Ally Carter

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The Facts & Fiction About Publishing

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Hi everybody!

I come to you today with what I hope will be a very useful post on exactly how this whole crazy publishing thing works. 

My greatest hope is that you will have a better understanding of exactly why it takes so long to write and (more specifically) publish a book.  But, honestly, I’d settle for a little less “You’d better hurry up and write GG5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!“

Let me begin by saying thank you.  It is an amazing compliment when readers enjoy your books and want to read more.  I know how lucky I am to even get to finish out the series (I have oodles of friends who started series only to have publishers abandon them midway due to lackluster sales or other factors.)  So I know that having readers eager to read more is a great, great compliment and something that I should never, ever take for granted.

That being said, however, there seems to be a lot of misconceptions about publishing and writing and, specifically, why it takes many months to make this whole thing happen.

That’s why I’m writing this: a summary of the facts and fiction about publishing.  (AKA, the “Please Stop Yelling At Ally” post)

 

FACT: Gallagher Girls 5 will likely be published in early 2012 (probably Janurary or February…somewhere around there.)

FICTION:  Writing emails, tweets, blog comments, etc demanding to move that date up will, in fact, make that date move up.

Again, I’m grateful and flattered that so many people seem excited to get their hands on the fifth Gallagher Girls book–believe me, I’m incredibly excited to write it!

But publication dates don’t change by more than a week or two unless something is seriously wrong.  The publisher has held that slot on their publication schedule.  Stores are holding shelf space.  Editors are reserving time to work on it.  And so on and so on.

There are SO MANY people involved in this process.  Hundreds of people.  I’m just the one you guys know by name. 

Even after I finish my part in the process it will still take many, many months to turn GG5 from a file on my computer to an actual book with a cover and a spine and…you know…pages.

That stuff takes time.  It just does.

 


FACT:  I am trying to put out a new book every nine months.

FICTION:  Demanding that I “hurry up” or “write faster” can actually make words come out of my head any faster or better than they already are

If you read the comments here you’ll see it: people saying that they want GG5.  That they want it right now.  That I had better hurry up and write faster…or else.

This has been frustrating me for a while and I just realized why: demanding that someone hurry is basically saying that they aren’t
already working at a respectable pace.  It’s the same thing as calling them
lazy, in other words.  And it’s a pretty
rude thing to do. 

I know people say this to their favorite authors and
about their favorite books because they love the books and want
more–so it’s coming from a place of love, but that doesn’t make it
any less frustrating, hurtful, or insulting to hear.

There are days when writing is pretty easy–the words flow, the scenes make sense, the story is cooperating.  And then there are days (or weeks) when the opposite is true.  Nothing sounds good.  Everything is terrible.  And having people yell WRITE FASTER doesn’t really make the problem go away.

Some people think that it’s just a matter of putting in the time or taking a speed typing course or something.  After all, if you have a pile of dirty dishes in the sink and you want them washed sooner you can either find a way to spend less time per dish or spend more consecutive hours standing at the sink.

But writing books isn’t like washing dishes.

I’m already at the sink, gang.  I’m there.  All the writers that I know are there too.  But sometimes writing well means getting away from the sink and taking a walk, seeing a movie, doing something that might help the good words start flowing again.

The other option is, of course, to spend less time on each dish.  So I could also do fewer drafts.  I could bang out a book and have GG5 on shelves less than a year from now.  (IF my publisher could get their stuff done in time–which is a really big if.)

I could do it.

But the book wouldn’t be as good.  Not nearly.

I think Neil Gaiman said it best:

It seems to me that the biggest problem with series books is that
either readers complain that the books used to be good but that
somewhere in the effort to get out a book every year the quality has
fallen off, or they complain that the books, although maintaining
quality, aren’t coming out on time.

I wish there were a third option where people didn’t complain, but Gaiman is wise and Gaiman is right: people are going to complain either way and I’d rather they complain about waiting for a great book than complain about spending their time and money reading a bad one.


FACT: Now that I am writing two series fans will have to wait twice as long for new installments of any one series.

