One of my favorite musicians is Iris DeMent whose songs range from folk to country to gospel. Of her songs, top on my list is one about … well … writing music. It goes like this:
Sweet is the melody, so hard to come by,
So hard to make every note blend just right.
You lay down the hours without a trace
’Til a tune for the dancing is there in its place.
Laying down the hours without a trace? That’s what writing music is all about, but it’s also true for writing books. I started writing Before the Trail Goes Cold sometime back in May when it was just barely spring here in Seattle. On Saturday at 9:06 PM, I completed a solid week of doing a word-for-word read-through of the manuscript and sent it to my editor.
In the process, I found a lot things that needed fixing. I caught all kinds of echoes (verbal repetitions) but I’m sure there are plenty of those still standing and waiting for someone else, namely a sharp-eyed editor, to find and fix. At the point in the book where my combination Name/Time File vanished, there was a fracture in the story. I gave a character one name and then later on in the story she appeared with a completely different one. I fixed that problem, too. Toward the end of the book, I repeated a chapter number, which automatically threw all the other ones into disarray. Those are now all properly numbered
Yesterday, Sunday, I was officially done with the book, so my daughter and I actually went to a play. Much to my surprise, when it was time to go outside, I needed a sweater! While I was working on the book, summer had come and gone, and I had missed it.
On the way home, we stopped by Brick and Mortar for me to sign the books people ordered from them. Those were almost all The Girl From Devil’s Lake, Joanna #21, but my mind had been so buried in Joanna #22 for so long, that a couple of times I miswrote and had to correct some random 22s that leaked out of my red pen. So if you’re someone who ordered one of those and happens to find a crossed-out #22, you’ll know why. Please accept my apologies.
Now interviews and signings are fast approaching for Beaumont # 27—The Taken Ones. It’s time to wipe out the details from the book I just finished writing enough so that I can speak sensibly about the one I finished months ago. Good luck with that!
According to my count, Before the Trail Goes Cold will be J.A. Jance novel # 71. That’s a lot of books. With each book including 100,000 words, give or take, that’s also a lot of words. Not bad for a girl who, in 1964, wasn’t allowed in the Creative Writing class at the University of Arizona on account of her being a girl. If I include the two books that are written but not yet published, I’ve been writing at a rate of 1.67 books per year for 43 years!
All that adds up to meaning I’ve written A LOT of books. (Please pardon the echoes in the last two paragraphs.) But also that brings us to the P-word—PROLIFIC! When used in regard to literary undertakings, that suggests that the person involved writes his or her books with virtually no thought or effort and that they come into existence in much the same way toast pops out of a toaster—you press a button and viola, next thing you know you have a book! When literary critics use that dismissive sneer word, it implies that the author’s works is both voluminous and meaningless.
Over the course of the next few months when I’m doing interviews and events, I have no doubt that some unsuspecting master of ceremonies or interviewer will, in passing, refer to me with the cringe-worthy word prolific. That always hits me from the standpoint of being an author, but there’s also a personal connection.
Back in the fifties a new minister and his wife arrived at our church in Bisbee. Shortly thereafter, my older teenaged sister, pregnant and unmarried, took her boyfriend in for bit of pre-marital counseling prior to their shotgun wedding. During the course of the session and knowing there were seven kids in the Busk family, the minister’s wife turned my sister and said, “You mother is very prolific. Hasn’t she ever heard of birth control?”
Whoa! So when an unwitting host or hostess calls me prolific in public, I have to unpack a whole bunch of emotional baggage, both professional and personal, before I can step up to the microphone and begin speaking.
In other words, in regards to me or any other author for that matter, just DON’T USE IT! It’s an insult.
As for that minister’s wife? If she’d had nerve enough to pose that question to Evie herself instead of aiming it at my sister, our mother would have been happy to tell her exactly which failed birth-control device accounted for each of us!
I’m thrilled you have written so many books – many enjoyable reading hours for me!
This was a very great blog post. I live your bold
I don’t find the word “prolific” offensive. In my opinion, it doesn’t carry negative connotations. The definition is: “Having the quality of generating; producing young or fruit; generative; fruitful; productive.” Any other baggage that’s attached is, perhaps, merely a persistent earworm. 71+novels is an accomplishment to be proud of, not hidden away or banished to the countryside like an unwed mother of 1964. Times have changed. Unfortunately, some of our earworms persist… 😉
Yup, you had a wonderful MOM! I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall if your mom had every had the chance to explain it all to the minister’s wife.
