Hi everyone!
So today marks a very special anniversary for me. In a couple of ways.
First and foremost, eight years ago today my oldest niece was born. It was the day my sister became a mother, my parents grandparents, and me an aunt. So…ya know…BIG DAY.
But one other very important thing happened that day, and that’s what this blog is really about.
July 13,2004 is also the day my agent went out on submission with my very first book, CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE. There I was with a new baby niece, but I was also a new baby author.
So I’m thinking about that today.
Eight years.
It isn’t that long in the grand scheme, but in other ways it is forever. SO much has changed. And if I could go back in time and talk to 2004 Baby Author me what would I tell her? Well…here’s a list.
STUFF I WOULD (AND WOULDN’T) TELL BABY AUTHOR ME IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME:
A list by Ally Carter
-First and foremost, it is going to be okay. And, by the way, “it” will totally vary.
Maybe it’s sales or copyedits or titles or covers or co-op. Whatever it is, it will not kill you. It will not hurt the people you love. It will not make you an unhappy person unless you give it the power to do so. Do not give it that power.
-Very soon you will sell a book. (Yay!) But then you will become obsessed with promoting that book. Don’t do it. Sure, build a website, go to conferences and do the stuff if you ENJOY doing.
But, seriously, the thousands of dollars you’re getting ready to spend on playing cards and business cards and people who are supposed to help you “get your name out there”. Don’t. Just don’t. Put that money into a savings account instead. Even at less than 1% interest, you’ll get way higher returns there.
-Does that mean that an author shouldn’t try to promote his/her book? No. But understand that you can’t buy your way to the next rung on the ladder. You can only buy the illusion that you’re helping your career. But sometimes the illusion is valuable too.
-So what SHOULD you do if you’re not going to spend a six months making crappy playing cards and other things? Write your next book, that’s what. There’s a saying in this business: nothing sells backlist like front list. So get to writing some more front list.
-I know you don’t know anybody in this business now and that is a little scary. But that’s okay. You are a baby author. You aren’t supposed to know anyone.
And that won’t always be the case. Right now a whole new class of baby authors are being born and a lot of them are going to be your friends someday. You are going to meet at conferences and book fairs and even a few online. You will bond over copyedits and covers and deciding what shoes to wear to BEA.
Some people might say that making friends with these people is going to be good for your career. It isn’t. Making friends with these people is good for your life.
- People are getting ready to start telling you “You should make your book into a movie.” You will hear it every day. This does not make you special. EVERY author hears this every day. Get really, really good at answering (or ignoring) this question.
-And speaking of movies…chill. Yes, you have wanted to be a screenwriter since you were an even babier author, and yes, you will have people contacting you and offering you money and working toward bringing your books to the screen. Doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. It is a huge, massive and very chaotic process. And, most importantly, it’s not YOUR process. All you can do is make more source material for Hollywood to play with, so by all means, do that.
-Don’t quit your day job. Except when you’re finally ready to quit your day job. Look, you’re going to be freaked out about something. Either time or money. You need to decide which worry you are best equipped to handle.
-Whatever you do, don’t get in the habit of doing ____ while you write. Maybe it’s drinking Diet Coke or listening to music or wearing fuzzy socks. Why? Because there will come a day when don’t have your music or your fuzzy socks and you’ve realized that Diet Coke is rotting your teeth and then what are you going to do?
Basically, don’t let yourself get into bad habits. Sure, writing is a lot more fun when you can do it with a box of donuts on your lap, but please don’t. I’m still on the treadmill from your blasted donuts.
-Don’t judge yourself based on how other author’s careers are going. Why? Because 1. You don’t KNOW how their careers are going. Some people have big reputations and moderate sales. Some people fly under the radar and sell off the charts. But, most of all, 2. It doesn’t affect you. It doesn’t change you. All it can do is make you crazy, so do yourself a favor and don’t play that game.
-I’m not going to tell you what trends are coming (and, believe me, trends are getting reading to be a VERY big deal). Why? Because I don’t think that’s best for you (and us) in the long-run.
This business is a marathon, NOT a sprint. And, sure, in a few years books about vampires and dystopians and falling in love with supernatural creatures will be hot. But writing books just because they are (or are going to be) hot won’t make you happy. Writing books you love will make you happy, so do that instead.
Oh, and those hot trends? Eventually they are going to be cold. But loving what you’re writing can last forever. (And, believe it or not, there are some readers who do want funny or sweet or romantic books even if they have to swim against the genre current to find them.)
