Ding Dong, Deadline Calling!
As I write this, I’m down to the wire on my deadline for Little Black Dress, my tale of two sisters, a daughter, and a magical dress that changes all their lives forever. It’s something different for me after writing series mysteries, a YA nonmystery series, and contemporary women’s fiction. Little Black Dress mixes the past and the present (okay, with a pinch of mystery!), and it alternates between two very different voices.
I just finished proofing 300 pages after staying up late and working through the weekends to get this baby done. It’s weird how deadlines never seem that intimidating until, oh, about six weeks beforehand. That’s when you realize that maybe you shouldn’t have scheduled a fundraiser you’re spearheading that close to D-Day, and innumerable real-life crises rear their ugly heads (never fails).
It’s when you tell yourself, “Hey, this is life. Put on your big girl pants and deal with it.” Only that doesn’t keep the clock from ticking or that danged deadline from looming like Fraggle Rock (wait, that’s a kid’s show, right? Not very scary, huh?).
When I realized I had, oh, five chapters left last weekend, I went into panic mode, staying up way past my usual bed-time, working like a maniac (and, no, I don’t drink coffee!). It helps when hubby has a late night hockey game and doesn’t return until after midnight so I can write until he gets home and finds me with my face on the keyboard, QWERTY squished into my forehead. (All right, it never happened, but it was a constant threat.)
Ed has gotten used to seeing me in my pajamas 24/7, often with my hair sticking out like a rat’s nest. I would mumble inanely, “I swear, I’ll shower after dinner,” and then I’d disappear into my writing room and not emerge until 11 p.m., still a mess. But I would have gotten another chapter done.
If all goes well, by the time you read this deadline-itis inspired babble, I’ll be hitting “send” and turning in Little Black Dress to my agents and my editor at HarperCollins.
At which point, I plan to sleep for days, watch mindless HGTV, read the books stacked on
my bedside table, eat chocolate, and pray that they don’t come back and say, “Er, Susan, that thing you sent us? It’s a pile of poo.” (Has anyone ever had that happen, God forbid?) And soon enough, I’ll have to do revisions, turn in a proposal for the next book, and get back to writing again. No rest for the wicked, eh?
my bedside table, eat chocolate, and pray that they don’t come back and say, “Er, Susan, that thing you sent us? It’s a pile of poo.” (Has anyone ever had that happen, God forbid?) And soon enough, I’ll have to do revisions, turn in a proposal for the next book, and get back to writing again. No rest for the wicked, eh?With two books due in 2011, I should really take a spin in the nearest phone booth (er, if I can find one) and emerge in my super-powered, superhero suit, consisting of plaid flannel jammie pants, the “rock star” T-shirt Maggie gave me, fuzzy socks, and rat’s nest hair. “Ah-ha-ha,” I’ll say in my throaty–um, squeaky–voice, “I am Deadline Girl! Look out!”
Or else I’ll just take a nap.
Little Black Dress has been bumped up in the schedule and will now be out in June from HarperCollins instead of next fall (or, actually, May 17, 2011 if we’re being particular). You can already pre-order it online, which is kind of funny as of this moment, since I just finished writing it. Toodles and TGIF!!! –Susan
Congratulations!!!
Take off at least a day (or two) before starting the next two books 🙂
Marian
Congratulations, Susan! I'm so happy for you. Guess where I am? Six weeks from deadline! And as I have mentioned to you before, at almost 70,000 words…but no plot (that I can discern in my addled state). Going to order LBD right now. Maggie
It's coming out on my birthday! Good omen for me. Magical things will happen for me thanks to your book =)
Funny how we're both writing about the magic in clothing! My dressmaking magic series has a really similar theme. Great minds…
Do you have a cover, Susan? LOVE everything about this book. Hope you 'strip it down' for The Naked Hero and come back to Books on the House!!!
Marian, you are too funny! My husband laughs when I say, "I'm taking two weeks off!" He's, like, "You won't last two days." Thanks, btw. 🙂
Maggie, thank you, chickie! I had 130 pages to write with six weeks left, so you're in great shape (IMHO). You will find that plot, I know it! It's just hiding somewhere, probably behind the Thanksgiving turkey. Go get 'em!
Misa, oh, wow, that is a good omen! I freaked out when they moved it from fall to spring at first, because there's so little time to do anything! But now I'm thinking having my release date on such an auspicious occasion (your b-day!) will be nothing but positive! Wow, magic clothing must be on our brains! As for the cover, that's still being worked on (I hope). The art department and sales seem to have the impression that LITTLE BLACK DRESS is about a chick litty girl who likes to go to cocktail parties. I hope now that I've turned in the book, they'll realize that's not it at all. But we shall see!
P.S. Misa, yes, count me in for The Naked Hero and Books on the House! That would be great! 🙂
Hey Susan! You say you'll take two weeks off and your hubby says no way? (giggles) Mine would maybe give me half a day. I must be as hopeless as you – and I say that in a nice way. Sandie
Sandie, we must have the same Energizer Bunny DNA! But I've been a bum today, and I'm going to try hard to be a bum tomorrow. 😉
I'm glad you've finished. What a relief–though I bet your mind is already working on the next one.
Marilyn
Marilyn, you're right, I am. And I need to jot down those thoughts soon before they escape. 😉
Cheers,
Susan