OK - I've signed the contract....and have until June to write the manuscript...

[NRaleighLiberal]

Working with a publisher, got my advance. 250 or so pages....will be a tomato handbook. For all of you experienced writers....share any wisdom on what I am about to experience for the coming months - tips/tricks to stay on track, do and not to do, etc.

Once the wordy part is in next June, then the photos are scheduled - est. a 2014 publication. My first book!

[Pab Sungenis]

1. Congratulations.

Now comes the fun part. I just finished five rounds of edits on my last manuscript and have an October 19th delivery date for its sequel.

You have a big adventure ahead of you, be sure to share your experiences here.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Congratulations

Take a bit of time to enjoy the feeling.

[mainer]

3. Deliver on time. That's the most important part.

I know too many authors who failed to deliver and were never able to land another contract.

For the next few months, your editor will probably leave you alone to let you write. If it's a 2014 pub date, then you've got lots of time before the sales dept will go out with your title in the catalogue. The publishing house probably isn't even thinking about sales and marketing yet, and the cover will not be designed until 2013, after your photos come in. (Those photos may be important to the cover design.)

For a 250 page manuscript that's not due till June, you've got a pretty relaxed writing goal. But don't procrastinate, and be sure to get a few pages in every day. (When I'm working on my first drafts, I try to stick to a goal of about four pages a day -- that gives me a finished first draft of 100,000 words in about 6 months.) Since yours is a nonfiction handbook, a chapter outline will help you organize. I'm sure you know your subject matter inside and out, but if your audience is non-gardeners, make your writing absolutely clear and simple but punchy.

Oh, and btw, I grow tomatoes. So I may be buying that book!

[yellerpup]

4. Great news!

You can make that schedule and I believe you'll have a book that many people will read and enjoy. Congratulations! You know how to meet a deadline; allow yourself a lousy first draft (you don't have to show it to your publisher, just keep pushing until you meet the goal) that you can write quickly then go back and tighten it up. You don't have any trouble getting your thoughts across on DU, so I don't see that this should be too tough for you. I'm excited for you! (AND--this is just the beginning!)

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. I will suggest one piece of software now

I find it invaluable, and it is available on both WIN and MAC, soon on IPAD.... Scriverner...

The MAC is more mature, but trust me, will make your life easier.

[mainer]

6. Question about scrivener

Is it a format that's acceptable to email manuscripts to publishers? Some publishers will accept emailed manuscripts only from commonly used programs such as Word.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. It can compile in any format you wish, including word.

It writes it's individual scrivenings in rtf or text (second one is where mark down shines)

But what you do with it, when ready for it is compile, which essentially creates your (insert format here) file.

[mainer]

8. OK, thanks

I've always worked in Word, but there are times when I wish it were easier to use.

[sybylla]

9. Woohoo!

Landing a contract is a big step. May the tomato muse smile down on you.