Keeping the Balls in the Air

by

Readers are often interested in aspects of the “writing process.” Sometimes it seems as though writers are regarded as some other breed of cat or maybe even as aliens from another planet altogether.

Often the same questions are asked over and over. I know I’ve answered them at both live and virtual events, and it seems likely that I’ve previously answered them in the blog as well, but since there’s no way for me to figure that out, and at risk of chewing my cabbage twice, I’m going to re-answer some of those inquiries here. If you have no interest in the “writing process,” feel free to give this blog post a pass.

Last week someone wanted to know how, as I’m writing a book, can I possibly know the exact percentage of forward progress. Easy. Arithmetic.

Books that are approximately 100,000 words in length fit into standard-sized shipping boxes. Longer books don’t, so I aim for 95,000 words, knowing that by the time editing is over, I’ll probably be close to 97,000 but not over the magic number of 100,000. Standard-sized shipping boxes rule!

Someone else asked if I write more than one book at a time. No, no, a thousand times no! That would drive me nuts. But that doesn’t mean I’m not involved with more than one book at a time. Usually I’m juggling three—writing one, editing a second, and promoting a third. That’s three entirely different functions.

Yesterday I had my nose to the grindstone and was working on the next Joanna Brady, By Reason of Insanity. By the way, I’m currently at 50,522 words which amounts to 53.18% of the whole book, but who’s counting?

Over night last night I realized that I needed to add a critical element into an earlier scene in BROI, so I did that first thing this morning—before I even looked at my email. When I did so, the first item there was a request from my publicist at HarperCollins asking me to write posts—thousand word essays, really—for two separate publications as part of the lead up to Den of Iniquity.

What that means in terms of brain power is that I now have to turn away from the book I’m currently writing and try to comment sensibly on one I wrote almost two years in the past. Good luck with that.

Before I could even think of starting on the essays, another email came in, this one from my editor at Simon and Schuster, the publisher of the Ali Reynolds books. I submitted the manuscript for Overkill on June 23rd. It’s a book that I worked on for FIFTEEN MONTHS!!! and one that fought me every step of the way. Since it took so long to hear back from my editor, I was beginning to believe that she hated the book.

What she sent today is called the “editorial” letter saying that she loved the book and suggesting a few things I might want to change. For the record, some of those seem like good ideas.

So today I handled two of the book issues. I fixed the problem in By Reason of Insanity and wrote the two essays for Den of Iniquity. Although I generally write the blog on Wednesdays or Thursdays, I’m doing that tonight so that tomorrow I can be all in on Overkill.

See what I mean? All three balls—four counting the blog—are currently in the air, and I’m going to keep right on truckin’.

37 thoughts on “Keeping the Balls in the Air”

  4. Wow! I am in awe of such brain power! I do well to compose a grocery list, keep my expenses current and stay on top
    of family birthdays! Your work load would send me over the edge – not to mention I have no giftedness for writing! Indeed: keep on truckin’!

  5. I guess many people do find the writing process interesting, and I’m also guessing many many think of writing a book. At one time I had also, but as time goes on that’s less of a reality. I wanted to write about my time in Vietnam, thought it would help me understand some of it.
    I’ve never really thought of your books as a number (the 100,000 magic one). From they are a journey that you help my brain make as I’m reading. And I love each of those journeys. Thank you.

  6. You are absolutely amazing, and as a devoted fan, I am so glad you keep right on truckin’

  7. OMG! I can only read one book at a time, though I have friends who can read two or three at once. Way too confusing for me. You always astound me with your writing ability.

    I do wonder how an editor would be able to tell you what would be better????

  8. Thanks. Keep telling us about your writing processes. Fun to know that you are as anxious for your book to be out, as I am to read it.

  10. I don’t know how you can keep track of all that. I sure couldn’t.

  11. You are amazing! I would be in such a dither trying to keep things straight. Congratulations on the progress. One step at a time.

  12. I was reading a book on advice for would-be writers. The author said to write, write, write. You can always go back and edit. The object is to get it expressed. Judy is a master at that. I can’t imagine her doing anything else..

  13. We’re all cheering you on as you complete these tasks! Bravo, J.A. Jance! Can’t wait for the new book to come out!

  14. Judy,
    We have been reading your books for maybe 20 years now…and the blog since inception I believe…. so I am pretty much ‘up’ on how you write, etc., but today’s blog was quite interesting…as always.

    You referred to a shipping box… I do not recall that you still write on paper…? I am guessing you must though? My memory is not as it once was, so I do forget things pretty easily…specially if they do not pertain to me… or mine.

    Last thought…I play games and read daily…in part for entertainment, but also to keep my mind functioning ‘normally’!

