What We're Writing Week: Why Julia Writes

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I've been having difficulties getting back into writing regularly since taking most of June off to help with some family issues. It doesn't help that I'm super-distractable and am pretty sure I have adult ADD. (I asked my doctor about getting tested, and he said, "Well, were you ever diagnosed in childhood?" I'm thinking, Listen, 30-year-old dude, I grew up in the 60s and 70s. No one was getting diagnosed with ADD! No, I didn't say it out loud.)

Anyway, the best thing to do when you're struggling to get back into creative work and fighting off distractions is to read many articles about your issues, right? So I was reading one, which I unfortunately didn't bookmark, and have forgotten the name of, because, again, squirrel brain. But I do remember a part of the motivational exercise: Identify why you do the task you're having a hard time accomplishing.

In other words, why do I write? Since I also needed a blog for today, I decided to work the exercise right here, thus killing two birds with one stone.

I write because no one else is writing the particular stories I want to read. Honestly, I was thrilled when  saw there was some Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne fan fiction on Archive of Our Own. At last, I thought, someone else will write these people and I can just read it! But no, sadly, there's been no huge rush of amateur stories. And no one has copied me enough to scratch my itch. If I want to read about Russ and Clare and their friends, it's up to me. Sigh.

 

I write because I'm not really that good at anything else. I'm a decent mom, but I've happily aged out of that occupation. I was always a good student - again, lots of writing - but only so-so in the careers I studied for. I'm too lazy to start my own businesses (see below) like my sister, the Realtor/ Face Painter/ Acting Manager. And I can't think of anything interesting to podcast, so there goes that potential income stream.

 

I write because I do love being a part of the community. We all complain about the conferences and the bookstore appearances and the panels at libraries. But honesty, I love them. Not the travel so much - who loves travel these days? But hanging out with fellow writers, oh, that can keep me going for weeks afterwards.

 

I write because I get paid to do it. Authors tend to say, "Oh, I'd do it for free." But would we? Really? As one writer told me, "That check from my publishing company lets me know just how much they love me."

I write because I'm lazy. I've done other jobs. I've waitressed, I've worked in a fundraising office in a museum, I went to law school and practiced for a hot five minutes. Believe me, writing is easier than anything else. I get to sit in my comfy desk chair (with my Fit Bit reminding me to get up and walk every hour) and play with my imaginary friends. Four hours of writing? Ooo, time to crack my back and call it a day. Try that with an office job. 

I write because I'm egotistical. I confess to you, dear readers, that I love it when people tell me how much they like my book, and when they praise my talent, skill, etc. etc. It's like hearing people praise your children: it literally never gets old. 

 

Finally, I write because I've never found anything as personally fulfilling. No, not even motherhood - my kids are a reflection of me, but are also part of their dad, and their friends, their experiences, etc. Besides, the goal of parenting is to work your way out of the job. But writing - ah, that's a job you can go on and on with, digging in to get better as the years go by, exploring different places and plots and people. I, at the bottom, really love it. And I love what writing does for me.

Well, that turns out to have been a useful exercise! I'm actually feeling quite charged up right now. Maybe I'll try listing my reasons for writing at the start of each week, and see if it remains a motivating force.

Feel free to try it for yourselves, dear readers - why do you do that thing you're dragging your feet on?

Publishing Surprises

INGRID THOFT

Every Q&A I do with a writer always includes this question:  "What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?"

A common response is how welcoming and supportive the mystery/thriller community is to newcomers.  For a group that murders on a regular basis, where actually quite kind.  On Wednesday, Mike Lawson mentioned the need for self-promotion as being a somewhat unwelcome surprise.  I would second the vote for the inclusive nature of fellow writers, but I also have another surprise to add.  I was surprised how much being published didn't change the work itself:  It didn't get easier!  Each book presents its own challenges and having a contract and an editor don't change that.

What about the rest of the Reds?  What has surprised you most about (or since) becoming a published author?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Huh. Interesting. Of course, as you say, the enthusiasm and congeniality of my colleagues. Astonishing. AND the wonderful people at events. I am constantly delighted with the level of welcome I receive.  But I wasn't surprised about the personal pressure to consistently be better, or the intense need to hurry hurry hurry. The level of how much stuff there is to do, though, is really incredible. I have massive to-do lists, and they grow and grow. This is not in the nature of a complaint, by any means--but the work that accompanies the writing is endless. Ah--I hope it's endless, right?

HALLIE EPHRON: I kept thinking it would get easier, but it hasn't. Not for me, at least.  At Sleuthfest this week Andrew Gross talked about how, as a writer you're harvesting your own experiences, and soon you run out of the low-hanging fruit. So true. That's one reason it gets harder -- you don't want to repeat yourself. But also, as Hank says, you keep raising the bar on yourself.

