Why I Can't Finish My Book (And It's Not My Fault!)
A Literal Literary Loser Is Stymied
The contract I signed with BearManor Media in April specifies that the complete manuscript of my upcoming book, tentatively titled, Super Soap Scenes: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments, is due to them on August 1.
I am a stickler for meeting deadlines. Yes, yes, I know. An obsession with punctuality is a symptom of “anal-retentive character,” “social anxiety,” and white supremacy.
I don’t care.
I wrote my NYT best-selling novel, Oakdale Confidential, in six weeks so it would be on the shelves in time for As the World Turns’ 60th anniversary and the on-air storyline which promoted it. Nobody cared if I was anal-retentive, anxious or a white supremacist. The tie-in episodes had been written, filmed and they were about to air. There was no wiggle-room.
I wrote a key chapter in my final figure skating mystery, Skate Crime, while I was pregnant with my daughter and sitting at the doctor’s office for that test where you drink orange soda, and then they draw your blood every hour. It’s not like I had anything better to do. (Though, when I re-read that chapter now, I can still taste the super-sweet drink.)
I always meet my deadlines.
That’s easier to do when I’m the rate-determining step. But what happens when it’s not up to me?
For Super Soap Scenes: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments, I asked fans to name their favorite soap scenes of all time, and then I approached the actors, writers, and other production personnel who created those moments for the behind the scenes scoop.
To get in touch with those folks, I turned to the publicists of The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless - the four soaps still producing new episodes today.
I sent out the first batch of email in mid-May, explaining my project and offering to forward a copy of the first edition of the book, then-called Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments, so they could get a sense of the format.
Nobody got back to me.
I waited until after the Daytime Emmys had aired on June 7, 2024, to follow up.
At that point, publicists for three of the four shows replied, asking to review the first-edition manuscript.
I promptly sent all three of them a copy.
And then we went back into radio silence.
This time, I waited until after the 4th of July holiday to follow up.
This time, one of the publicists - OK, it was Andrea McKinnon of Days of Our Lives - arranged for me to have two fabulous interviews, one with James Reynolds (Abe) and the other with Wally Kurth (Justin), as well as promptly provided photos to go with their respective memories. Andrea McKinnon is the best. Everyone, please clap for the incredible Andrea McKinnon.
I will now commence being cryptic. A second publicist promised to set up interviews. They asked when my deadline was. I told them July 22. The date came and went. Nothing happened. I followed up. Oh, right, they said. When is your deadline again? I told them, July 29, at the very latest. Wow, that’s soon, they observed. Well, yes. But I’ve been asking since May. That second date came and went. Nothing happened.
A third publicist asked to review the manuscript, then never got back to me.
A fourth publicist never replied to any of my emails.
Now. I’m not one to throw my hands up in the air and give up. When I commit to something, I work non-stop until I’ve honored my commitment.
Yes, yes, I know. Persistence is a symptom of… who cares? I’m doing it anyway.
When I got no response from some show publicists, I reached out to the actors’ personal publicists, their managers, their agents, and even through social media.
Many were kind enough to provide an entry (as well as personal photos!) by the date I specified. Some others agreed to do it, then missed the first deadline. And the second one.
The contract I signed with BearManor Media in April specifies that the complete manuscript of my upcoming book, tentatively titled, Super Soap Scenes: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments, is due to them on August 1.
They will get that manuscript on August 1.
It will be missing some of the memories I’d originally planned on. Readers won’t know the difference. I will.
And it will stick in my craw. (Symptom of…?)
But that’s the way this business goes. To paraphrase the great philosopher Donald Rumsfeld, “You go to press with the manuscript you have, not the manuscript you wish you had.”
Will Super Soap Scenes: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments be the book of my dreams? It will not.
Has any book I ever published - including the NYT best-seller - been the book of my dreams? No.
There is always something more I could add, another tweak, a better turn of phrase.
But eventually, an author has to let go and send their baby out into the world to be judged by editors, reviewers and readers.
And that’s why I love deadlines. No book is ever finished to the writer’s satisfaction. A deadline, at least, forces it to get done, nonetheless.
(Fun Fact: The photo used to illustrate this post was provided by another wonderful publicist, Alan Locher. The women featured are Guiding Light writer Jill Lorie Hurst, actress Crystal Chappell, and Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler. My book will highlight an in-depth interview with Jill about Springfield’s ground-breaking Otalia storyline. Stay tuned!)