Season's Greetings
New writing method, AFTFE, and where did "White Elephant" go?
Writing Updates
I have recently started a new writing routine!
And it is promising!
When I first started seriously writing (nine years ago!), I was an incredibly structured writer; I was in college, so my days were filled with classes. It was easy to tell myself that writing was its own class—one that required me to make a Starbucks run, set up camp in my favorite library, and then write for at least two hours.
I wrote Maybe Meant to Be this way, as well as my two shelved Bexley follow-up manuscripts. It was a fool-proof mindset, one I continued even after I graduated college.
Did I go on writing benders? Of course. I usually spent four-to-six-to-sometimes-eight hours in the library, not two, and after graduation, I logged a lot of “class time” during my days off from work.
Then, in July 2023, I became a full-time writer. My schedule opened up—I no longer had to build in writing blocks around my work schedule. Writing became my work schedule!
Being a full-time writer is my dream job, but it is harder than it first seems. Setting your own hours can be a puzzle! I am at a point in my career where I need to be productive; writing two books a year is no joke. But I can’t convince myself that I’m “going to class” anymore when the only consistent task I’m writing in my agenda book is an open-ended write.
There is no structure there. Until I lace up my sneakers for an afternoon run, I have the whole day to stare at my computer. And hey, I can also check Instagram. And hey, I can go get a snack. And hey, maybe I’ll pack up and go to a coffee shop and mutter a few expletives when I get there and see there are no open seats.
Then I’ll buy myself an $8 latte and walk home.
This is not very productive. Do I end up meeting my word quota? More often than not, yes. But I don’t feel particularly proud of myself.
Okay, long-winded preface over.
As many of you know, Gilmore Girls is very close to my heart. Lauren Graham (Lorelai) has two fabulous memoirs: Talking as Fast as I Can and Have I Told You This Already? In the former, she discusses her prolific writing career—everything from her debut novel, Someday, Someday, Maybe, to her screenwriting career. In other words: she has a lot on her plate, with multiple deadlines looming.
Lauren doesn't know if she can do it all…
But then!
One of her friends connects her to a screenwriter friend, and she adopts his writing practice. It involves a kitchen timer, and is similar to the Pomodoro Technique.
Plenty of writers use timers. Some will set it for a sprint, then take a break. Sprints have never appealed to me, because I spend a lot of time thinking in front of my screen. I worry that I’d set a timer for twenty minutes, but end up with only fifty words by the end.
I also get lost in my drafts. Twenty minutes doesn’t feel like enough time for that to fully happen…or, I’ll get lost with six minutes left and perhaps be annoyed when the timer rings and takes me out of the story.
(To everyone who does like to sprint: I think that is awesome! It just isn’t the way my writing brain works).
The twist here? The timer is set for an hour, and you “schedule” those hours. You decide how many hours you want to work, and then completely dial in for them. Silence your phone and put in another room, turn off your Wi-Fi (I put my computer on Focus mode), and then write. If you get bored of writing, open a new document and “journal.” You’ll probably get bored of journaling, which will send you back to your WIP. I’m happy to report that I haven’t needed to turn to my journal yet.
When your timer goes off, you are free to do whatever you want until your next scheduled hour. You don’t need to feel guilty for taking a lunch break or going on a run or calling your mom or picking something up at CVS (@ Kaethe), because it’s not interrupting one of your blocks.
This has been incredibly helpful to me. An hour is long enough to completely fall into the story (sometimes my timer literally makes me jump), and I spend less time at my desk but am more productive. When I am grabbing a cup of coffee, I no longer hear the little voice in my head whispering, You should be writing, you should be writing…
Because it’s not inside one of my hours!
Have I suddenly become someone who churns out 4,000 words a day? Hell no! That is not—and probably will never be—me! I am not Tessa Bailey! I only produce that much when my deadline is within sight. And I’m sure these hours will go out the window when I reach that point, because I tend to write with blinders on during the homestretch.
But right now, with my cute kitchen timer, I feel so much more confident on a daily basis. It definitely took someone framing this method as a “schedule” to get me to see the light!
A First Time for Everything
In case you missed it, AFTFE (phonetical pronunciation: aft-fe?) secrets have been revealed! Cosmopolitan helped me reveal its beautiful cover, and included a fun excerpt from one of my favorite scenes (featuring a familiar face). You can check it out here!
Something special is also being announced early next year, but feel more than free to preorder AFTFE below! My website has links to multiple retailers, hopefully your retailer of choice.
Reader Q&A
Will you come to Warsaw one day? I wasn’t able to be in Krakow but I love your books!
If I am invited to Warsaw, I will try my absolute best to come. I had such an incredible time in Kraków, and would love to see more of Poland!
How do you plan a book? Do you just start writing or is there a lot of storyline prep?
It depends on the book! There are authors who are full-on “plotters” (writers who thoroughly outline before they dig in to their project), and others who are “pantsers” (they fly by the seat of their pants and just write). I consider myself a “plantser” (a blend of the two) but my strategy tends to change with each manuscript. For What Happens After Midnight and While We’re Young, I routinely wrote short outlines before every chapter; their timelines were complex, so I needed a map for their pacing and to keep details straight. On the other hand, I wasn’t as glued to my notebook for A First Time for Everything. It takes place over ten months rather than a single night or day, so I allowed the story to unfold more organically (which can be a lot of fun!). I’m experiencing something similar with my draft right now.
Brief KLW Universe/upcoming projects map?