FICTION:  It would be better for Gallagher Girls fans if I wasn’t doing Heist (or vice versa)

By and large the feedback on the fourth book has been really great and that makes me really happy.  But you know what?  If GG4 was the best GG book yet then it was because writing Heist Society made me a better writer.

There.  I said it.  Gallagher Girls fans owe a deep debt of gratitude to Heist Society because that book challenged and stretched me and taught me so many things I didn’t know about myself and my craft.

It’s kind of like when a football player takes up ballet.  Football fans really shouldn’t criticize a player for spending time in the dance studio while also praising how he’s now so much more limber and graceful on the field.

It’s also important to note that if I were just writing one series I still wouldn’t spend all my time writing that series.  Or, well, I could.  But I’d go crazy. 

As soon as I finished Gallagher Girls 4 I was so incredibly sick of Cammie and that world that there was no way I could have brought myself to start GG5 right away.  It would have put me over the edge.  And besides, those words weren’t coming.

You know what was coming?  Heist Society 2. 

About 3/4 of the way through the process of writing Only the Good Spy Young the idea for Heist 2 hit me like a bolt of lightning.  And when that happens, folks, you write it.  And it doesn’t matter how much people yell at you for doing it because it is the right thing to do.

 

FACT:  We will all be 18 months older when GG5 comes out.

FICTION:  In 18 months you’ll probably be “too old” for YA.

I’ve heard this logic from several people–that I HAVE to write faster (again, see above) because by the time GG5 is in stores they will be over 18 and, therefore, unable to read and enjoy GG5.

Wrong.

False.

And sad.  Very, very sad.

Here’s the truth of the matter, gang.  You should read what you want (and are ready) to read.  If you want to read GG5 in 2012 then you will be able to read it.  They don’t bar the doors of the YA section and keep out anyone over 18.  On tour this year I met oodles of Gallagher Girls who started reading Love You Kill You in high school and are now reading Only the Good Spy Young at college.

And not only that, but lots of adults are reading YA too.  Lots of them.  So many that the New York Times finally noticed and wrote a piece about it.

Oh, and in case you haven’t noticed, Cam and company are aging too.  Each book is getting progressively more mature as the characters get older.  To “hurry up” and crank out a new GG book right now might actually make the characters out -age you. 


FACT:  My publisher and I are working as hard as we can to bring you the books as quickly as we can.

FICTION:  Authors and publishers really could make books come out faster if they would.

Another very frustrating aspect of this phenomenon is the implication that authors and publishers could put out a new, highly-anticipated book faster…if they just wanted to.

Newsflash: WE WANT TO.

Having books to sell is the goal.  If we could publish the books every six months we would. 

I would get paid that much sooner.  My publisher would see sales revenue months ahead of where it does now.  I’d have more free time to go to the South of France or take up skydiving or…gasp…write more books! 

But unless the books are already written (like GGs 1-4 are which is why they’re being published six months apart in the UK)…  Or unless the series is actually written by several people (like 39 Clues)…  Or there is one public name but the author actually uses several ghostwriters (like James Patterson)…  Or the author is crazy prolific (like Meg Cabot)…

Then that’s not something that likely falls within the realm of reason.

We are people.  People sleep, eat, cry, laugh.  Sometimes we need to watch TV or go to church.  Somedays you have to go to funerals.  Sometimes your best friend is giving birth.  People have lives.  To yell at us to work faster is the same thing as telling us not to live those lives because you want to know if so-and-so ever gets together with whats-his-face.

I get that you want to know that.  I’m happy that you want to know that.  And love you guys–I really do.  But I’ve recently decided it’s okay to love me too.

 

FACT:  I owe it to my publisher, my readers, my characters and myself to write the books as well as I can, as quickly as I can.

FICTION:  “Quickly” is decided by popular opinion.

It seems like I’ve spent a lot of time in the last year or two apologizing for being slow.  Saying “I’m sorry” over and over again to many, many people.  But recently it hit me: I’m NOT slow.

I’ve published seven books in four and a half years.  That’s roughly a book every eight months, on average.  Until recently, a book every year was the norm (and still is in many genres and for many writers). 