-And the biggest piece of advice I can give you is this: take a sheet of paper and write down five things that would make you really, really happy in your career. Then write down five things that would be “best case scenario” things. And lastly write five “in your wildest dreams” things.
Keep that list. Remember that list. Because in this business the finish line is constantly moving. One day you really just want an agent. Then it’s a book deal. Then it’s a bestseller. Then it’s a movie. Then it’s a castle next to JK Rowling’s.
In short, appreciate things as they’re happening, remember that once upon a time that thing was a dream of yours and that it’s still a dream for someone. So be grateful every day.
It’s a hard job. But it’s also a good job. And more than anything it’s YOUR dream job so try to keep everything in perspective. Hopefully you and I will get to do this job for many years to come.
-Oh, and one last thing, Baby Author Ally …welcome to the yard, meat.
Hi Ally! First comment!
Happy Birthday to your neice! And Authorday to you!
Hahhahahaha I loved the last part. Congrats on being an aunt! That’s so cool she was born the same day. And I realize noow u posted this at 3:39 AM and well its 4 AM here so I think I might be the first comment (awesome!) I love the thing about 5 wishes, its really neat. Thanks ally for the update.
-alexandra
P.s.
Ill bet u will be the coolest aunt like aunt abby
Omg aunt Abby aunt ally..lol that’s so crazy!!
LOL! so true!!! I cant believe how crazy that was! LOL!
Haha! Lol, ally called herself yard meat!
Wow… when you say it like that… its sooo much funnier!!!
So true! I am rather curious…. To all you faithful readers like I, who have read GG and HEIST SOCIETY. Who do you think is better: Hale or Zach????? WHY????
XD. Zach. I love Hale don’t get me wrong, but Zach….he’s like so mysterious and there’s something about him that draws you in. Like it’s sweet how he calls Cammie, Gallagher Girl. And he’s always there if Cammie’s in danger. Hale’s cool too, but he hasn’t got the same kinda mysterious-awesome-coolness about him. Zach like, always liked Cammie, and didn’t reaaaaally flirt with anyone else, but Hale kinda did. With Gabrielle. if y’all know what I mean there’s just something about Zach that none other male character has…(well, maybe Damon from Vampire Diaries, but that’s different).
.
JMO. What about you??/
GallagherGirl_BlackthorneBoy
I like Hale more. He is sweet, and funny, and I REALLY want to know what the W’s stand for!
I LOVE them both, but…… I’d have to go with Zach!!! He’s just perfect.
Tell your niece Happy Birthday for me!!!!!! Also happy authorversery!!!!!
We share something!! my birthday is july 13th!!!
Happy birthday!!!!
Mine too!!! <3 happy b-day
Happy happy happy Birthday!!!
Why thank you
Happy Burfday!
Thank you so much. Love u fellow Gallagher girls <3
Hey its my birthday too! Happy birthday us!!
Yay! Thanks
Lots of inspirational words there. I think i might save this blog and print it out, stick it somewhere close by so that the worried-about-the-future part of me can always be calmed.
Hey Ally, today is my birthday too. I’m turning 13 on Friday the 13th just like Taylor Swift did so that must signify something good will come out of it. Your niece is my birthday buddy! YAY! please wish her a happy birthday from my fellow Gallagher Girls and I. We all lobe you. Today must be a truly special day for you and therefor you just made my day 10 times better. Always remember that I love you; we ALL do! <3 have an awesome day(I know I will)
Today is Taylor swifts birthday?!
No, her birthday is in December(13th) and I was saying she turned 13 on Friday the 13th too
We all LOVE* you. Sorry for the typo.
Cool post!
Funny how we look back in the past and know how we were then and what we could or couldn’t do.
You writting has only been 8 years.
Hope there is still a lot more years of writting for us, Ally
Good advice, all of it. Thanks, Ally!
I loved this! It is so cool! To tell you the truth it is probably one of my favorite post you have ever done! It was just cool to read the advice you would give yourself.
Ky
Congradulations! Happy birthday!
This isn’t just awesome advice for budding authors, this is just good life advice. So awesome, Ally.
And I love this quote: “Some people might say that making friends with these people is going to be good for your career. It isn’t. Making friends with these people is good for your life.”
This is probably one of my favorite posts you’ve done, Ally. I know I’m not the only one who wants to be an author someday, and reading this was really helpful. I need to keep reminding myself to write about what I like, and to be PATIENT (I’ve been told that patience is a virtue – unfortunately, I’m not very virtuous). So thank you, thank you, thank you, Ally, for your advice.
