Leveling Up – Whether We Want To or Not

This week at the SFF Seven we’re asking each other: do you look for new skills to try each year? Or with each book?

My first reaction is that this isn’t an annual process for me, but an ongoing one. Because it’s absolutely something that happens with every book. And not because I plan it that way! Quite the reverse. With 65 published titles, I often go into new books thinking something along the lines of “This one will be a fast and easy write because x, y, z.”

I am, inevitably, always always wrong.

That’s not to say that some books don’t write easier than others, but they all pose unique problems. It seems to be the nature of the beast, that the creative process goes to a new and more challenging place every time.

I have two caveats to this:

  1. I do kind of look at this on a yearly basis because of my agent, Sarah Younger at Nancy Yost Literary Agency, who sets up annual chats with all of her clients at the beginning of each year. (She jokes that she has to dig some clients out of their caves once a year for this. You know who you are.) I really love this about Sarah because it’s part of what she brings to the table: long-term career strategy. She says she keeps a goal book for each of her clients and we revisit those goals and set new ones each year. For me, a big part of this conversation is always how can I grow and expand? What do I need to do to level up?
  2. The second caveat is that I save some ideas for when I have the chops to execute them. Writers often talk about (and are asked) where they get their ideas and how we choose what to write next. (See above for that.) For many of us, ideas arrive all the time, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to write them. The second novel I ever wrote was like that – only I didn’t know that I didn’t have the chops to execute the concept. So, over the years, I’ve gradually been adding skills as the stories demand them. In Shadow Wizard, book one of the Renegades of Magic trilogy, I added extra points-of-view (POVs). That was the first time I wrote in more than two POVs. In book three of that trilogy, Twisted Magic, I had five POVs. Who knows where it will end??

 

Except that someday (maybe?), I’d like to go back and rewrite that second novel. I bet I could pull it off this time.

 

First Cup of Coffee – February 24, 2022

A bit more on organizing large reader events and how scaling up gradually is super important for all small businesses. Also, how to tell if an agent is legit, or – if legit – the kind of agent you need.

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - February 24, 2022

February 24, 2023

Jeffe Kennedy

A bit more on organizing large reader events and how scaling up gradually is super important for all small businesses. Also, how to tell if an agent is legit, or - if legit - the kind of agent you need.

THE ORCHID THRONE is on sale for $3.99 for only a few more days! https://jeffekennedy.com/the-orchid-throne

Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar

RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-golden-rings SAPPHIRE is available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/sapphire and PLATINUM is available here https://jeffekennedy.com/platinum.

THE LONG NIGHT OF THE RADIANT STAR, a midwinter holiday fantasy romance in the Heirs of Magic series, now available!! https://jeffekennedy.com/the-long-night-of-the-radiant-star

SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in DARK WIZARD. https://jeffekennedy.com/shadow-wizard is out now! Including in audiobook!

Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching

ROGUE'S PARADISE is out (https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s-paradise). Buy book 1, ROGUE'S PAWN, here! (https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s-pawn) and book 2, ROGUE'S POSSESSION, here! (https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s-possession).

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First Cup of Coffee – May 5, 2020

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - May 5, 2020

May 05, 2020

Jeffe Kennedy

Talking today about literary agents, how that power dynamic works, and why authors should absolutely ask all the questions they like. Also about the writing community, generosity-and a smattering about the Irish diaspora.

My agent, Sarah Younger of Nancy Yost Literary Agency, is here (http://www.nyliterary.com/team.php?c=sarah&b=s).

First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

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First Cup of Coffee – September 13, 2019

 

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - September 13, 2019

September 13, 2019

Jeffe Kennedy

I'm giving a bit of a run-down today on how literary agents and agencies work: the significance (or lack thereof) of job titles, how they get paid and other important things authors should know. Also a bit about the metaphysical aspects of creative energy. Oh, and bobcat depredations in the secret garden. All part of the brand here at First Cup of Coffee!

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First Cup of Coffee – November 29, 2018

 

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - November 29, 2018

November 29, 2018

Jeffe Kennedy

Touching back to yesterday's discussion of dealing with agents, how publishing is a small community - and how your agent might listen to your podcast when you complain about her! But all is good, and a shout-out to Sarah Younger of Nancy Yost Literary Agency for being awesome in all ways. The other agent mentioned is Joanna Volpe.

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First Cup of Coffee – November 7, 2018

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - November 7, 2018

November 07, 2018

Jeffe Kennedy

Changing agents - what's the protocol, some ways to know a good agent from a bad one, and why having no agent is better than having a bad one. 

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Sarah Younger and Jeffe Kennedy at RWA 2016

At Last: My Big News!

Sarah Younger and Jeffe Kennedy at RWA 2016So, I’ve been making vague remarks about big changes in my writing career life. More than I thought, because a number of people have asked me about it! But there were Reasons I couldn’t say until today.

The NEWS:

I’m moving to a new agent and agency!

As of today I’ll be represented by Sarah Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. I’m super excited about this move. Sarah just celebrated her 80th deal (which just happened to be a fabulous one for my wonderful friend, Grace Draven). She’s also just a lovely person all around – and not just because she loves my books! Here’s us at the Harlequin Ball in San Diego last summer (2016), at the RWA annual conference, long before either of us had an inkling we might work together. 

What’s funny is – and you longtime readers will particularly appreciate this – Sarah read and loved PETALS & THORNS way back when I published it under my Jennifer Paris pseudonym. Let me tell you, finding an agent who’s read your books for pleasure is a fantastic feeling. She really groks what I write and I think we’re going to make an amazing team.

So, as of today I’m bidding a fond farewell to Fuse Literary. I notified them and my previous agent, Connor Goldsmith, back at the end of February that I’d be making this change. My agency agreement with Fuse (like many), required a 30-day notice to wind up business with them. I will always appreciate what Fuse and Connor have done for me. Agency partner Laurie McLean really worked hard to find a place for me in the agency after my first agent (Pam Howell) left. (For those who don’t know, an author signs with a literary agency, not an individual agent, so if an agent leaves the agency, the author has the option of following them to the new agency or staying put and working with a new agent.) In the end, I approached Sarah about moving my work in a new direction. I liked what she had to say and was hugely gratified that she offered to represent me when I asked. 

Big changes like this never seem to be easy, even for the person who initiates them. The last month of conversations and logistics have been surprisingly emotional for me. It’s kind of like filing for divorce and planning a wedding to someone new, all in the space of 30 days. 

Plus there was that whole RITA finalist thing in the middle. 

All good things, but – WOW! – I’ll be happy to settle into a steady, quiet routine again. ~fans self with hankie~

So, stay tuned for news. Exciting days ahead!