Comments on: All is Vanity, by Deb Emily

By: Kristina

Kristina — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:26:25 +0000

Emily, I’m the EXACT same way about setting my own deadlines. I have a tight deadline for my next book as well, but I still need to set myself individual goals and force myself to stick to them.

I come from journalism where deadlines were not a date on the calendar; rather a time on the clock. THAT certainly focused the mind!

And that book sounds right up my alley.

By: Joelle

Joelle — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:34:22 +0000

March 1st I have to hand over a completed draft ready for editing! Luckily, they bought it off the first 90 pages, so those were quite polished. And this book will not be as long as RH. I’m expecting it to only be about 55k words, which is fairly average for YA.

By: Emily Winslow

Emily Winslow — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:57:42 +0000

Larramie–Well, that particular playgroup was French and music lessons, so the kids were in their little classrooms at the time. The grown-ups got to sit in the main hall area with their tea. So it wasn’t that the kids’ noise would distract–but that the grownup conversation would attract me!

Sarah–I’m convinced that all-nighters are a sign of weakness. Someday, perhaps, I won’t need to resort to them! Even recently, though, I worked till 4 am–not because I’ve been lazy or unprepared, but because my days are really fragmented. Sometimes all night is the way I can get a long block of uninterrupted time.

March 1, Joelle–Is that for the whole of the next book?? Or just a part?

Alicia–It’s probably better in the long run to be a “gifted adult”

By: Joelle

Joelle — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:59:22 +0000

I too had lots of self imposed deadlines before I got my book deal. It’s funny though because today I have a headache and I told myself, “Just pretend like you have a deadline and do some writing anyway. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but some.” So I came in here to work and suddenly realized, I don’t have to pretend I have a deadline anymore because I DO have a deadline of March 1st!!!! That got me writing and I managed 1500 words, even with a headache! Haha! With self imposed deadlines, I wouldn’t have gotten that far, but they really do work for the most part.

By: Larramiefg

Larramiefg — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:04:19 +0000

Emily, I’m not being facetious (honest) but would love to know if you wore ear plugs while writing at playgrourp? If not, please share your secret of concentration.

By: Sarah Pekkanen

Sarah Pekkanen — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:43:58 +0000

I love this little glimpse into you, Emily – and can I say how impressed I am that at playgroup, you peeled away and wrote! I’m sure that as a parent who home-schools, you needed to socialize, but obviously you needed to write more. And all-nighters! What dedication. I’m really impressed.

By: Alicia Bessette

Alicia Bessette — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:33:48 +0000

Thanks for the book recommendation, Emily. I’m sure I won’t relate to the “former gifted child” part! But the “ordinary adult” part, definitely.