FIVE AUTHOR TRAITS I ENVY
Thanks Cindy for hosting me today!
I don’t spend much of my time envying the success of other authors because it’s a waste of imagination. But I do occasionally envy certain traits. Traits I wish I had.
Time Maven. I don’t know how some authors have a MySpace page, Facebook, twitter, blog, update their websites, write over three books a year, chat on numerous author loops and attend five conferences a year. Just looking at all they do makes me tired. While I admire their ability to do all things, for me doing five major things a week is enough.
Organizational Diva. Authors who come up with detailed outlines, binders filled with character profiles, background, history and color coded index cards fascinate me. I have folders with a label for the story. That’s it. It’s mostly filled with post it notes, scraps of paper and brief observations. Some actually have clean desks. The only time my desk is clear is when I’m not working and I’m always working.
Popularity Vixen. Some authors are very gregarious. They have cliques and seem to know everyone in the industry. I can’t even keep up with the people I know outside the industry. I am not part of a critique group, nor do I find a need for one, and more often than not I find knowing too many people exhausting.
Tech Whiz. I know of fellow authors who have created avatars, radio shows, games etc…. as part of their marketing efforts. I think they’re all cool, but I have no idea how to do them. Not that I’d have the time if I did. But wow what creativity. For me instead of trying to learn or do it all, I find someone who already knows how. For example I use someone to create my book trailers and recently a commercial (see it here www.daragirard.com). I did try a podcast once and that was it.
Chocolate Queen. Chocolate is a big thing in the romance industry. When I went to the Harlequin party at RWA in DC they had a huge chocolate fountain. It was fantastic! It’s common knowledge that people treat themselves with chocolate when disappointed from a rejection or a bad review. They also reward themselves with chocolate when something good happens or just to celebrate. I joke about liking chocolate so that I can fit in, but personally give me a bag of Twizzlers and I’m a happy girl.
I hesitated writing this blog because I realize that I’m revealing myself to be an unorganized Luddite with hermit tendencies who prefers candy to chocolate, but I somehow feel I’m not alone. So while I may never be a Time Maven, Organizational Diva, Popularity Vixen, Tech Whiz or Chocolate Queen the great thing about this wild and wonderful industry is that we can all make it in our own unique ways.
Are there any traits others have that you wish you did too?
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For more info about Dara and her books, please visit her website.
Dara, I was with you all the way up to chocolate. Thanks for your fun post that put me in a good mood to start me writing. But I think I’ll have a piece of chocolate first …
Oops, I just had to add, my heroine’s name in my WIP is Dara! Really like your name.
Great interview. I wish that I was more organized. I have lots of little piles of papers all around the house, because I can’t seem to get organized, and then when I do…I have no clue where I put anything. If I put something away, thinking that I will know right where it is later, I generally cannot find it anywhere! So I tend to leave everything out, and with 4 kids the house can get cluttered, but it is either that or lose everything! My mom and 2 sisters are so organized, that trait skipped me! 🙂
Thanks~
Amy M
Hi everyone, and welcome to Dara.
The author trait I envy is Productivity. Authors who can speed demon their way through a book. That’s just not me, and sometimes I have a really hard time reconciling myself to my creative process. But I’ve tried writing fast, and I don’t like what I produce when I do.
Completely disagree about the chocolate thing! LOVE chocolate. My dh loves it, too, which doesn’t help. Even when I’m being good, he’ll bring it into the house.
My little sister doesn’t have a sweet tooth and I doubt she’d understand the romance writer/chocolate fascination either. You’re in good company!
Dara, I knew there was a reason I like you. We have so much in common! (Though I do like excellent dark chocolate, chilled in the fridge – but when it comes to desserts give me fruit pie or crisp with ice cream rather than gooey chocolate cake.)
As for the other things on your list… Oh yes, I can identify. I’ve earmarked this week as the one where I finally attack some of them. Like, to file the piles of paper that are currently messing up my office – research, notes, etc. from my last 2 or 3 books which need to go into binders or file folders. And to have the guts to tackle MySpace and Facebook (nope, not Twitter; maybe next year, if someone persuades me it’s worth the time). Also, to figure out how to best revamp my website (which I pay someone to do because no way do I have the tech skills). And to think about book videos for my next couple books.
My biggest problem isn’t that I’m completely disorganized, it’s that I’m addicted to reading. When I’m finished my writing for the day and have the choice of filing, social networking, doing promo, or reading a book, I’d just so much rather read than do any of those other things. How nice it would be to be able to afford an assistant!
(BTW, don’t enter me in the draw. I already own – and enjoyed – the book.)
Organization Diva – Exactly! Folders, stickies, and scraps of paper are my friends. I keep a can of Pledge under my desk in case I ever get it cleaned off. Last time I looked, I needed to dust the can.
Hi Dara! I’m not entering the contest, but just wanted to say I loved your blog. I too wonder where these people come from, – another galaxy perhaps? I like to console myself that I have a full time job outside of my writing, but I have a sneaking suspicion that even if I didn’t I’d never be that organized, tech savvy or popular!
Here’s to many happy sales!
Thanks Edie! I hope you enjoy your chocolate and your WIP!
Amy, I totally understand. My desk gets cluttered even without kids (so I have no bleeding excuse) and all the papers and notes and such can make it resemble a bird’s nest, but I do know where things are. The moment I try to ‘get organized’ (i.e. putting papers away in files) I forget what I labeled things…sigh…
Hey Cindy what I’ve learned is as long as you get a quality book out on the market that’s productive enough, but I completely understand how you feel.
Hmm…so I lost you with the chocolate huh? I probably shouldn’t have mentioned anything about the chocolate considering my grandfather owned a cocoa plantation. He might come and haunt me…yikes.
Hi Susan! Great to see you here. Oh yes I’m a book addict too and have to fight the draw of the wonderful books in my ‘to be read’ pile instead of doing what I’m supposed to do.
Yes an assistant sounds like a marvelous idea. One of these days.
LOL Carol! That’s great. A dusty can of Pledge…I love it.
I am a clutter addict. I need at least some of those traits, too. I need chocolate and a nap. (Just kidding about the nap!
Hey Mary, there’s nothing wrong with a good nap! Enjoy the chocolate.
Hi everyone,
Dara, thank you again for blogging yesterday. The winner is, by the roll of a dice…Carol Kilgore. Congratulations, Carol! You’ve won the copy of Dara’s ROUND THE CLOCK. Please look for an email from me in your inbox.
My next guest blogger is Kylie Brant, September 1st. Please join us again then.