I was told in no uncertain terms by my publisher that my book had to be in quickly, because if we missed summer and slid into fall the book would not sell. Period.
As a result, I drew up an outline and wrote the book to outline at a pace of 4,000 words a week. Since my book was about my zany adventures as a real-estate agent (plug: it's the pick in Newsweek this week) I also had to keep cozying up to customers and showing condos.
At the time, I resented the forced-march quality of this schedule, but now I thank my lucky stars that I didn't have ten years to write, because I fear I would have taken it.
Wait, you're allowed to MISS your deadlines?
I was told in no uncertain terms by my publisher that my book had to be in quickly, because if we missed summer and slid into fall the book would not sell. Period.
As a result, I drew up an outline and wrote the book to outline at a pace of 4,000 words a week. Since my book was about my zany adventures as a real-estate agent (plug: it's the pick in Newsweek this week) I also had to keep cozying up to customers and showing condos.
At the time, I resented the forced-march quality of this schedule, but now I thank my lucky stars that I didn't have ten years to write, because I fear I would have taken it.
Biographers, I salute you.
Alison Rogers
author, "Diary of a Real Estate Rookie"
http://tinyurl.com/2ag28z