Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Lovestruck Novice Welcomes Elisabeth Naughton!!

Welcome back, TLN'ers!! Hope the weekend didn't roast you too bad. It sure is summer time and if you're in the need of a little pick-me-up, I've got just the gal to make your day bright!

Elisabeth Naughton was sweet enough to come on back to the TLN Hot Seat and this time she's giving us the gospel on staying focused and poised for success!

Crank up the A/C and snag a big ole glass of something cool. We're getting down to the good stuff!

Take it away, Elisabeth!


Thanks so much to Sarah for inviting me back to the Lovestruck Novice! Friday night I spoke at a book club meeting about my May 2010 release, MARKED, the first in my new Eternal Guardians series. Someone said to me after the meeting how amazing it is that next week, my 5th published novel, ENTWINED – book two in the Eternal Guardians series – hits store shelves. “Five books in a year and a half. How do you do it?” this woman asked.

I get asked all the time if I write like a wild woman. I must, right? The truth is I don’t. I’m actually a procrastinator and tend to skate through the early months of my deadlines then crunch at the end (ah, reminds me of college). I definitely wouldn’t recommend this writing schedule to anyone (it makes for some very stressful weeks near the end) but it works for me and I’ve learned over the years that I’m the type of writer who works well under pressure. However, one of the best things I did for myself before I was published was I forced myself to write to a deadline, and I finished books and moved on to new ones.

When you’re not under contract to finish a book, it can be really hard to sit down every day and write when there are other, more enticing things to do. Summer’s especially hard because kids are home, the sun is out and who doesn’t want to be outside when it’s nice? If you’re a writer who is committed to selling, however, I would advise you to find a balance. Don’t give up on your writing. Stick with it even when the weather is nice. Write every day (or every other day). Find time to work in a scene here and there. Stay fresh, keep writing, and when you finish a book, move on to another one.

Not only is this good training for the day you get “the call” but it also makes sense in the long run. Before I was published, I wrote mostly at night after my kids were in bed (still do a lot of the time). In the five years I wrote before I sold, I finished six manuscripts. Manuscript five (which became STOLEN FURY) is the book that landed me both my agent and my first publishing contract. Manuscript six (which became STOLEN HEAT) was accepted as the second book in that first contract. The day I got “the call”, I was also ¾ of the way through an entirely new book—which readers now know as MARKED—and decided to finish that before diving into the third book in my first publishing contract (book three in my stolen series – STOLEN SEDUCTION). So of the five books I now have on the shelf (as of next week!!), 2 ¾ were done before I sold a single thing.

This isn’t the norm. I realize that. Many times writers have prewritten manuscripts that don’t fit with their new writing style or series ideas that can’t or won’t be accepted as part of your first contract. But every book you write makes you a better writer, and continuing on from one manuscript to the next, in my opinion, isn’t just good practice, its good business. Write manuscripts that can stand on their own or be easily linked to other manuscripts you’ve already written. Take a break and write something new and different and see where it takes you. Whatever you do, just write. The only way you’ll ever reach your goal is to start thinking like a published author so that the day “the call” happens, you’re already ahead of the curve.

In honor of the release of ENTWINED, I’ve got a copy of the book to give away to one lucky commenter! Simply tell me what your writing schedule is like and what your plan is to keep moving forward.

And for those of you interested in ENTWINED, here’s a short blurb about book two in the Eternal Guardians Series, which is available everywhere on July 27, 2010:



ZANDER — The most feared of all the Eternal Guardians. It’s rumored he can’t be killed, and he always fights like he has nothing to lose. But as a descendant of the famed hero Achilles, he’s got to have a vulnerability… somewhere.

Forces of daemons are gathering and have broken through the barriers of the Underworld. Now more than ever the Eternal Guardians are needed to protect both their own realm and the humans’. Zander can’t afford to think about what might have been with the bewitching physician he once regarded as his soul mate. But with eternity stretching before him, he also can’t fathom spending his life without the one woman who makes him feel most alive. Perhaps he’s found his weakness, after all…


***
A previous junior-high science teacher, Elisabeth Naughton now writes sexy romantic adventure and paranormal novels full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her debut release, Stolen Fury, heralded by Publisher’s Weekly as “A rock-solid debut,” was recently nominated for two prestigious RITA® awards by Romance Writers of America in the Best First Book category and the Best Romantic Suspense category. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ball park or dreaming up new and exciting adventures. Visit her website at http://www.elisabethnaughton.com/.



You feeling geared up to go forth and achieve your dreams? Boy, oh, boy, I sure am! And how about those covers? Ain't they the smokin'?! Wowza! The Cover Gods sure shined the light down upon her, huh? *wink wink* I'd like to thank Elisabeth for taking the time to swing by and hang out with us today. I wish her tons of success and sales with her current release and many happy more! Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win!

THANK YOU, TLN'ers!! Here's a ditty straight from Elisabeth's play list, so please enjoy the super sexy
BILLY CURRINGTON and MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT! Catch ya back on Wednesday!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Carol L. said...

Hi Elisabeth,
I'm not a writer and therefor have no schedule.But I sure am glad you are and wait to read your books. I'd imagine if I were a writer I'd have to set a deadline, for me it would be the only way knowing how I am. :)
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Great Post! I actually picked up Marked about two weeks ago and loved it! I am not a writer but I do run a book review blog and I have to keep a tight calendar with commitments and make sure that I post my review on time. So I do my best to write them as soon as I finish the book and pre-post. I have some serious slumps though but I get paranoid with the deadline.

