the first draft. I'm going to rewrite that part."

    ReplyDelete
  74. When I started out, even my fellow writers who were published were regarded as dilettantes by friends and family members if they weren't making megabucks, published or not. If you weren't making a living at it, it was regarded as just a hobby.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Phillipa, I really enjoyed this post. I remember the pride swelling inside me when I completed my first draft. I had no idea what I was in for. No idea.

    It's hard to stop looking for validation

    Talli, thanks for the guest post.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I just read a book that was a series of events. It worked OK for Voltaire but I got bored knowing this MC was heading for the next event. Thanks for bringing this to light.
    Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

    ReplyDelete
  77. Great post, thanks for sharing, ladies!

    ReplyDelete
  78. Excellent post! I'd consider a book to be a 'real book' when it gets sent out to alpha/beta readers for critiquing. Then you've taken the first step into showing others your work. it's no longer just your story.

    ReplyDelete
  79. I'm overwhelemed by all the posts on here - thanks for responding and commenting.

    Yes - I empathise with the idea of being considered a 'dilettante' unless you are making a fortune. Even *if* you have made a resonable sum, I find many people expect you to be a millionaire. They're astonished when you are still doing a day job or other work - yet I think there's a good argument for having a day job or work as well as writing, financially and for the experience and perspective.

    PS Can I invite everyone who would like to , to join my mailing list? You can sign up via my website. :)

    ReplyDelete
  80. PS

    Re my actions with consequences vs series of events comment. This advice was given to me by the reader (critiquer) of my manuscript for the RNA new writers' scheme. I think it means that you should make sure that your characters act consistently rather than forcing them to fit in with your plot. In aromance, it's really important that character drives the story. Of course you do need 'inciting events' but I try to remind myself that the characters aren't there for me to play with, they soon take on live and minds of their own.

    I don't always get it right - I often get it wrong, in fact, which is probably why I do a lot of re-writing after the first draft.

    ReplyDelete
  81. I kinda want to give your hair stylist a piece of my mind! Thanks for the encouragement -- I think I'll get some first drafts finished now...

    ReplyDelete
  82. I'm feeling low now. I've got a contract with a small independent publisher and my book's due out at Christmas. It will be a real book, one you can feel and taste but I'm not sure it'll be on the shelves of Waterstones. Im fact I'm not sure what shelves it'll be on. Ah well, better get the bloody thing finished anyway. I may be the new JK Rowling. Great post. love it.

    ReplyDelete

Coffee and wine for all!