Over the weekend while praying 55 mph winds didn’t take down trees surrounding me, crush my comfy abode, and smash my car, I caught up on a few newsletters. You know the ones filled with book ads? The same ones I use to promote my books.
The lists of other books inspired me. After viewing them, all I wanted to do was get back to writing my current work in progress. One finished draft (except for the ending) is on the back burner to rest. This was the perfect time to continue another one, and lo-and-behold, the words are spilling out of my head.
I had started this book earlier, but I didn’t want to work on two books, so I let it sit after writing around 10,000 words. Now I’m up to over 22,000. Ranch matriarch Judy and her family are raring to get their book out there.
Another thing inspiring me this week, happened while reading group posts from authors who have three or four series books ready to publish via rapid release, and others finishing a series for a rapid release.
I have high praise for authors who do this. Congratulations to every one of you.
How do you wait though? When I have a book edited, formatted, and ready, I want and NEED my baby published. If I waited to write three or four books before publishing, I’d starve to death and end up on the street. What am I missing?
As I think about this, I might have an opportunity to at least write a prequel to a book due out in November and release them close together. This upcoming book could become a series. Authors, does it make sense to write a prequel to a book that won’t be a series?
I’m a full-time writer, but I can’t get books written quickly unless I set the word count at around 30 to 35,000 words. My readers are used to longer books from me. I’d like to write shorter books.
Yes, this is inspiring, but scary too. If this is the way publishing is going now, I’m in trouble. However, I don’t think it’s right for me.
I say, do what works best for you.
This week, I thought with so much inspiration from other authors surrounding me, I could write a short post to fit into my Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse spot. This is it. Keep on keeping on, y’all, and Happy Writing and Reading.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
8 thoughts on “Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: One, Two, Three, Four~Publish”
Cathy Brockman
I agree. Whatever works best for the story. I have a close friend already well into 2010 releases. I can’t get one out. I do have a few written from NANo’s past I could edit and put out but I’m not ready.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
It took me a few years to finish Howdy, Ma’am, Cathy, because life kept getting in the way. Writing that book was therapy. ❤ At the time, it didn't matter how long it took. It was my first Nano novel. Editing it was HELL, but for the next five years, I did edit my Nano novels as I went along, which made revisions so much easier. You’ll get there.
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Jacquie Biggar
Yay on the writing inspiration, Mary, that’s great!
I’ve seen books publishing in rapid fire succession as well, but after the reader reads those two or three books, what are they left with? They might really like your work and look forward to more, but you’ve taken that away from them because writing three books before releasing them takes TIME. And if you, as the writer, plan to continue that scenario you’re going to have to give your fans something to chew on so they don’t forget about you.
That’s my opinion, anyway 🙂
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
A huge book list should help keep readers reading, Jacquie. I don’t have one, but I love when readers go through what I have out. I don’t like keeping readers waiting, but I do what I can.
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D. Wallace Peach
I can feel the writing energy in your post, Mary. That’s wonderful. You sound inspired and that’s a good thing that your characters are demanding that their book gets published. Regarding rapid-fire series…I think they’re best for authors who don’t have a big following. I publish that way because there’s a much better chance that a reader will keep going if the whole story is done. Otherwise, my books fall off the radar. I don’t really wait, though. I write the entire series as one humongous book and then break it apart, so it isn’t really done until the whole thing is done. Happy Writing!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I love the way you write your series, Diana. One long book then split it up to be released within a short time of each other. Now that sounds doable.
I almost did that with one of my Bull Rider Series books that got to be so long, but I broke it up into Parts One and Two within the same book, and shortened as much as the story allowed. Fortunately, that book had the perfect place to end Part One and go right into Part Two, but I didn’t want part one to end the book. It works for that series. I pay delivery fees on it at Amazon and don’t care. Haha.
At that time, I wasn’t familiar with the term rapid-release. And you know what? I bet you have a bigger following than you think. I know your writing, and you have nothing to worry about readers not waiting for the next book. Keep doing what you’re doing. ❤
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D. Wallace Peach
Thanks, Mary. This marketing stuff often feels like an uphill slog, doesn’t it? I think genre makes a difference too in series/serials. It’s pretty common in fantasy to have serials. It seems that romance readers are more used to stand-alones (even within a series) and are willing to wait for the next because there aren’t a bunch of loose ends. 🙂
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
You labeled marketing correctly! LOL Good point about genres, Diana. I’d jump off a ledge if I had to leave a cliffhanger and not a happily ever after or happy for now ending. ❤ Happy Writing right back at ya.
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