April 21, 2006
Things you might not know about authors (and thanks for the memories, too)
Written by Jenna Petersen in Jaunty GuestsThis is my last day as a Jaunty. *sniffle* So I guess I should move my hat so it’s no longer at a jaunty angle and take off my “I’m Jaunty” t-shirt (after a week it needs a wash anyway). I’ve had a lot of fun this week, so thanks for all your comments and thanks to the Jaunties for letting me come play in their yard.
Today, I want to talk about things you may not know about authors. So here we go:
We aren’t all rich. — Shocking, I know. This career is strange in that there is always the potential for huge success, but for the majority of us will probably settle into the middle class income range. And even that will take a while. But, of course, people will assume we are swimming in money. But… we aren’t. Sorry to disappoint.
We have lives outside of writing (at least some of us do) — At least, I’ve heard that rumor. 
Sometimes it feels like it can’t be true. But most authors do have families and spouses and even jobs outside of writing. We have heartaches and successes that the public will never see. No one’s life is perfect, even those big untouchable authors who seem to be living a dream.
We are scared of you — Readers, this one’s for you. We’re scared that you might hate our book. We’re scared you’ll love our book. We’re scared you’ll compare us to someone else who you like more. We’re scared you’ll compare our book to a book we wrote ten years ago and you liked more. We’re scared you won’t buy our book this time. We’re scared you’ll go out and buy our book in droves and change the course of our lives forever (and that #1 will no longer apply). So when you meet us and you’re nervous… don’t forget that we’re nervous, too.
We are scared of ourselves — I’m always terrified I’ll never think of another good idea again. It doesn’t matter that I have a notebook of scribbled ideas that contains enough information for twenty more books if I ever need it. I’m also afraid that when I love something I wrote that it only means I killed my internal editor. And that my publisher or my readers will figure out I’m a total fraud. This is a profession where luck and timing play a big part, even after “The Call” and I’m always trying to read the tea leaves to figure out where I stand. I’m telling you, writers in general are a mass of quivering terror.
We love and hate our work in just about equal measure — We all have Joan Wilder moments (you know, in Romancing the Stone when she’s just finished her book in the very beginning and she’s crying and she says, “Damn, I’m good!”) and we all have moments where we wonder if they’d just take the advance back and let us back out of the deal. My husband says he can track my progress by both my appearance and demeanor at the dinner table. If I set my head on the table (probably getting my uncombed hair in the spaghetti) and say, “I suck, this book sucks, I’m a hack”, he knows I’m halfway through. In fact, he’ll even say, “In three days you’ll be happy again. You’re right on schedule.”
We pretend to be extroverts when we meet you, but most of us are introverts — At least I am. I’m sure there must be extroverted authors. I don’t know any, but they have to exist (just like unicorns and lepricons). For me, though, I write alone in a room with two cats and no adult conversation for 8 hours a day, five days a week. My biggest outing is usually when I run household errands each Friday (that’s where I’m going next). So you put me in a hotel with 2000+ readers and writers, I put on my game face, but inside I’m exhausted. So please, for the love of everything holy, if you see me at one of these things… come say hi.
We love the Happily Ever After, too. — I love writing the Happily Ever After. I think it’s the best job in the world. There is nothing better than putting two characters through hell and then giving them love at the end. No broken hearts or broken lives or broken families. Just Happily Ever After.
The End.
8:41 am | Share This
Anne Mallory Says:
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
All of them - so true.
Thank you SO much for blogging this week Jenna. It has been fabulous and we hope you come back!!!
*helps Jenna wash her t-shirt, smells own t-shirt, glances around nervously, throws it in the washer too*
Shana Says:
What? We aren’t all rich? I thought it was just me. Great blog, Jenna. Yesterday’s too! We’ve so enjoyed having you here. Come visit any time!
Lacey Kaye Says:
Awww, Jenna! We can always count on you to be honest. Thanks for taking a shower before the conferences. I can see that takes a lot out of you!
Isabel Says:
Awesome blog, Jenna! Thank you for letting us learn more about you
Jennifer Yates Says:
Great blog! I have enjoyed your posts this week!! Thanks Jaunty Quills for having her and thanks Jenna for coming!
Kimberly Logan Says:
So true, Jenna! And thanks for joining us this week. We’ve loved having you!
Jenna Petersen Says:
Thanks guys!
I was really glad to be here. Hope you’ll have me again, someday.
Haven Rich Says:
Are you sure your not rich?? I mean to me rich is being able to pay the bills at least semi-on-time hehe.
Jenna Petersen Says:
If I had to pay my bills based on my earnings from writing, I would starve and everything I own would be repossessed by now. I actually have a very detailed blog about the whole money issue from back in November at my site:
http://jennanjess.livejournal.com/2005/11/30/
Shirley Karr Says:
What’s with all this congratulatory stuff? I think we should string her up by her thumbs for spilling all our secrets. Next thing you know, she’ll be telling everyone how to do the secret handshake. Sheesh.
Robyn DeHart Says:
Uh yeah, Jenna, if you reveal the handshake I’m afraid we’ll lynch you at National. Aside from that, Bravo for the blog. Another one full of heartfelt truth.
Jenna Petersen Says:
Okay, so you clasp hands, press your forheads together, wiggle your pinky three times…
AndreaW Says:
Jenna,
Thanks for all of the wonderful blogs all week! You are truly an inspiration to me.
Hugs,
Andrea