While We’re Young - March 4th, 2025
A First Time for Everything - June 3rd, 2025
Audrey/KLW #6 - 2026 (about to revise)
Olivia/KLW #7 - 2026 (drafting)
Research trips planned for 2027 books; I’m hoping my brain will clue me in on the plots soon!
What would be your dream surprise song/mashup on the Eras Tour?
I know “Lover” is on the setlist, but if it’s a dream…“Hey Stephen (Taylor’s Version)” x “Lover.” Those are the songs I listened to most while writing The Summer of Broken Rules, and I think they would sound so swoony together.
Is there a book of yours that you often reread?
I have reread all my books multiple times, but there’s something about Maybe Meant to Be that is especially cozy to me! I spent the longest with those characters, so in a lot of ways they feel like the oldest and dearest of friends.
How involved are you in the design of your covers?
It has changed with each book, and all publishers work differently. I had no involvement in TSOBR’s cover, but then my agent and I got to see the pencil sketch for WHAM and offered feedback for each subsequent stage, until it was perfect. It was the same for AFTFE. For WWY, Delacorte had a fun questionnaire for me to fill out, and they asked me to share my inspo board on Pinterest. I also shared my favorite book covers.
Is it ever hard to connect your books in the KLW universe?
Because I love my big casts, not so far!
Would you ever write a story set somewhere outside the US?
Of course! I always keep writing in mind while I travel. I hope to set a book in Italy someday. I’ve been to Milan twice and love it so much. My future in-laws are in the process of retiring there, so I hope to spend more time there in the next couple years.
Your top Gilmore Girls episodes?
One per season, the episodes I’ve rewatched the most…
Season 1, Episode 19 - Emily in Wonderland
Season 2, Episode 16 - There’s the Rub
Season 3, Episode 7 - They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?
Season 4, Episode 16 - The Reigning Lorelai
Season 5, Episode 8 - The Party’s Over
Season 6, Episode 13 - Friday Night’s Alright for Fighting
Season 7, Episode 17 - Gilmore Girls Only
Reboot? What reboot?
Can you tell I’m a huge Emily fan?!
Where did the Fox family Christmas story go?/Where did White Elephant go?/Why can’t I find the Christmas story on your substack?/Will you be publishing the White Elephant content anywhere soon?
You will see it again. I’m not sure in which medium (maybe back on Substack, maybe somewhere else), but I promise it’s not gone for good. It makes me smile how much you all love it! I churned it out while wearing pajamas and sitting at my family’s dining room table.
Bookshelf
What have I read lately? I’m currently in a slump, but I read Lauren Graham’s memoir in tandem with The Nightmare Before Kissmas for my book club. I loved the former, and the latter sparked quite the discussion over tacos.
I also reread A First Time for Everything, as I always read my books when my physical ARCs arrive! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m really proud of and enjoy the stories I tell. However, I did discover that one character has a fear of heights in AFTFE…but I have him jumping off something in KLW #7. So, I think he needs to conquer or mask that fear, because this jump is really important!
Please don’t hesitate to drop any book recs in the comments. With the exception of sci-fi and epic fantasy, I read a little of everything!
Playlist
Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call - Bleachers
Orange Juice - Noah Kahan
Jeanie - lovelytheband, The Kooks
The Band and I - Maisie Peters
This wonderful While We’re Young playlist one of my readers made!
Bonus: Christmas Q&A!
Do you prefer white Christmas or beach Christmas?
I am a beach girl, but white Christmas always and forever!
Each of your characters’ favorite Christmas songs?
MMTB: Nick becomes “Little Saint Nick” every Christmas season. Sage is all about Glee Christmas covers, notably “Last Christmas.” Charlie loves Coldplay’s “Christmas Lights.” Luke throws on The Holiday’s score while cooking.
TSOBR: Meredith is a diehard fan of Joanna’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in Love, Actually, while Wit really commits to lip syncing Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.”
WHAM: Alex loves serenading Tag with “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” Lily listens to most renditions of “My Favorite Things,” but Julie Andrews always be her favorite. Meanwhile, Leda thinks Kelly Clarkson’s cover packs a bigger punch.
WWY: Grace plays “All I Want For Christmas Is You” over and over, to mostly annoy James. He prefers Joni Mitchell’s “River.” Taylor Swift’s “Christmas Tree Farm” is finally growing on Everett, if only because his sisters play it so much. Isa doesn’t do Christmas music.
AFTFE: Every member of the Fisher-Michaels family prefers a different version of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”
Mads - Phoebe Bridgers
Austin - Sam Smith
Harry (Dad) - James Taylor
Lee (Da) - Judy Garland
Would you ever write a holiday book?
If I found the right story, yes! I absolutely love the holiday season.
Favorite winter drink?
Williams Sonoma’s hot chocolate mix, and Half Baked Harvest’s Spicy Sweet Holiday Storm cocktail.
How are Mer and Wit spending Christmas? Being engaged and all that.
They’re back on the Farm for Christmas, just soaking up their time as fiancés. Sarah says it’s important to enjoy this phase, before all the wedding prep begins. Meredith isn’t so sure she has the interest or stamina for all that planning…
That’s it for 2024! This year was filled with more than one Big Moment, and I am so grateful for all your love and support. It truly means the world to me! I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful December and holiday season, and I can’t wait to share some secrets in 2025…1
Cheers,
Kaethe
None of them are a film/series adaptation of The Summer of Broken Rules. Hopefully one day, but it’s not today, this week, and most likely not next month. Let’s hold out hope for next year!
aaaahhhh mer is so going to elope, i want to too so pls let that happen
The clarifying footnote made me laugh.