Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 242
December 5, 2010
What Is A Muse??
Some artists have real, live inspirational helpers--people that act like a muse. Some folks swear that the muse must not be another living person, that the inspiration must be completely internal or other-worldly.
I favor the explanation of Carl Jung--the muse is the other-sexed, unconscious energy-complex that complements the artist's conscious efforts.
For far too long, men dominated social art forms and the female muse seemed like the only kind there was. Now, with woman claiming their due, we have "male muse" coming into use. The fact that the term has "male" tacked on is testimony to the lack of full admission that men and women, both, can have a muse, with no qualifiers.
Jung goes into great detail on the differences of what he calls the anima and animus--his terms for male and female muse.
There is a video by the author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, that explores what I would call the muse but she calls the genius--like in the word's etymology: "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent"
Even though Jung's explanations give me much to ponder over, Gilbert's ideas make me Soar, just like my muse does :-)
I favor the explanation of Carl Jung--the muse is the other-sexed, unconscious energy-complex that complements the artist's conscious efforts.
For far too long, men dominated social art forms and the female muse seemed like the only kind there was. Now, with woman claiming their due, we have "male muse" coming into use. The fact that the term has "male" tacked on is testimony to the lack of full admission that men and women, both, can have a muse, with no qualifiers.
Jung goes into great detail on the differences of what he calls the anima and animus--his terms for male and female muse.
There is a video by the author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, that explores what I would call the muse but she calls the genius--like in the word's etymology: "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent"
Even though Jung's explanations give me much to ponder over, Gilbert's ideas make me Soar, just like my muse does :-)
December 3, 2010
Who's Helping You Succeed? And, What *Is* Success?
The title of this post is really the most important thing I can say about the publishing process I'm going through. I can read about others' processes and maybe learn something but my book is Way niche and trans-genre, plus I'm self-publishing, so, yes, I've chosen a somewhat lonely road...
Actually, I feel the title of this post is the most important thing you should think about any publishing process; or, any process where you have a goal that takes a huge amount of work to achieve.
First, who have you chosen as a person who knows what you need to know--who's helping you succeed? I've had to search and sort a tremendous amount of people's claims that they had what I needed to know to succeed in my book marketing efforts. But, the second question is really the first one you should ask: What is the exact form of the success I want?
I'll leave that second, most important question's analysis for a future post, since I'm still shaping my answer :-) But, I should add that some folks have to slog through the effort to answer the first question before they can realize that the second question is the most important one...
After about two years of looking for people who can help me succeed (for now, I'll define that as getting a book published that actually sells a few copies), I've found some who are helping me a lot.
The first is Havi at The Fluent Self. Her help is radically fun ! It gets right down into my soul and makes me smile while it teaches me things I should have learned decades ago.
Next is Sonia at Remarkable Communication. She's less playful but certainly not un-fun. She's definitely technique-oriented and full of hands-on wisdom.
Next come all the people on my huge Blogroll. Some are quite accomplished, some are just beginning the struggle, but all are there because something in their striving resonates with what I'm working my way through...
What's your definition of success?
Who gives you the help you need?
Ain't it great that things are designed so we can actually find people to share our journey??
Actually, I feel the title of this post is the most important thing you should think about any publishing process; or, any process where you have a goal that takes a huge amount of work to achieve.
First, who have you chosen as a person who knows what you need to know--who's helping you succeed? I've had to search and sort a tremendous amount of people's claims that they had what I needed to know to succeed in my book marketing efforts. But, the second question is really the first one you should ask: What is the exact form of the success I want?
I'll leave that second, most important question's analysis for a future post, since I'm still shaping my answer :-) But, I should add that some folks have to slog through the effort to answer the first question before they can realize that the second question is the most important one...
After about two years of looking for people who can help me succeed (for now, I'll define that as getting a book published that actually sells a few copies), I've found some who are helping me a lot.
The first is Havi at The Fluent Self. Her help is radically fun ! It gets right down into my soul and makes me smile while it teaches me things I should have learned decades ago.
Next is Sonia at Remarkable Communication. She's less playful but certainly not un-fun. She's definitely technique-oriented and full of hands-on wisdom.
Next come all the people on my huge Blogroll. Some are quite accomplished, some are just beginning the struggle, but all are there because something in their striving resonates with what I'm working my way through...
What's your definition of success?
Who gives you the help you need?
Ain't it great that things are designed so we can actually find people to share our journey??
December 1, 2010
ReadWriteReadWriteReadWrite...
I was a reader before I was a writer. As I write, I become my first reader. Each reader of a book "rewrites" it...
I'm compelled to now write my absolutely favorite word--"Word" :-)
It's so cool, sitting on the page saying what it is...
Even with all the psychology I've studied, I've yet to fully comprehend the act of Writing/Reading or even the related act of Reading/Writing.
Words confound me. They also exhilarate me.
Specially entertaining (and, mind-expanding) are self-referencing sentences, like:
"You have of course, just begun the sentence that you have just finished reading."
That link at the word "self-referencing" has other examples including an entire self-referencing essay :-)
These creations start to peel back some of the layers of the magic art of reading and make the writer of the piece of self-reference begin to disappear.
When you're reading, are you "rewriting" the book?
When you write, are you consulting with you-as-reader?
Can anyone explain all this to me??
:-)
I'm compelled to now write my absolutely favorite word--"Word" :-)
It's so cool, sitting on the page saying what it is...
Even with all the psychology I've studied, I've yet to fully comprehend the act of Writing/Reading or even the related act of Reading/Writing.
Words confound me. They also exhilarate me.
