Two days is definitely not long enough to qualify as a pattern, but if this almost-pattern continues, not only will I have a new book, but I’ll be back in shape.
I wound up walking again yesterday, walking to think through the plot of my new book. I walked 5 miles. Yes, that’s a lot of thinking. After I came home I wrote like a madwoman, then fell into bed at 8:30 pm. (If I find the bird that woke me up at 1 am, I will acquire the necessary plumage for a new hat.) Except for the rude wake-up call, I was very happy with the way the day went.
In other news, the stage play version (put on by the Gifford Family Theater) of FEVER 1793 won the Best New Original Play Award from SALT, the Syracuse Area Live Theater group. Congrats to script writer and director Steve Braddock and all the fine actors who worked on the production.
Patricia Newman posted an article about me on her website. I especially love the last paragraph.
Max writes: I was recently searching Lois Lowry’s website and decided to read the FAQ section. In it, somebody had asked her if they would get rich being a writer. She responded no. I was wondering if you felt the same way. I plan on becoming a writer when I grow up, and though I already knew I wouldn’t make a tremendous amount of money like J.K. Rowling, I am still hoping to live off the money I make.
*pauses for hysterical laughter*
No, most authors are not rich. J.K. Rowling is the exception. Authors earn a percentage of every book sold. For a hardcover book, it’s usually 10% of the cover price. For a paperback, it’s about 6%. I signed up SPEAK before I had an agent and made a very bad deal. I earn about 9 cents on most of the SPEAK paperbacks. Now I have an agent, so that won’t happen again. But agents take 15% of your gross income (20% for foreign deals).
If you go into writing to get rich, you will be disappointed. But if you are looking for rewarding, inspiring work, and you are a frugal person who is willing to work hard, you’ll be fine. Good luck!
More fan mail in the next few days. I need to do a PROM post, too. I have some good news about the book and a really funny article that Julia sent me to share.
Off to walk and write.