Liz Lawson On Silencing Debut Characters & Writing Your Second Book

Welcome to the SNOB - Second Novel Ominipresent Blues. Whether you’re under contract or trying to snag another deal, you’re a professional now, with the pressures of a published novelist compounded with the still-present nagging self-doubt of the noobie. How to deal?

Today’s guest is Liz Lawson, who has been writing for most of her life in one way or another. She has her Masters in Communications with a Concentration in Rhetoric from Villanova University, and has written for a variety of publications including PASTE MAGAZINE. Her debut novel, The Lucky Ones, releases on April 7.

Is it hard to leave behind the first novel and focus on the second?

Absolutely. One of the hardest things about the dreaded Second Book, for me, has been getting the voices from my debut out of my head and trying to figure out entirely new characters, who are still (obviously) coming from your own brain. 

At what point do you start diverting your energies from promoting your debut and writing / polishing / editing your second?

I don’t know! Hahaha. Honestly though, I think this is one of the hardest things as a debut--you’re trying to promote this book that has been your life for so many years, while simultaneously trying to create something entirely new that’s not too different from your debut (because: branding) but also isn’t too similar (because: boring). It’s a serious tight-rope walk. That all said, I feel like after your debut comes out is probably a good time to shift focus? I think that’s one of the benefits of working on your second book with the same editor as your first—my debut releases April 7th, and my first draft of my second book is due to my editor March 1st, so it’ll give me at least a few weeks leading up to launch to concentrate on The Lucky Ones, before diving back into revisions on In Silent Seas We Drown.

Your first book landed an agent and an editor, and hopefully some fans. Who are you writing the second one for? Them, or yourself?

Woof. Both? I think? I’m definitely writing another book that’s in a similar vein as my debut—dark, emotional, contemporary—because of branding, etc. But, I’m trying to push it more into thriller territory for my own enjoyment.

Is there a new balance of time management to address once you’re a professional author?

Ahh time management, aka the thing I am Not Very Good At (at all). Absolutely. Between my day job (I work as a music supervisor in TV so it’s pretty intense), my husband, my kid (who wasn’t around for a large part of when I was writing my debut), and just… life, I’m being forced to actually get good (or at least, better) at it for the first time in my life. I actually work well with deadlines, though, so it’s sort of nice to write with intent—knowing that at the end of the book there are people who are looking forward to reading it, who will help me mold it into something (hopefully) amazing.

What did you do differently the second time around, with the perspective of a published author?

The biggest thing I’m doing this time around is actually using a calendar to plan out my timeline . My debut was a literal MESS in terms of when things happened in real time, and I write contemporary, so it had to work in the real world. I had to go through and fix it all. It was an eye-opening experience for sure. So, this time, I have decided I refuse to let that happen to me again! I’m using a real world calendar and mapping events out on it, like I imagine a real Published Author™ would.

Alex Perry On Balancing Editing and Drafting Different Projects

Welcome to the SNOB - Second Novel Ominipresent Blues. Whether you’re under contract or trying to snag another deal, you’re a professional now, with the pressures of a published novelist compounded with the still-present nagging self-doubt of the noobie. How to deal?

Today’s guest is Alex Perry, whose debut, Pighearted, comes out in Fall of 2021 and will be published by Little Brown for Young Readers. Pighearted is about a boy with a heart condition. A genetically engineered pig is supposed to be his heart donor, but ends up becoming his best friend.

Is it hard to leave behind the first novel and focus on the second?

Switching my brain from one project to another is hard. It’s my baby. I’m invested. And now I’m letting my baby wander out into the world on her own. But much like letting my baby toddle into the wilderness with a bindle stick and good wishes; it’s ultimately a relief. I did what I meant to do. My first novel, Pighearted, was out of my hands. I was done. I could relax. Until I had to come up with another project.

I was already working on a few different stories when my agent Melissa asked me to come up with a pitch for the next book so we could show my editor. I was in love the concept of Pighearted, so it was tough to try to present some half-baked idea with the enthusiasm I had for my first book. So I had to fake it.

I was in the emergency room with my mom as I typed out a handful of different pitches. When you’re in the middle of a medical catastrophe that takes the air out of any impostor syndrome. Self-doubt didn’t seem to matter as much because all I had to do was sit there next to the beeping machines and type. I got it done, but more importantly my mom got to go home and was okay. My wonderful agent helped me pick the best idea and I had to agree with her. That pitch flowed much more easily than the rest and I should have known that it was the one.

At what point do you start diverting your energies from promoting your debut and writing / polishing / editing your second?