JENN McKINLAY: Honestly, I agree with all of the above. The writing community is amazing. I feel fortunate to have made some of the best friends of my life within it. Also, the amount of promotion (ugh) and that the writing does, actually, get harder was unforeseen, but it makes sense if you're striving to make each book better. What surprised me beyond all that was what little control I have. After the first contract, I thought I had wiggle room. Nope. After I hit the NYT, I thought, now I'll have more say. Nuh-uh. I am still mostly the content creator with very little input on the cover, the marketing, the schedule, etc. Mostly, I'm fine with it as writing is what I want to be doing but there are days...ahem.

RHYS BOWEN: Oh, how I agree with the warmth and generosity of the mystery community. I think all of us have developed real and close friendships among writers who should have been considered our rivals. And I agree too that it doesn't get easier. I am not an outliner and the first fifty pages of every book I write find me in pure panic mode. And the stakes seem to get higher with each book, especially after one wins a few awards. Each book has to be better or at least as good as the one before. It's a challenge after 40 books to make the next one fresh and exciting.

The Reds, prepping to write each day

Another surprise, and it's a humbling one, is how few people will know who you are. You say you write mystery novels and they say what's your name, and then they shake their heads and say "Never heard of you!"

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I was not surprised by the amount of self promotion--I'd been well-prepared by published friends and mentors. BUT, I could never, in the early nineties, have anticipated social media and the presence required there! Nor did I anticipate the sheer amount of non-writing work involved with being a writer. Or the fact that books just keep getting harder, or at least they do for me. As Hallie mentioned, trying not to repeat yourself becomes a big issue.

But on the very plus side, although I'd learned pretty early that writers were generally a friendly bunch, I continue to be amazed by the strength and generosity of the mystery community. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Since I agree and would repeat everything already said, may I mention money? Don't worry, I'm not going to mention figures, but after hearing time after time after time that it's impossible to make a living as an author, it was a happy surprise to discover I could, in fact, support myself (and the family) as a novelist. 

The stories about financially successful writers always seem to focus around the blazing "It" debut of the year whose author got a $600,000 advance, or it's someone who's an international bestseller with a TV show/movie spin-off. You seldom see stories about authors like, well, many of us - people who write popular books year after year (well, not me, obvs., but the rest of you do!) growing their readership until sales and advances reach the point where they don't need a day job. 

When I talk to young people, that's one of the key messages I try to get across - you CAN make a living as an artist. 

Your turn!  Do you have tales of publishing surprises or a publishing question?  Ask away!

ON THE MONEY

"Patricia Smiley is a wonderful, charming and funny lady and it comes through on every page of COOL CACHE...Smiley's style is easygoing and draws the reader in effortlessly and then proceeds to entertain and engage for a totally satisfying read."

—Crimespree Magazine

We have to put this in--when there's a guest blogger, showing their formal bio is de rigueur.

So, fine, here's what Patty Smiley's bio says:

Patricia Smiley earned a BA in Sociology from the University of Washington in Seattle. She also holds an MBA with honors from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Her debut novel FALSE PROFITS about Los Angeles management consultant Tucker Sinclair received a starred review from Booklist and was a Book Sense recommendation. Her follow-up novel COVER YOUR ASSETS was a RomanticTimes Top Pick. Both novels were Los Angeles Times Bestsellers. SHORT CHANGE is the third in the series. Patty is Vice President of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and a member of Sisters in Crime. She is also a Specialist Reserve Officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. She lives in Los Angeles. The fourth next book in the Tucker Sinclair series, COOL CACHE is now on the shelves.

And that's very lovely, and she's quite successful and even studied with Elizabeth George, which is off the charts cool.

But Hank says: I met Patty at the Romantic Times convention is Pittsburgh. We were on-line pals first, because we're both in the Mystery Chix and Private Dix (don't ask) a coalition of mystery authors who banded together at RT and a great time was had by all. Here are some of us:

Lori Andrews, PATTY SMILEY, Lori Avocato, Hank, Shane Gericke, Lois Greiman, CJ Lyons

Anyway, Patty and Hank sat together on the bus to Mystery Lovers Bookstore Festival of Mystery and Romance in Oakmont, a real treat and a true adventure, and Hank can tell you--she's amazing. They went out for wine, had dinner, shared panels. Patty's funny, wise, thoughtful and authentic. (Hank's note: I'm trying not to gush here, but I'm failing.) Patty also revealed that sometimes people congratulate her on her wonderful novel, A Thousand Acres. Which, of course, is by JANE Smiley. No relation. Hank told her they probably congratulate Jane on the Tucker mysteries. Anyway, we're very proud that she agreed to hang out at Jungle Red today. And even answer our questions.