Ally that is SO SO SO cool so congrats on your 8 year old neicie your 8 years of writing and also of haveing so many people that love you including me and anyone that wants to be a sucsesfull writer should read your advice ally congrats love you ally!!! And how’s your short vacation going and hows the dancin going?
opps my name was suposed to be lexa
Oh my goodness this was so funny
I love this, thank you!
You really should go back in time and tell your old self that. Youu just can’t. There are also many things I want to tell my old self a lot of things. Mostly not-to-dos.
Congrats on aunty birthday and author birthday..Today you are no longer “Baby Ally ” you upgraded to “Big girl” Status.
Ally, because of you, I want to write a letter to myself and open it in 8 years. So thankyou very much for the inspiration.
I am going to remember this, because it probably applies to pretty much every beginning author. Or, at least, a lot of them. Good advice. Especially the back-list / front-list thing.
Ally, that was a good post for everyone ! You are an inspirational person and author! I know I made some mistakes and it would mean the world if I could go back and change but I realized that why do I keep looking back when all I can do from here is look forward with what I wanna do cause imma eleven and I have plenty of time to screw up even more and then learn my lesson ! Lol well thanks for the awesome post
I loved this post. You really gave some good, practical advice. Thanks so much for letting me stop feeling guilty about not doing school visits or big promotional events. I hate that stuff, and decided years ago why spend my time doing something I hate, just for the sake of promotion? But I’ve always felt guilty about it. Not anymore. You made my day, even if it is on Friday the 13th!
Wow Ally! This is an awesome post. I love the advice you give to Baby Author Ally and it seems like really good advice for anyone who wants to be an author (or doesn’t). In fact I think I’m going to make those lists you were talking about. Thanks for the inspiration and wish your niece a Happy Brithday for me, as well as, all the other Gallagher Girls!
Absolutely loved this post. Exactly what I needed to read two more before my debut hits. All that money on swag that I have spent and think about spending for future books….thanks for giving permission to maybe not go as nutty =) And the lists and just general advice from someone who has been there. So valuable. Thank you for this!!
You are beyond awesome!
Happy birthday to Ur niece, and happy authorversiry,
love ur books…
i bet ur just like Cammie’s aunt Abby…lol
British-Gallagher-Girl…xxx..=0
Great great post! I loved it and learned some things too as a baby author, or maybe I’m a prenatal author since I don’t have my agent yet…
And I’m definitely one of those readers who want “funny or sweet or romantic books”. I absolutely love your books!
Happy Authorday to you! Happy Birthday to your niece!
So glad you became an author.
I’m framing this sucker. It’s an absolute must-read for every author–new or not.
Congrats on your awesome anniversaries today! Yay!
And as a baby author, this post rocks. *glances around yard with wide eyes* 
LOVE it.
WOAH!!!!!!! Ally that’s amazing, I wish your niece a grand B-day and you… HAPPY AUTHORVERSERY!!!!!!!! I hope you have an awesome day Ally, and you to Galagher Girls!!!!
Such a timely post! I actually just sold my first novel and have discovered a whole new world of “it”s. Thanks for the good advice.
Congratulations! (Oh selling your first novel).
By the way, what’s the title of your novel? And what’s it about?
(I don’t mean to be nosy or anything, it’s just I love reading, and especially when new books come out).
GallagherGirl_Blackthorne Boy
I love this so much!!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! ( for both, you niece and you). Thank you for all those moments in which you made me had a big smile while reading your books. And for all the moments that are to come.
From a true Gallagher girl to anothe one.
-A
gah! i am putting down the doughnuts right now. what, do you have, like a camera in there or something? such a great post. i really loved the advice about making writer friends because they are good for your life. amen to that!
Ha-ha I am like literally eating a doughnut (shamefully) right now!!! But who can blame me? It’s chocolate w/ sprinkles!
Ally (Ms. Carter), my sister just had a baby on the 3rd at the begining of this month and that’s when I first became an auntie along with my five-year-old sister;p, and my older sister became a mum, and so on! I think it’s wonderful that your authorday happened on your niece’s birthday. It must have been so amazing for you! Plus, this way you’ll never forget the day!;) Not that you would have, haha. She probably calmed you down quite a bit as well! Either way, I am so glad that you have an authorday, and that you have books out here for us to read. You are one amazing person! I love your talking about taking everything one step at a time, and the different sets of five things. You are such an inspiration, and after only 8 years! I cannot wait to see where you go in the future!(:
~Siobhan
Hi Ally!