    You are a treasure! Thank you for keeping in touch ans sharing your life with us.

    • I actually bought my first computer–an Eagle PC with 128 K of memory–in 1983. I started writing Until Proven Guilty by hand, but ended up using the computer to complete it.

    • Jerry, I think Judy is referring to the shipping boxes the completed books are sent from the publisher to the bookstores. She does all of her writing and editing on the computer. She doesn’t make a hard copy as far as I know.

  15. I think most people have no idea what goes into writing a book and everything else all the pre-writing research, and the multilayers of overlapping and time/brain consuming other work.You’ve laid it out beautifully. Still, until you do it, you may still not get why we don’t just give our books away for free. Unless and until you’re a we known writer, your chances of making tons of money are slim. You have to keep writing because it’s something you really want to and feel compelled to do. The marketing, publicity, and financial piece is important, but not as important as the hard work of writing and getting the book to press. In my opinion.

  16. This is off subject of your blog today, but I wanted you to know I love Twinkle and would like to hear more about her antics.

  18. The writing process is fascinating to me. I am one of those people who asked you about your writing process at one of your appearances at Third Place Books.
    How do you keep track of all your characters in each series?
    How do you keep track of the plot lines in each?
    How long do you write each day?
    What do you do about a writing slump?
    How do you count every word? Do you have a software program that does that for you?
    Does the word count or the plot dictate how much you are writing or both and how do you coordinate that?
    However you do all this, you are a whiz and quite amazing. So prolific! An endless source of imagination. Definitely, do keep on trucking!

  20. YOU are a Dynamo! All that walking and brain work-outs will hopefully keep you writing for many more wonderful books.

  21. Good for you. You have it handled! I would probably be freaking out! Can’t wait for both the Ali Reynolds and Joanna Brady books. I have to check my Kindle but don’t think I have Den of Inequity yet. Can’t believe U have missed it. You have a beautiful day. Very hot here in KS again. Love your books!

  22. Busy, busy. I am thankful for people like you who like to write so that I have books to read. 🙂

  23. You are amazing!
    Keep up your great work.
    I met you at Parkplace Books many years ago.
    You are loved by many!!!
    Kathy

  26. Enjoying your blogs! With today’s, I’m reminded of Joanna’s Butch and his reference to Chapter 11 🙂 🙂
    I want to thank you for the enjoyment and some life lessons gleaned from your novels. That may not be one of the four balls in the air of your thought process, but as a reader it sure puts a smile on my face.

    • Actually, that happened to me. While attending my son’s soccer practice, one of the other soccer moms asked me how I was doing. “I’m having a terrible time with Chapter 13,” I said.

      She gave me a very sympathetic look and said, “I had no idea you were having financial difficulties.”

      I write fiction, yes, but I’m too lazy to make up everything.

  28. Keep writing it’s what keeps me going…..??
    From your Northern Arizona Stalker?????????Dann….?

  29. Thanks for laying out the order of upcoming books, I was wondering about that recently – so Beau in September, Ali “Overkill” sometime next year, then Joanna Brady after that – some great reading ahead! Also, I finished the Girl’s Night Out, good quick read with lots of fun things to learn about Twinkle! Liked how you brought Beau into it. Thanks for all you do to keep your readers informed and entertained!

  30. I remember reading somewhere that the prolific English romance novel writer Barbara Cartland dictated her books to a secretary who typed them up.

    Yesterday I was looking her up on-line during a rainstorm. Suddenly the power went off. I thought that was a sign to mind my own business. 🙂

  31. Fascinating as always-
    I have always seen you as juggling several balls in the air at once, even when you present yourself as as focusing one one novel- You DO focus on one novel at times, but there is always the side-line waiting for your attention, as well as the very real marketing part when you make an appearance at a book festival or a book store-
    You are a full-time, full-use book-writer-promoter- and ever-ready source of new ideas for new books-in-waiting!
    It is very hard to know where one part of you ends and the other begins, but we DO know that all these parts somehow collaborate to provide past, present and future sources of creative genius-

  32. I am so excited for any new book ( Kindle book ) you put out. I can’t imagine it’s like being interrupted when you are deep into something and then someone starts talking and asking questions. I am not sure how you do it, but please keep it up 🙂
    Anxiously awaiting for your next book.

  33. NANOWRIMO sets a 50 thousand (5K) words goal in 30 days. Your books do not seem overly long and you shoot for 95K words. Do you think NANOWRIMO stories ending with 50K words are too short? If I were to get a complete story written with only 50K works, would it be too short to be taken seriously? Should I set my NANOWRIMO goal for 95000 words?

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