Everyone is different.

There are fabulous writers who can write and publish at breakneck speeds.  There are other people who do a book every year or two very regularly–like Old Faithful. 

So l’m not going to appologize for “being slow” ever again.  I’m just not going to do it.  What I will do instead is point people to this post and hope that everyone learns a little more about how this business works, the many, many steps involved, and the number of exclamation points a person should use to walk the line between “totally enthusiastic” and “kinda bossy”.

 

Thanks, all, and have a great day!

Ally

 

 

Comments

  1. I totally agree. It takes months to write book-it’s a lot harder to write one than to read one. Besides, you’re a person, too. You should be able to watch TV or read or go to the mall-since we’re all doing those things!

    Remember, we all love your books and appreciate all the effort you put in to writing them, even if sometimes people can be a little impatient. 🙂

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  2. Ally, Just wanted to say thanks for writing such awesome books. =) I am one of those girls who started reading GG when I was in my teens and am now in college, and still love them… especially GG4. Best book I’ve read in a long time (And that is saying something as I read a lot of YA and adult stuff.) I’ve read it twice now and both times I found it completely gripping. Looking forward to the next GG book and the next HS book as well. =)
    Keep up the great work!

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  4. I am so looking forward to your next book. I am one of those people who started the series in high school and will continue to read them no matter how old I am when the next books in the series come out. I think you are totally right, you are never too old for a young adult book. You are my favorite author and I will be waiting patiently for your next book. I am so excited.

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  5. Hi Ally,
    I would just like to say that Im really sorry for being bossy by telling you to hurry up. I really didnt realize how that kind of a life would be. So I would just like to say that I really admire you and all your work and that I dont care how long it takes. Because I know that every book will be awesome in “good time” and that its worth the wait:)
    Once again, Im sooo sorry for acting bossy:(
    Your friend <3 🙂

    Reply

  6. I know how you feel – in a way… I’m writing a book series too (even though I’m still in high school and haven’t published any yet :P) But I do have a bunch of friends begging me to tell what happens next, when will it get done, who stays alive, does anyone die, are you done yet, how come you’re not done yet?! And BLA BLA BLAAA! And yeah, it doesnt help much. It feels great to know they actually care and all, but it makes me feel so pressured at the same time that there are days that I’m not really thinking about making the book good. Just making it over with. So yeah. As much as I’m dying to read GG5, I get you. And take your time so that you can keep up the amazing writing! I adore your books and guess what? You are one of the authors who most inspired me to become a writer. THANKYOU. SO SO MUCH. I couldn’t have done without you in so many ways! so yeah, bye! s2

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  7. Thanks so much for writing this. It was very enlightening. I actually haven’t read any of your books, but I definitely will now. :o)

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  8. thanks for taking all of this time to write this!! writing/publishing books must be such a difficult, time-consuming thing (it takes me long enough to write a 10 page paper!!) and as to the “being too old” to keep reading the books: I’m 19 and bought GG4 the day it came out!! one of my college friends and I love the GG series, as well as the new HS series. the story lines and everything are still wonderful and entertaining to read, even though I’m a few years older. I don’t feel silly at all walking over to the YA section, because I want to read these book and don’t care who knows!! you’re the best, Ally 😀

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  10. I really don’t care when they come out, you could publish the book in ten years from now, and I would still be happy. As long as it’s awesome (But it’s gonna be because you wrote it Ally!!)
    Keep writing!

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  11. Oh my gosh Ally that was so inspirational. I’m a teenager and a writer too and I’m working on my third novel. The first one turned out so amazingly and the second one I stopped 3/4 of the way through because it just wasn’t working at all and now my third one is coming along really great but for some reason the words just haven’t been flowing lately and I felt really bad but now I feel like that’s okay and that it happens to great authors too, like you!!

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  12. Hey Ally! I think that your doing a great job with the books and even though im really eager to read GG5 and Heist2 right now, i would rather read better written books than poorly written ones. Thanks!

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  13. YOU TELL THEM ALLY!!!!

