The Devil is in the Details

CHAT with Carly Phillips
Presented at the 2006 RWA National Conference in Atlanta, GA

There is an expression—the devil is in the details—and this more than anything applies to my writing career. If anyone asked me what was the one secret to my success, I'd have to say the ability to micromanage everything around me while writing at the same time.

For me, writing started as an idea, evolved into a passion, turned into a career, and is now a living, breathing part of my life. I value the moments when the passion of writing—getting lost in the writing—or knowing I just discovered something about my characters I didn't know going in—reasserts itself. I love that rush of adrenaline I still get for the writing. Because the daily details can kill you.

But it's the daily details that make a career. Here are a few tips for writers at every level of their writing career. Some are duplicated. That's okay and it's intentional. After all, there are lessons an author should never forget.

FOR AUTHORS BREAKING INTO PUBLISHING

1. You've written your first book and sent it into an editor—what do you do while you're waiting to hear? WRITE THE NEXT BOOK—so you have something to mail in next.
2. Don't assume anything—assume the negative and hope for the positive is how I've always operated. I believe in Karma and fate—but I believe (like Earl in the TV show, My Name is Earl) that you make your own good Karma and fate—so if you've submitted the best book you've ever written, assume you'll need a second one anyway—you will, whether you get rejected and want to have one ready to go in next—or whether you make your first sale and want your second one set to go after.
3. BE EASY TO WORK WITH because there are many other writers who an editor can buy instead of you if they're easier to work with, revise without complaint, and aren't a pest.
4. Know the market, which publishers are buying what and don't send inappropriate material that shows your ignorance. Publishers remember.
5. Don't just write, READ—know what others in your intended line of work are writing; see the trends and go with them. Write from the heart but don't hold onto something that will never sell because you're stubborn. Good authors evolve, they never stay the same.
6. Get your name out there—submit, submit, submit—editors remember your name and eventually it can and will make a difference.
7. Develop a thick skin—you're going to need it for the long haul. I wrote ten completed manuscripts for seven years before selling. I still do massive revisions on every book I write courtesy of my editor and I do them without complaint.
8. Listen to everyone's advice then make your own decisions—I didn't know any more the day after I made my first sale than I knew before, but I learned more every single day.
9. Know there are ups and downs and learn to ride them out. Nobody's career is nirvana, no matter how much you think otherwise.
10. Go Forward—take risks and chances in your writing and within yourself. For me, joining RWA was a risk. Talking at my first workshop was a risk. Speaking to you today is a scary thing for me. Challenge yourself. The rewards are great.

FOR AUTHORS HITTING THE BIG TIME—be it multiple books or hitting bestseller lists:

1. Write and get better each time. Nothing is more important than writing a good book. Nothing replaces this, not PR and not cute promo.
2. The bigger you are the more drain on your time and on you. Carve out your time to write and devote time to PR. For me the two are not mutually exclusive. I micromanage and do everything at the same time. Not the most efficient way to work, but I can't turn off email or my mind, not even while I'm writing.
3. Understand you have many audiences—you have your readers, your fellow authors, your professional associates—editors, publishers, etc., and your agent who handles your career but who also works for you and needs input or direction from you, yourself. Give each audience what they need from you and remember it isn't the same for each.
4. BE READY—for when opportunity knocks—how? Eyes and ears. Be aware of opportunity because you don't know how or where it will come from—my Kelly Ripa story is the ultimate example of this.
5. Ways to grow an audience: a) the grass roots way (Suzanne Brockmann and Lori Foster); b) work the pavement way—goodies, SASE's, contact every romance online site out there and make sure your name is listed on their site, ask to be reviewed, send out your own ARC's, ask to do an interview, etc.
6. Be professional—no more homemade bookmarks, get a professional website. There are places you can do inexpensive but professional ones. Every time people pick up something with your name on it, it's a reflection of you and what you want them to think of you—you know how you don't want to run into an ex boyfriend when you have sweats and no makeup and bad hair? Same concept. Put your best face forward at all times.
7. Don't expect your publisher to promote you—if they do, that's great. THANK THEM. If they don't, it's your job. If they do, it's still your job to supplement and let them know. Be an equal partner. You can do this without tons of money.
8. Network—get to know editors and agents, and other published authors.
9. Establish a brand by which people recognize you—Carly Phillips writes sexy fun; Carly loves pink; Carly's products all have a heart on them. That said ...
10. Write with one eye on the future—Evolve your writing and evolve your brand or you'll never move beyond where you are now.