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Author Q&A: Tanya Michaels
Author: Trish Milburn
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: March 2004
Q. Tell us a little about your writing journey.
A. I’ve been reading romance novels since high school (and before that,
Young Adult romances). By my freshman year in college, I had decided writing
romance was what I wanted to do. Since my favorites were the historical romances
by Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood, I got my degree in history. After
graduation, I got a job I hated but that allowed me to pay rent and support my
compulsive book buying. Then, during the first year of our marriage, my husband
encouraged me to pursue my dream full-force before we started our family. He
cheered me on despite the fact that my goals put him in charge of dinner and
laundry, and he didn’t complain that the cost of my contest entries, chapter
dues and conference fees severely crimped our already tight budget. (How’s
that for a romantic hero?)
I joined RWA in 1999, cut back to part-time hours at work and wrote like an
insane woman — finishing nine manuscripts in the two and a half years it took
me to sell. After several contest finals, I had more than one editor comment
that she loved my writing but didn’t think I had a historical voice. The
Harlequin Duets line was fairly new and actively acquiring, so I decided to try
writing a comedy not set in Regency England. I finally had a full requested for
my Duets-targeted manuscript, but it was at Harlequin for a year with no
response. In the meantime, several more of my manuscripts won contests,
including the Maggie Award of Excellence in October 2001.
Through those contest placements, I was allowed to send a second full
manuscript to Harlequin. In November 2001, three weeks after having my first
child, I got The Call. The manuscript I’d been waiting to hear on for a year
had been rejected by the senior editor...but the one I’d just recently
finished and submitted, The Maid of Dishonor, was bought after being
there barely a month. In two years, I had written two full length historicals
(which reside permanently in my closet) and seven short contemporary manuscripts
(only two of which ever sold). My first book and only Duets, The Maid of
Dishonor, came out in March 2003. The line closed shortly thereafter (which
I swear was not my fault), and I now write for Harlequin Flipside and Harlequin
Temptation.
Q. What aspect of craft have you struggled with the most? How have you worked
to master it?
A. I wish I had some really clever, insightful answer for this. But the truth
is, I’m constantly juggling. For three books in a row, I might struggle with
plot. When I pat myself on the back for finally nailing it in book four,
characterization gives me problems instead. So, truly, I think the aspect of
craft that gives me the most trouble is balance. I haven’t mastered it, but I’ve
improved at evaluating my manuscripts and then threading in missing elements
during revisions.
Q. What stage of writing a book do you enjoy the most? Why?
A. The end of the book! My books are like my two kids, different each in
their own way, difficult each in their own way, but infinitely special to me.
Sometimes I have a wonderful idea I get excited about but can’t seem to begin.
Other times, a great opening just comes to me...only without the benefit of
minor details like conflict or plot. The single thing that’s consistent in my
enjoyment of writing is that sense of satisfaction (and sometimes relief) when I
finish. By the time I type that last chapter, I know the characters so well and
care about them so much that I really get sappy about giving them that happy
ending they’ve earned.
Q. Do you feel you have a theme that appears in all or most of your books?
A. I didn’t set out to have a predominant theme in my work, but the more I
write, the more I find myself coming back to trust and acceptance, especially
self-acceptance. A variation of one or both of those themes has shown up in
almost all of my books.
Q. If you had to give five helpful hints to other writers who aren’t yet
published, what would they be?
A. For starters (1)...Write. Submit. Believe. The first (write) seems like
such an obvious piece of advice that I almost feel silly giving it, but I know
some very talented people who work on the same book year after year and haven’t
managed to finish, despite a waiting editor’s interest. I do understand how
life can get in the way — I have a two year old and a nine month old — but
the thing is, life doesn’t stop getting in the way after you sell. Figure out
the best way to schedule your writing in now, before you’re contractually
obligated to do so by a certain deadline date. The second piece of advice goes
hand in hand with the first — submit your work.
While you’re waiting (2), work on something new. Keep working, and if you
hit a rejection or twelve, keep submitting. Most all writers, even the NYT
bestsellers, have been rejected. Your next manuscript might be The One, but how
will you know if you don’t write and submit it? While this business may not be
easy to crack into, new authors are bought every year. If possible, surround
yourself with encouraging family and friends who believe in you.
But you must believe in yourself, too! (3) I found keeping a scrapbook
helpful. At the beginning there was just my lonely RWA card, then some form
rejection letters, maybe a few conference photos. But later came rejection
letters that offered positive feedback...and certificates for contest finals,
photos of me actually winning awards. The visual proof that you are making
progress is wonderful. And even if all you have for awhile are rejection
letters, that’s still progress. Do you know how many people never work up the
courage to submit at all?
4. Learn how to take criticism from others. 5. Learn how to not take
criticism from others. When you do sell, there will very likely be changes
required by the editors (but this is part of the process, not a personal
reflection on you). Before you sell, you can get used to taking and using
constructive criticism from critique partners, contest feedback or even
rejection letters that might spell out what you could do to strengthen your
story. I was told by plenty of contest judges things that I didn’t want to
hear — that my heroine wasn’t likable enough, that I started my story in the
wrong place. And I’m often told things by my editor that I don’t
particularly want to hear (such as the ending wasn’t what she wanted and could
I rewrite the last quarter of the book?).
Nonetheless, I am very grateful to my editor after I make the changes and see
how strong the story is. Start preparing for this now. On the other hand, not
all criticism is constructive, and some of it, while constructive, is wrong. If
anyone from your critique partners to your contest judge tries to rewrite your
story to fit their vision, feel free to politely resist. While you shouldn’t
stubbornly ignore good advice, nor should you become such a people pleaser that
you edit out your own unique voice. Also, this business is not for the
thin-skinned. Just as there may be that one rare judge who loathes your
unpublished entry, after you sell, there may be that one reviewer who loathes
the book. Remember that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. There
may be one person who didn’t like it, but there could very well be 100 who
did.
Tanya’s releases:
- The Maid of Dishonor, March 2003, Harlequin Duets (nominated for an
RT Bookclub Reviewer’s Choice Award)
- Who Needs Decaf?, December 2003, Harlequin Flipside
- Hers for the Weekend, March 2004, Harlequin Temptation
- Sheer Decadence, August 2004, Harlequin Temptation
- Not Quite as Advertised, November 2004, Harlequin Flipside
- Lady’s Choice, January 2005, Harlequin Temptation
- Spicing It Up, June 2005, Harlequin Flipside
Tanya routinely post excerpts for her books at her Web site, www.tanyamichaels.com.
Love Notes, the official monthly newsletter of Music City Romance
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