    ☺when i saw this post, i first thought “ug, i really dont wanna read about publishing. i know it takes a long time, i know people work as fast as they can. I KNOW!” so i really wasnt sure if i wanted to read this post. but i did. and i loved it.
    ☺to me, this wasnt just about publsihing. it was you taking a stand for what you believed in…what was the truth. and personally, i am so proud. i am sure that when your readers read this, they will certainally see their mistake.
    ☺u could have just let it go. let it slide. but u didnt!! and thats amazing! it takes a brave person to speak their mind. it takes confidence. and confidence is SEXY (

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  14. Wow! What an awesome post! While I am one of those impatient people who can’t wait to see both Heist 2 and GG5 come out, I also understood beforehand what I was getting myself into by reading and getting hooked on 2 series of books written by the same author. That being said, whenever I get a little antsy or am just feeling Heist or Gallagher Girls withdrawls, the solution is simple: I just reread the books I already have. As for the people using the “I’ll be too old by then” thing, that’s extreme bologna! I didn’t even start reading the Gallagher Girls books until I was in college. I’m 22, just started my first teaching job, and went buy Only the Good Spy Young the day it came out, so to back up what you said, Ally: just because a book is in a certain section of the bookstore doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to buy it!

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  15. Thank you so much for writing this post. It seems like so many people these days are delusional about the time and effort it takes to get a story from the author’s brain into the bookstore, and being an aspiring writer myself, I can totally sympathize with the whole “writing books isn’t like washing dishes” thing you talked about. I’m not familiar with the publishing process so I can’t sympathize with that part, but I’m glad that you took the time to explain that, too, because I’ve always wondered about the steps (and the amount of time) involved after the manuscript itself is “done”.
    Personally I’m glad that the release dates are fairly spread out, because it gives me time to enjoy them all and digest the stories, and if it really sticks with me right until the next one comes out, then I know I’ve found a truly great series.
    Oh, and the whole “too old for YA” thing actually made me laugh. I can’t believe anybody would use that as an excuse to prod authors along. I think I’ll be shamelessly reading YA novels until I’m eighty… And if it takes that long for the rest of the GG books to come out, then so be it. I still wouldn’t give up on them. 🙂

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  16. Dear Ally,

    I agree with you Ally. Everybody should stop yelling at you to write faster. I personaly think it slows writers down because then they are trying to rush and end up making an off topic chapter or bad book….. But i love your books the best books i have ever read some of my friends have never heard of them and i let them borrow mine and they love them so much they dont want to give my book back.

    Cant wait for GG5 to come out hope you keep writting Gallagher Girl books altime favorite books!!!!!

    Your Biggest Fan,
    Morgan

    Reply

  18. Thanks, Ally, for posting this. I think I understand more about the writing business now (and the reasons we can’t get a new GG or Heist book every month). And even though I really want to read GG5 (and HS2) right now, I’ll learn to be patient and thoughtful of the process(after all, it takes me forever to write an essay in English!)I agree that Heist Society made you a better writer and I LOVE both that book and the GG series. It would be good for all of us to take some time to think about the events in GG1-GG4 and learn from them before we read GG5. GG4 was worth the wait, so I’m sure GG5 will be also. And by that time, we’ll be ready.

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  19. Thank you Ally so much for taking the time with your books and really makeing them so special and really good! The wait in between each book builds up my anticipation and excitment for the next one!

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  20. Although I want to read GG5 really, really badly, I respect that you need the time to write it and need people to not tell you to write faster. I mean, when I write, it doesn’t come out of my head just like that and it always seems horrible when I first write it. I understand that you need more time to write your books and I know it’s terribly rude when people tell you to hurry up. In fact, if someone tells me to hurry up, I can’t think of any thing to write and end up taking more time then I intend. I totally know how you feel, Ally.

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  21. You’re definitely one of my favorite authors. Thank you for all your hard work and I agree-I would rather wait for an absolutely amazing Gallagher Girls book then get one sooner that could have been a little better. So I guess it’s better to say I can wait until GG5-but only because I want it to be awesome and for you to have as much time as you need to make it a fabulous book.