Thanks so much for coming to Third Place Books at Lake Forest Park earlier this week. My husband and I (also a Bill, and a good one) have attended events where you were speaking in the past, and have signed books. We are some of your “groupies”. Can’t wait to read the next Beau book. Best wishes
Kris and Bill Haldeman
Having encountered the P-word in public TWICE in the last week and AFTER I wrote the blog, you probably got a kick out of this. Unfortunately it turned out to be. incredibly timely
I think I’ve read all 71 books! I marvel at how you can keep all the characters and the facts about their lives straight. It’s lovely that you’ve honored some people (namely your Mom) by including them in your writings. We’re about the same age, but you’re much more active! You’re rather like the Energizer Bunny – you just keep on going. I wish you the best. Thank you for the many hours of on-the edge enjoyment I’ve gotten from reading your stories.
Just want to say Hi……just wish you were still coming to Arizona up my way miss your tours and book signings. Hope all is well on your end say Hi to your hubby…… as always your” Northern Arizona Stalker”
And I’d like to thank you for all 71 of those books which I have read except for the two not published. I think prolific is a great word for readers who eagerly await every book. What a gift to the reader love the work of a writer who is both prolific and has such an incredibly high quality of work. (Plus, I love Iris Dement also.)
Setting aside the minister’s wife (who was incredibly rude and inappropriate in so may ways that I am sort of in awe of her), “prolific” seems like a great thing from a reader’s prospective. Having said that, if I ever have the pleasure and honor of meeting or introducing you I will be very careful not to use the “P” word.
When I read the title of your post, I thought of “pumpkin” having just come from the grocery store where every second product is pumpkin flavored this month.
Ceci
Another great blog. I usually catch it first thing in the morning, but somehow I missed it this morning and am now just getting to it just after Noon. I had almost forgotten it was Friday since it’s how my Fridays usually begin. Oh well, no biggie.
I’m so looking forward to your new book(s)!
Oh no! However did we miss your appearance at Lake Forest Park’s book store! Bummer!!
Our minister in Phoenix had 8 children. One day his whole family was in the car when another pulled alongside him at a stop light.
“Are those all yours or is this a picnic?”
“They’re all mine and believe me it aint no picnic!”
p.s. Hope all your friends and family in AZ are ok what with all the flooding!
You certainly are not a prolific writer. Now, Danielle Steel, on the other hand, is. Hope to see you soon for an appearance and signing.
Hopefully a P word that would fit better is productive. Can’t even begin to imagine how much thought, hard work and determination goes into getting a novel published, let alone 71.
Thanks for another fine blog, Judith. Always appreciated.
Didn’t the minister’s wife know that it takes a man and a woman to create a baby?
Hello J.A. The nice thing about your blog’s is that your readers learn a lot about you and how you write. They are always most interesting. I would like to send you a private note about one of your most ardent fans from Fuller Brush land in Nova Scotia in Canada. The question is where to send it?
Have a great day.
All the best. Alex Leonard.
jajance@me.com
Every one of those 71 books has been read twice and some, several times over… you are an amazing storyteller. Our best to you and Bill.
Have a great Autumn day.
As ever, Your Favorite Yuman
I’ve read all 71 books and am now reading through them again as I recover fromknee replacement. Thank you so much for the countless hours of enjoyment you have given me. All the best to you and Bill.
I’m a not so young reader (78) and have just discovered your books! I’m reading the Beaumont Series and can’t wait to read the others. I think your books are very well written and immensely entertaining and I am now a big fan! I look forward to meeting you on your next trip to Arizona.
I cringed when I read what the minister’s wife said to your sister. As a retired minister, I feel embarrassed for the entire ministerial population when insensitive words like those are expressed. I know pre-marital consulting gets personal, but such language and those opinions are NOT okay.
Different subject – I own all your books but just discovered the fun of listening to audio readings of the books. While I do hand work I can multi-task!
I cringed when I read what the minister’s wife said to your sister. As a retired minister, I feel embarrassed for the entire ministerial population when insensitive words like those are expressed. I know pre-marital consulting gets personal, but such language and those opinions are NOT okay.
Different subject – I own all your books but just discovered the fun of listening to audio readings of the books. While I do hand work I can multi-task!
I have all 71 books. In fact. my book list shows I have 74 J.A. Jance books, but that may be because the Beaumont/Brady and the Walker/Beaumont books are listed under both series. That does not include the fact that I own 5 copies of The Girl From Devil’s Lake. The 4 paperbacks I preordered should be in within the next couple of days.
Blessings to you and Bill.
I, too, was once accused of being prolific and I should keep my feet in a bucket in order not to have any more children..
Some people just can’t keep their mouths shut!
I’m a retiree that consumes books, relishing each twist and turn. Since I’ve begun writing myself, I sometimes feel guilty that I read your books so quickly. You’ve shared how you struggle at times with the plot, the characters, etc. to get the story just right for us, the readers. And I appreciate your creativity! Saying on paper what your mind has conjured isn’t easy; but you do it well. Just wanted you to know that even though I read your books at a fast pace does not mean I miss your details. They are still important and I love them. Thank you for being “P–” so that I can read “P–ly”.