JRW: Tucker Sinclair, your main character, is a management consultant. You have an MBA. With honors. Can you do math? How does the arithmetic part of your brain—where there’s only one way for everything to work perfectly—balance with the mystery writing part, where there are endless answers?

PATTY: I have a Masters degree in Business, so I can do math. In fact, I find great many similarities between math and mystery. In both cases, there is only one solution. In math, it’s a number. In mystery, it’s the identity of the killer. In both cases, you look at all the possibilities, organize and analyze the data, and, hopefully, come up with the correct solution.

JRW: You’re funny. And Tucker is funny, wry and charming. Oh yeah, and tough. But do you think about “making it funny”? Or does funny-ness just emerge?

PATTY: My mother got to you. Right? Trying to be funny doesn’t work. Humor is subjective. It has to be organic and it has to come from the characters or the situation. I don’t worry about humor, especially in my first draft. If it happens, it happens. In the first draft, I work out the plot. Later, I sharpen the dialogue and Tucker’s attitude. If I can make myself smile, I know I’m on the right track.

JRW: What’s your outlook now on your “writing life” compared to what it was say, when you started?

PATTY: When I first started writing, I was a member of a 10-member critique group. I met with them once a week for nine years, and over time, we became close friends. Back then, the writing life was full of wonder and expectation. I had no agent, no editor, no book contract, and no deadline. Everything seemed possible. Once I sold my first novel, life changed. There was still wonder and expectation, but I also understood I had a new career that needed tending and that responsibility was mine.

JRW: Anything you wish you had known, or wish someone had told you, or wish you had believed when they did?

PATTY: A very successful author once told me this about writing books, “It’s your job; stop waiting for it to be fun.” I hate to admit it, but I think that’s good advice.

JRW: When people ask what you do for a living, do you say “author” “mystery author” “writer”—or what? Do you remember the first time you said “writer”?

PATTY: We’re supposed to be making a living at this? Jeez! The pressure. I never tell people what I do unless they ask. If they ask, I usually say, “I write mystery novels.” I use writer and author sparingly because, I’m not sure a mere four books qualifies me as a real writer. Short fiction seems much more difficult. When I had my first short story published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, I began to understand what it felt like to be a real writer.

JRW: Can you image not writing the Tucker books? Or let’s put it this way—is there anything else you’d like to try?

PATTY: When you write a series, you become invested in the lives of your characters and you want to see what will happen to them. In fact, I think it would be impossible to write a series if you didn’t love your characters. On the other hand, my short stories don’t feature Tucker, and I’ve enjoyed writing those. I’ve also explored the possibility of writing a true crime book. Luckily, one asset of fiction writers is a vivid imagination. Everything seems possible.

Here's a picture of Patty's Westie, PJ. Because we can't resist a cute dog. If you've read the Tucker books, you'll know her dog Muldoon bears a certain resemblance:

And, of course, now Patty will make the Jungle Red choices:

Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot?

Hercule, because I love eccentric people and he’s the prototype.

Sex or violence?

SEX!!!!!!

Pizza or chocolate?

I’ve never been addicted to chocolate, but my fourth book is set in a high-end chocolate shop in Beverly Hills so, of course, I had to do a little research…okay, so I had to do a lot of research. (Tough job, this writing game.) I’ve gained a greater appreciation for chocolate, but still, I’d choose pizza (bell pepper and black olive—yum).

Daniel Craig or Pierce Brosnan? (We won’t even include Sean Connery because we know the answer, don’t we?)

I haven’t seen Daniel Craig as the new 007, but he’s a good actor and a tougher version Bond, which I find appealing.

Katherine Hepburn or Audrey Hepburn?

Kate. She reminds me of Tucker: smart, funny, and a bit of a challenge.

First person or Third Person?

Either or. I enjoy reading and writing both. My novels are in first person, which seems like an intimate way of telling a story. However, my short stories have all been in third person.

Prologue or no prologue?

I am not a fan of prologues but they seem to be a common convention in many thrillers. Most seem unnecessary.

Making dinner or making reservations?

I used to enjoy cooking before I started writing. Now I just “forage for food.” What do I call a can of peaches with an expiration date within the last decade? Dinner.

And finally: STUMP THE READERS in The Jungle Red Quiz:Tell us four things about you that no one knows. Only three can be true. We’ll guess.

Patty says she:

1. Worked as an Easter bunny at a children’s party

2. Was a group supervisor in juvenile detention

3. Went with a date to the city dump to shoot rats

4. Responsible for sending several people to state prison

JRW: From yesterday, we're still waiting to see Neil Plakcy as Mr. Flag. Now, we have another must-see: Patty as the Easter Bunny. We hope that's one of the true ones. What do you all think? (And hey--have you ever dressed up as a character?)