As soon as Pighearted went on sub, I started trying to find the next thing. I knew that little piggy had gone off to market and was out of my hands for now. There were some false starts. I relied on my agent to rein in my more ridiculous impulses and pick a second story that would work for me. Now it’ll be a juggling act based on when I get editorial letters and revision deadlines. I’m planning to finish drafting my new novel in time to dive into edits. While I wait for feedback on those edits, I’ll revise my new novel, and switch back and forth like that until fall.

Your first book landed an agent and an editor, and hopefully some fans. Who are you writing the second one for? Them, or yourself?

I feel like the “correct” answer is should be that I always write for myself. But that’s a lie. I see writing as a business that I want to succeed in, so I’m trying to make something that’ll be marketable and appeal to the kids I want as my fans. Everything’s for them and I use agent and editor input to figure out what’s best for those hypothetical kids.

Is there a new balance of time management to address once you’re a professional author?

I really should figure out time management, but I haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe I will next week? I’m terrified of this new book. I drafted the first one in three weeks and have been plugging away at this one for about three months, if that tells you anything. I’m constantly wondering if it is funny enough, emotionally engaging enough, and if the characters resonate enough. With the first book, I didn’t have anything on the line. Just finishing that book was an accomplishment. This time could fail and actually disappoint professionals in the industry. That makes it tough to manage my time effectively.

What did you do differently the second time around, with the perspective of a published author?

I have a better perspective on the business end of things. I feel like I can see the market a little more clearly and hopefully use that to my advantage. I write because I really love it, but I want to be successful enough that I’m able to continue writing.

Your Book As A Business: Brandy Woods Snow

Welcome to the SNOB - Second Novel Ominipresent Blues. Whether you’re under contract or trying to snag another deal, you’re a professional now, with the pressures of a published novelist compounded with the still-present nagging self-doubt of the noobie. How to deal?

Today’s guest is Brandy Woods Snow, a writer and journalist living in beautiful Upstate, South Carolina. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Writing from Clemson University. Her first novel, Meant To be Broken, a Southern YA contemporary romance, was released from Filles Vertes Publishing on July 2, 2018

Is it hard to leave behind the first novel and focus on the second?

I honestly thought it would be. I liken it to the same feeling I had before going to the hospital to have my second child, when I was hit with a sudden panic. “How will I ever love another child as much as I love my first? It’s not possible.” But as I would find out in that hospital bed, holding my newborn, it’s absolutely possible. Your heart just sort of expands and the love multiplies and you end up enamored all over again. It’s the same with books. 

At what point do you start diverting your energies from promoting your debut and writing / polishing / editing your second?

Do you ever really quit promoting your debut? LOL! I wish I had this insanely positive and wonderful answer for this, but the truth is, you just sort of squish it all in. I’m learning to become more of a scheduler and a planner, setting specific times to focus on drafting, editing, marketing, and all the other facets that come along with creating and selling books. It’s definitely challenging, but I can say holding yourself to a schedule gives your work more purpose and direction, so, in the end, your efforts are more efficient and fruitful all around.

Your first book landed an agent and an editor, and hopefully some fans. Who are you writing the second one for? Them, or yourself?

I always write for myself. I’ve never been a “chase the trend” sort of person and don’t intend to start now. I write from my experiences, my emotions, my thoughts, and I try to flesh everything out in a way that feels universal to all my readers. I want them to read my debut, my sophomore novel, and any others to come and think, “Man, she really made me feel that.” I think if you’re authentic to yourself, your readers will feel that connection to you and your work, and isn’t that really what it’s all about?

Is there a new balance of time management to address once you’re a professional author?

Yes! (See Question 2) My motto (new-aged a bit since I write YA) is treat your book like your bae, not your side piece. Pretty much, that means your book is your business, not some fly-by-night hobby. Give it the time and attention it deserves if you want to be successful. Schedules are a good way to ensure you’re putting your efforts where they’re most needed. I live by mine now, especially when balancing writing/editing/promotions with family life.

What did you do differently the second time around, with the perspective of a published author?

There’s definitely been more foresight this go-round, for sure! Writing my debut now seems like a stroll down the “ignorance is bliss” highway. LOL Writing my second was different from the get-go. I plotted instead of pantsed. I had a more extensive network of critique partners and betas on deck. I’m working on promotions 9 months in advance instead of hanging around with that doe-eyed gaze. Now that I’ve seen the sheer amount of work it takes, I’m preparing myself for the long road ahead. But I’ll also tell you, that this time, I have wonderful, beautiful, loving readers who are genuinely excited to see the next book come out, and that in itself is such a humbling experience and a complete treasure. When readers go out of their way to champion you, it means so very much, and the encouragement drives me to ensure I’m giving them the best story possible.