CONGRATULATIONS on your special day, I have read all the GG books and i LOVE them. I cannot wait for you to write the 6th one. Just out of curiosity, how long does it usually take to write one of GG books? Can’t wait to read the 6th one when it comes out!
I love your advice ally it means so much to me as I’m writing a book, I don’t expect it to get publish but still the advice is great.
Ally, how late do you stay up??? Hopefully you were writing GG6…
Ally! This was fantastic! Happy sub bday! This was the *exact* thing I needed to read at this *exact* moment! Thank you so much!
Ha Ha! I laughed so hard at your last comment! In fact, I’m still giggling. Nice job on the advice. I know that you were writing that to yourself, but it was also really good advice to the rest of us. (And I know you meant to do that too.) Congrats on everything and Happy Birthday to your niece.
Congratz. And the list was awesome.
.
GallagherGirl_Blackthorne Boy
how many heist society book will there be?
yh i wonder how many there will be???
love GG and HS!!!!
British-Gallagher-Girl…xxx.=0
i am so a funny-romantic-sweet- book kind of gal! thanx for putting it on the market for us!
Hey Ally, congrats on the anniversary. Quick question though if you don’t mind. Let’s say for the sake of this question that you are going to make a movie for Gallagher Girls and that casting is about to start. If you could choose, would you want nobodys to play the roles? Or someone who is already recognized in the media world? Also, would you want them with or without experience? Thank You
yh cool,
do u act or sumfing thats well cool
were u from???
British-Gallagher-Girl…xxx..=0
I not sure if she really gets to pick the characters to play the roles, but then again Suzanne Collins did pick Jennifer Lawrence to play Katniss Everdeen! So yeah i’m not sure.
Is Ally going to write another book after Out of Site, Out of Time in the Gallagher Girl series? And also was OOSOOT GG5 or GG6? Can someone please help me? Thanks!!!
yeah she said she would! Out of sight Out of time was GG5.
Great article. Very inspiring and encouraging. Thanks for writing it!
JUST PRE-ORDERED PERFECT SCOUNDRELS ON AMAZON!!!! Can’t wait till it comes out!!! Made it 1-day shipping. Happy Birthday to me!!!
I am a baby author, thank you. I needed to hear all of those things. I’m printing this post and putting it in my writing notebook to refer back to!!
Does anyone know Camie’s eye color? I’ve been trying to find out since i began reading the books!:)
ally says that Camie is average not too short, too tall, too chubby or skinny and probably has the type of eyes that change color depending on what she is wearing =) hope that helps
i think her colour is light brown,,, if that helps????
why do u need to know, is it important or just random????
British-Gallagher-Girl….xxx…=0
Congrats
Congratulations, Ally!! Happy birrthday to your niece!!! <3
God Bless you. Al!
XOXO
Ruth Noemi Rojas
Ally-
I’ve read all of your gg books 3 times and love them all. I think that you should really keep writing after gg6 i mean in the books Cammie always says how she wants to go on a mission in Rome with Bex by her side and Liz in a room far far away with about a dozen computers so you should write about that and maybe add in Macey and Zach with her and bex. Also I’m only 12 so I don’t know what optioned for film means but if it means that disney asked if they can make a movie about the books then i think they should because your books really create a vivid picture in my head. I really love your books and I hope your niece does or will too and congrats 8 years as being an author thats great! Happy Birthday to your niece!!
-Emily B
awww Ur only 12,,, BLESS!!!! (have u read the Heist society books yet)!!!!
loll….
British-Gallagher-Girl…xxx.=0
I’m twelve also and I’ve read all your books twice now I’m re-reading them again so i can buy the fifth one! in fact i just finished don’t judge a girl by her cover and i almost started crying =)
i am also 12, and there is no series or books that i love more than the Gallagher Girls series !
and i reread the books everytime there is a new book in the series 
, but i started reading them when gg4 was out… hehe
so i guess its not that impressive 
no i did the same lol… i started reading them wen the 4th came out…
and im 14…… turning 15 in December!!!!
British-Gallagher-Girl…xxx…=0
hey when in dec is your birthday? i’m turning 17 on december 14
my birthday is 9th December…lol!!
British-Gallagher-Girl…xxx…=0
my thought exactly fave books of all time
Awww! I love this!
I’m off to tweet about it.
sorry this is late but, happy ( late ) birthday to your niece! i cant beleive its been EIGHT years since you have published your first book! that is a HUGE accomplishment ally!
