Ten things to do while waiting for your next book contract

Once again, I find myself in that incredibly uncomfortable place where I've fulfilled the obligations of my current book contract and am waiting to hear back on the next proposal.

*pausing for commiserating groans*

Anyone who has ever been brave enough to send their work out into the publishing world has hung around in this zip code. Whether it's an unpublished writer waiting to hear back from an agent they've queried , or a multi-published author waiting for word on their newest story. Wherever a person is along the publishing spectrum, Waitingville is a place no one wants to visit.

So, what can you do when you find yourself checking email every half-hour for news from your agent, or tapping the screen of your BlackBerry to make sure it isn't suffering from a technical glitch? (Because it should be ringing with a call from your agent, right?)

Here are my top ten things to do while waiting for my next book contract:

1. Develop character profiles for your next book

2. Search for five new industry-related people to follow on Twitter

3. Try a new plotting technique to plot your next book

4. Research the trip to Ireland you plan to take with your advance money

5. Decide which bills to pay with advance money and settle for weekend trip to Disney World instead (hey, at least you still get to see a castle)

6. Start first chapter of your next book

7. Completely scrap first chapter of your next book

8. Volunteer to hold a workshop on writing at your local library

9. Find better way to began first chapter of your next book

10 Accept that waiting is a part of the business and learn to live with it.