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  22. See Ally, I totally, and compelety understand you. But there is some things I would like to point out;

    1.) No, you are not a ‘slow writier’.

    Considering the fact that you, ALLY CARTER, had made a book come out in EIGHT months. Maybe even less, maybe even more. But that right there, is overly impressive. More than half the authors in the untied states of America, AMERICA, can’t even do that.

    2.) Yes, I from time to time read the comments and I’m not gonna lie, even though I am a fan and I DO wish that you could write faster.

    Were just over-exaggerating. See, we fans have a one- point of view. We rearly ever take it to the authors point of view. Because it’s not like you go in your closet with the lights off and ONLY write.

    Impossiable. Never going to happen. Not once. Future, Present, Past. NOPE. Not even we fans can change that- even though I totally wish we could.

    3.) No and yes to saying sorry.

    No, you have no rights to being sorry. None for this case. Your unhumanly right.

    If you went any faster you probally would had made the story unbelieveably less amazing. I no. GASP. How can that ever happen?!

    Yes, WE totally owe YOU a HUGE sorry.

    Sadly, I can’t speak for everyone else for feels so negitive about you and your writing. Nevertheless, I can abesoulity say that I am sorry. Also deep down, everyone who has a heart, soul, and feelings, probally feels the same way.

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  23. Hi Ally, I just wanted to say that the time the books coe out will always be okay with me, because I am both a huge Gallagher and Heist fan! 🙂 I will be 14 in 18 months when GG5 comes out, but I love the Gallagher Girls so much, I dont think I will mind because the book is coming from my favorite author! 🙂 And as for Heist, you did an amazing job, and I absolutely am thrilled for Heist 2! I can’t wait to read the next adventures of Kat and Cammie.

    P.S. My favorite GG character is Zach.
    P.S.S. My favorite HS character is Kat.
    P.s.s.s. my least favorite GG character is Mr.Townsend
    p.s.s.s.s. my least favorite HS character is Hale.

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  24. Thank you so much for all of the work you put into your books Ally. Both Heist Society and the GG books really are amazing and worth the wait. We love you too and I hope there aren’t anymore rude comments, because you don’t deserve them. Best wishes! 🙂

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  25. hey ally, i just finished reading your post, and i totally agree. of course everyone wants to find out what happens in the next book of a series, but all great things take time and i, at least, support you to write a FABULOUS book in whatever time it takes you, the publisher/editors/printers/the whole shabang. you definately arent slow….there have been series that have taken what seems like an ETERNITY to publish a new book, and having a book out on an average of 1 every 8 months is FABULOUS!!!!
    i hope that i havent complained one way or another about authors being slow at writing, or tours or any of that stuff. it isnt fair to you, or any of the people that work hard to get a book published. its a HUGE undertaking, im sure, and for the bystanders to shout “hurry up!” from the sidelines is just wrong and i apologize for myself, and for anyone that signs the apology/support list here:
    1.<3julie<3
    2.
    3.
    4.
    5.
    6.
    7.
    8.
    9.
    10.
    if we, as fans, truly support our favorite books, we also support the truly amazing author(s) that write(s) them, and that means believing that what they say is the truth and that they want us to read their books as quickly as we want to read them!!!!!!!!!!
    love you ally!!!!!
    <3julie<3
    PS i hope at least some people add their names to the list cause that would be pretty embarrassing if no one signs it except me...*has a worried look on face*

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  26. Dear Ally,
    I love you so much! You are my role model! Take your time, I prefer quality over quantity and time. And yes, please, never apologize. This reminds me in a roundabout way of how I used to say that I was “going to be” a writer. Then I read somewhere that you don’t have to be published to be a writer. So yes, now I say it, no apologies, no weird looks, I am a writer. (way to bring it around to myself, huh? :D) Your work is amazing!

    <3 xoxo,
    A fan

    Reply

  30. i’m ur #1 fan ally, i would never want u 2 rush ur books, and i’m also waiting 4 th’ next book, ur th’ best author , keep wtiting
    also. yor friends <3 <3 <3 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Reply

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