YAY! also, on july 13, i went to my cousins wedding, so i guess we both celebrated 
i would say to baby author you ‘ i would like to say good luck, but you dont even need luck 
‘ cuz ally you got mad author skills 
( p.s. the part about the donuts cracked me up!
)
If you want to see a preview of what Gallagher Girls would look like in a movie, you should go to books and click on a book and at the bottom there is a little video about that book. There isn’t one for GG1 or GG2 though. Gallagher Academy should definitely become a movie (even though Ally doesnt want to hear that) I think that a movie IS in the Cammies future.
Awww! I love this!! It’s so sweet! Congrats on all your accomplishments, and happy (belated) birthday to your niece!
Wow! That was so inspirational! See, I’m 13 and I want to be a writer, but I never get anywhere. But that was really inspirational. Congrats, and thanks for writing. Your my FAVORITE author!!!
Congrats on making it through eight years as an author Ally and dealing with us demanding fans! JK! So this has nothing to do with this, but I live in Oklahoma and heard you were doing a signing in Tulsa. I live a good 3 hours from Tulsa, but would be willing to drive there if I knew for sure this was true. So……… I heard it would be this Saturday, July 28. Thanks!!!
(About my comment above)
Once again congrats Ally! On being both an aunt & author for 8 years, okay so I looked at some of the older posts and actually tried to figure out about the signing and turns out….. it worked. I know-weird, rite? So….. just wanted to say that I figured it out. THANKS!
Congrats Ally!!!!!! That is such an awesome coincident that your niece was born on the same day you became a baby author!!!!! I just got the email about you sending in your final draft of Perfect Scoundrels and starting Gallagher Academy number 6!!!!! I would love to fly to Tulsa for your signing but my mom says that I cant go, (sad face). Please come to Colorado for a signing!!!! You are my favorite author ever!!!!
Carter
Yes, Carter indeed:)
Happy (late) author day Ally. You know what I think is funny my one year old niece has the same birthday as your niece. You rock ally and I can’t wait for the next heist society book.
I am rather curious…. To all you faithful readers like I, who have read GG and HEIST SOCIETY. Who do you think is better: Hale or Zach????? WHY????
Thank you for this! I really needed to hear it. : )
Such a cute and inspirational story. Thanks Ally!!!
a
B, C, D, E, F, G, Haha Sorry I messed up:)
Thanks for that! It’s awesome, you looking back on your past and being able to draw all that from it. That’s wisdom.
Miss Ally, I’ve read all of the Gallagher Girl books and all of the Heist Society books and love them so much! I’ve also made some of my friends read them and they love them as well.
My younger sister isn’t a book reader, the only books she has read are the Hunger Games, and she really didn’t want to read your books. So I paid her to read the first Gallagher Girl book. She’s already on the second and is loving them! Thanks so much for writing such great, clean novels.
Little late but congrats
to Becca i like zach better because he is a spy! and well in my mind he seems like the more handsome one. and you can tell how much he loves cammie and wants no harm to come her way and is willing to die for her.
WOOOOOOOO! UNCOMMON CRIMINALS IS NOW IN MY LOCAL BOOKSHOP!. WOOOO.
. I WANNA PARTY!!!!!. I’M SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED. YAY!. IT’S FINALLY OUT!!!!!!.
.
Soz, I just happen ot be incredibly EXCITED.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
GallagherGirl_BlackthorneBoy
OMW!!! Those are such amazing tips for any baby author!!! And congrats on your eight years of being an author! i really love your books and really want to be an author as well! I think i just might print those tips out and frame them on my wall! your are my favorite author and I hope you come up with more awesome books!!!
xoxoxo
Bex
Thank you for this, Ally. I needed to hear it.
THANK YOU so much for this post! I’m a baby author – a few manuscripts, no agent, and big dreams. Like you, I write funny stories, with a little romance. The odds are against me right now. This was exactly what I needed to hear/read this week.
Zach
hahah you’re so funny Ally
that’s why i love you! Happy be-lated 8 years of authorship!!! 
you’re the best!
“Writing books you love will make you happy”
Couldn’t agree more! Great post, Ally.
Hi – really interesting article. .
And if you don’t mind I would like to refer to it when I write my post later?
Hope that’s OK. Several things here that I appreciate, especially that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
You are so right.
And my legs are very tired, but writing is something I have been doing for ever, so I hope they hold out long enough to get to the finishing post!
Thank you for sharing such an inspirational letter to yourself.