Hey. Where'd that rug go?

[Christa M. Miller]

As a freelancer, I have only twice been in the uncomfortable position of getting fired. Once when I was first starting out and just trying to figure out what kinds of work was for me. (It was a website job and I soon found out website copy was not my thing.) The second time was today. I was blogging for Family.com, but because they are scaling back on their blogs to focus more on their "current readership," they're giving some the axe. (Hey, look. That fits with my avatar, doesn't it?)

Ahem. So now I'm stuck trying to figure out how to get that income back. I had a year contract and now I don't. I could take on more PR work for the firm I've been working for (though that guy isn't so great at paying on time). I could get new work (though I might be moving). And I could finish this novel revision and start trying to find an agent.

I'm only saying that because I'm rather panicky and still deluding myself that selling a novel could at least offset this loss, even though I know the whole thing is a crapshoot and any advance wouldn't possibly be seen soon enough to offset it. And there's the whole moving thing.

At the same time, I've been thinking about doing it anyway. I loathe the idea of waiting another year (which is exactly what would happen if we move and/or I get a real job) but I don't want to change addresses in mid-stream. I think that would be a bad idea. Yet the move may not happen because as out-of-staters, we've gotten nooooo nibbles. Even on follow-up phone calls.

What would you all do? About the novel specifically. (Freelance is freelance, there's always something.) Would you start shopping it or wait till you knew whether the move will go ahead?

[Steven Torres]

Not entirely sure i understand what the last sentences of the penultimate paragraph mean, but I'll forge ahead with a response anyway.

I think that whenever the book is ready, you should start seeking representation and letting people see it. Most people who want to contact you in this century will use email. Or they might call your cellphone (assuming you have one). Changing home addresses should present just about no problem in publishing a novel. The agent or editor that takes you one WON'T be coming to your front door with balloons and an oversized check.

Of course, if you were talking about some other problem altogether, then ignore this...

[Christa M. Miller]

Oh, sorry. I was muttering about something that a few people here know about, but I forgot I hadn't made it public. Long story short: considering a move out of state, applying to jobs both husband and I qualify for to increase our chances. That's what the "no nibbles" part means. (Incidentally, he's a high school social studies teacher and I freelance. There are a few transferable skills in there.)

Anyway, you bring up a very good point about email and cell phones. As a matter of fact, we do not have a cell phone, but the hubby has been bugging me to get one. Guess this is as good a reason as any. Now to find a decent (i.e. low cost) plan....

Edited to add - what about the agents who actually do use your SASE to send a request for more? I understand there are a few?

[Sandra Ruttan]

But you'll have mail forwarding if you move, presumably.

And reality is, you could be locked in this 'maybe moving' limbo for months. Sooner is probably better if you've currently got no interest on the job front. If you wait for an interview to come up, followed by an offer, there will be all the things that go with relocating and your book will be shelved that entire time if you haven't made it a priority. You can't control what happens with the jobs you apply for. You can't set that timeline. You can move forward with your manuscript if it's ready.

Besides, you keep a list of all submissions. As rejections/requests come in, you update the list. If you move and still haven't heard from say 5 places, you can send them a follow-up note with a new SASE. Not the end of the world. May or may not get to the right place. But it shows professionalism, that you're still interested in them, that you make the effort to ensure they have the correct information they need. At the very least, it won't paint you in a bad light.

But most will email.

[Christa M. Miller]

But you'll have mail forwarding if you move, presumably.

Yes, but the post office here is based on the old Soviet system. If they are inclined to forward your mail, you will get it. If they're having a bad day, well... better luck next time. We're thanking our stars that our old mail carrier lost the bid to deliver our mail. It means we and our neighbors won't be doing his job anymore.

Thanks for the voice of reason. Most days I'm too confused to think rationally about small details like this, so this helps a great deal!

[Pepper Smith]

If you move, turn in a change of address form at the post office in the town you're moving from. The SASE will get to you a few days late, but it will follow you. The post office is supposed to forward your mail for up to a year after you turn in the change of address form. As long as there's first class postage on the envelope, it should get to you. Most agents don't take a year to respond to the initial query, and if they do, you probably don't want them as an agent anyway.

[Anne Frasier]

as someone who just moved i can say that the postal system apparently doesn't pay attention to mail forwarding. it's kind of luck if it works. i filled out everything a month before my move date, got both email confirmation and regular mail confirmation of the switch, but mail sent to the old address is still being returned to sender. Some has gone through correctly, but some hasn't. and of course i only know of the ones people email or call me about.

BUT i don't think i'd let that keep me from moving forward, christa. sandra's idea was excellent -- keep a log, and if you move just send a new SASE to the few agents who still request them. the submission stage can last a long time, and i feel it's better to jump in when you have material.

[Tom Cain]

Your house-move isn't the issue. As others have stated, anyone who wants to will always be able to find you online, on Crimespace, on a cellphone, whatever. To me, the issue boils down to two questions. 1. How badly do you need money? And how much confidence do you have in your novel? If you can go a few months, or even weeks without immediate income and if you believe in your novel, you should treat the loss of income as a sign and go for it.

Here are two stories that may inspire. A dozen-odd years wago, Lee Child was fired from his job as an executive at Granada TV. This is what he told me about that time ... 'About seven years before I write my first book I started thinking, I could do one of these: I can see how they’re doing it. But it went on the back burner because I was busy with my day-job. When I was made redundant it was time to put up or shut up. I went into it with a fury that was a perfect balance of creativity and financial necessity.'

The result was his first Jack Reacher thriller 'Killing Floor.' And today? Well, as Lee says, 'I don’t need validation, recognition or praise. What I need are facts and the facts are one of my books gets sold, somewhere every in the world, every second. I’m a multi-millionaire and if I don’t get recognition, I don’t care. I’ve got money in my bank-account and they haven’t.'

Now here's my story. For a decade I'd had a really cushy number at The Daily Mail, one of the biggest and by far the best-paying paper in the UK. It bought me a nice house, two cars, paid the family billa, all that stuff. Three years ago, I started getting the feeling that my stock was falling. people kept telling me I was paranoid, but I was just feeling bad vibes. That gave me the spare time and the necessity to work on my first thriller The Accident Man. Today, the Daily Mail hardly call me any more. But then again, Paramount. Viking/Penguin, Transworld and publishers from all around the world do.

My point is ... get writing!

[Christa M. Miller]

Wow. When people talk about the support of the crime fiction community, this is exactly what they mean. It's not just that you told me what I wanted to hear ;) it's the encouragement (and the reality checks) that came with it. Thank you all so much!