Brande
bookjunkie@ymail.com

Sarah Simas said...

Hi Carol and Brande!

Thanks for dropping by! Working with a deadline can be used for anything-- like me and finishing my laundry. *sigh* It's never ending! LOL Hope your summer is going great! :)

I try to write everyday, but some days that's a tall order. Usually it all revolves around my kiddos naptime and bedtime. I can't concentrate for beans when they are up and terrorizing the house!lol

I'll be dropping back in after my son's speech therapy. TTFN-ta-ta-for now! :)

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

I try to write everyday, but Mondays are dedicated to serious writing since it's my day off from work. I have to keep that day job. My children and pets insist on eating. lol

My daughter read Marked. She raved about the story and looks forward to reading more of your books. She has me intrigued. :)

I wish you the best.

Fedora said...

Wow, thankfully no writing schedule (not a writer!), but it's hard to stick to a schedule for everything else during the summer! It all seems to go out the window! I do agree that making a schedule and sticking to it helps fit in the things that are important--not merely the things that are urgent. Keep on writing, Elisabeth! I've got Marked on top of the TBR and can't wait to get reading!

Julie Anne Lindsey said...

I have to laugh anytime someone asks about my writing schedule. "Schedule" isn't really the right word. I think something more like obsessive-compulsive-binge-writing is a better description. Once I begin a story, and I know I'm ready when I can't stop thinking about the people the plot the troubles, then I just. keep. writing. Like Forest Gump running, I literally can't think of anything else, life falls in the cracks as I write and write and write. Then, I breathe. And Edit. Whoa. Please tell me I'm in good company! LOL.

Elisabeth Naughton said...

Hi Carol - Thanks for the warm welcome! Deadlines for anything are always useful. Keeps us from slacking off too much (I think). LOL

Hi Brande - thanks so much for the comment, and I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed MARKED! People tell me ENTWINED is even better, so hopefully you'll like that Zander's book as well. I'm too close to judge - I like them both!

Elisabeth Naughton said...

Hey Sarah - thanks so much for having me here today!

I hear you on the kids thing. Mine are home for the summer and that's part of the reason I've been so unproductive (so far) this summer. By the evening I'm just exhausted, so my writing time gets cut short.

This week they're in camp though, so I'm hoping to make some good progress on the WIP (fingers crossed!).

As for laundry...oy...mine never ends. And I can't seem to keep that on a deadline. It doesn't care!

Elisabeth Naughton said...

Hi Karen - the day job is very important, I agree. But good for you keeping up with the writing!

I'm so happy to hear your daughter enjoyed MARKED. Thanks for letting me know! That always makes my day.

Elisabeth Naughton said...

Hi Flchn1 - thanks for stopping by! Schedules and to-do lists are the way I run my life. (Even though I'm horrible about following a schedule). At least my calendar keeps me semi-organized!

Julie - You're in great company (at least you're in MY company! LOL). I'm a binge writer too. One day I might write 5K words, the next nothing. I write when it comes to me, as fast as it comes to me, and then sometimes I don't write at all. I wish I could be a writer who punched out 2K words a day on a consistent basis, but I've finally come to the realization that's just not how I work. We're all different. There's no one right or wrong way to write a book. Just keep writing! (Forest Gump style is A-OK with me.)

Sarah Simas said...

Hi Karen, flchen1, Julie!!

Thanks for visiting! :)

LOL On the day job and having to eat, Karen. Good for you taking Mondays for your writing. How awesome!

Oh yes, flchen1! I agree w/ you in summer being hard on schedules. LOL I can't seem to get it together. I'm sure my hubby would agree! LOL

HI Julie! Loved your Forrest reference! Such a cool movie! What a wonderful feeling though to be in the groove like that. :) I bet it feels awesome!

Hi Elisabeth!! How awesome you have a week sans gremlins! Hope you get a lot of work done. This the last week of speech for the summer and I have grand plans to write since we'll be homebound for three weeks until kindergarten satrs mid-August. YAY!

My laundry has babies over the weekend which leaves me behind the eight ball every Monday. I feel like a damn rat on a wheel! LOL I never get anywhere! And the worst is I hate folding it. YUCK!

Julie said...

I, being an adrenaline junkie, completely subscribe to the last-minute, writing under pressure school of thought. But I'm trying to schedule myself, really. A bit of writing every night, with a mini-deadline of a certain amount of words by midnight. :D

Katrina Nutt said...

I'm not a writer but my mom is, she writes everyday and she's the one that told me about this. I loved your book! I raved about to my mom. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. :]

Ginny M. Christensen said...

Hello Elisabeth & my good friend Sarah,

Wow! Sarah is right. Those smokin hot covers are incredible. They've got me hooked! Love your website too. Did you design it?

Elisabeth, thanks for sharing your writing technique. I will heed your advice about finding a balance and vow to be more diligent!

I can relate to deadlines and last minute changes and schedules. I work in a law firm! At work, I'm very organized, but my writing, unfortunatley, seems to run on a hit-and-miss schedule. I too, am a night owl but just can't seem to stick to any sort of schedule. Maybe after an 8 or 9 hour hectic work day, my mind is rebelling.

Thanks, Elisabeth for your honesty! Congrats on your success.

Ginny