Specially entertaining (and, mind-expanding) are self-referencing sentences, like:
"You have of course, just begun the sentence that you have just finished reading."
That link at the word "self-referencing" has other examples including an entire self-referencing essay :-)
These creations start to peel back some of the layers of the magic art of reading and make the writer of the piece of self-reference begin to disappear.
When you're reading, are you "rewriting" the book?
When you write, are you consulting with you-as-reader?
Can anyone explain all this to me??
:-)
November 29, 2010
Is Virtual Reality Really "Real" ?
After I publish this post, I'll be taking one of my weekly trips into the virtual world, Second Life, for a listen to the next chapter in an author's live readings...
I've been involved with Second Life for about three years but it was last year when I started pre-publication for my forthcoming novel. I touched on this in a previous post.
Before I decided to do promotion in Second Life, I usually went to various Sims (separate areas built by members) to listen to music. Since I created an avatar for my co-author, Sena Quaren, she not only listens to music but does something I was never really into--Dancing. I've already revealed in this blog that Sena is a character in my book and, while not real in the traditional sense, very real to me. This makes me a normal author, which implies "abnormal" human :-)
So, there I am, being Sena, dancing her heart out, and wondering why she likes dancing and I don't. Isn't she just a part of me? So then, that part of me likes to dance? Is she more than just a part of me? Then, all of me doesn't like to dance??
BTW, every question in that last paragraph can be honestly answered "yes."... If you're not a writer, you may safely assume I'm a bit crazy.
Writing a novel includes not only revisions while in the throes of creating the book but seeking out feedback (from editors and what some call beta-readers) and being involved with the deeply self-revealing act of deciding whether to do what someone else suggests. You can still give me something to think about since I won't be publishing till March.
This Thursday, the 2nd of December, I'll be starting live readings of the pre-publication manuscript--seeking more feedback but also giving myself a new perspective on how well the story "works". I've read each chapter out loud as I was revising but reading it to others ( yes real reading to real others in a virtual word :-) will give me yet another view...
The readings will continue for about nine weeks on the beach on Book Island at 10pm GMT every Thursday. That last link is to the venue on Book Island and also gives you a chance to sign-up for Second Life. It's Free :-)
Ever been in a virtual world?
If not, do they intrigue you or make you yawn?
I've been involved with Second Life for about three years but it was last year when I started pre-publication for my forthcoming novel. I touched on this in a previous post.
Before I decided to do promotion in Second Life, I usually went to various Sims (separate areas built by members) to listen to music. Since I created an avatar for my co-author, Sena Quaren, she not only listens to music but does something I was never really into--Dancing. I've already revealed in this blog that Sena is a character in my book and, while not real in the traditional sense, very real to me. This makes me a normal author, which implies "abnormal" human :-)
So, there I am, being Sena, dancing her heart out, and wondering why she likes dancing and I don't. Isn't she just a part of me? So then, that part of me likes to dance? Is she more than just a part of me? Then, all of me doesn't like to dance??
BTW, every question in that last paragraph can be honestly answered "yes."... If you're not a writer, you may safely assume I'm a bit crazy.
Writing a novel includes not only revisions while in the throes of creating the book but seeking out feedback (from editors and what some call beta-readers) and being involved with the deeply self-revealing act of deciding whether to do what someone else suggests. You can still give me something to think about since I won't be publishing till March.
This Thursday, the 2nd of December, I'll be starting live readings of the pre-publication manuscript--seeking more feedback but also giving myself a new perspective on how well the story "works". I've read each chapter out loud as I was revising but reading it to others ( yes real reading to real others in a virtual word :-) will give me yet another view...
The readings will continue for about nine weeks on the beach on Book Island at 10pm GMT every Thursday. That last link is to the venue on Book Island and also gives you a chance to sign-up for Second Life. It's Free :-)
Ever been in a virtual world?
If not, do they intrigue you or make you yawn?
November 28, 2010
Do You Talk Back To Books?
At some point in my past, from a source I can't remember, I heard that it's therapeutic to talk back to TV ads.
I watch TV programs on the Web now so my chances for Ad-Rant-Therapy are, thankfully, shorter. But, my talking back to books has always been with me, and not just the swearing variety. Sometimes I coo at what the book is saying. I've even gotten so far into philosophical discussions with a book that I've forgotten to finishing reading it...
Reading is a creative act. Some even say that the author of any given book is only the first writer--every reader rewriting it as they perform the magic act of translating words into ideas in their minds.
Looking back on my nearly 6.5 decades of life on this planet, I honestly think I would have been a very nasty character if I hadn't developed a love for reading. Some of the books I've read have been way nasty; but, somehow, they taught me to not be that way. Nothing like an evil character getting their due to influence the moral compass...
Earlier today, I stumbled on a Web site that sparked this post--Reading.Org. I almost thought it was a joke (with my weird sense of humor) but it belongs to the International Reading Association, a global organization dedicated to literacy. They even have their own blog radio show :-)
I'll stay away from trying to say anything profound in this post but words can be crafted to talk about themselves, seeming to somewhat ignore the reader. For example: "I think the first word in this sentence is egotistical ! "
If you want to dip your reading ladle into a large pond of ponderability, check out Arts & Letters Daily. The three main categories for reading are: Articles of Note, New Books, and Essays and Opinion. And, if the sheer amount of available reading on the landing page doesn't impress, notice that they have archives back to 1998 :-) Plenty of stuff to talk back to on this site...
Do you read a lot?
Do you have any funny stories about reading?
What's your very favorite kind of writing?
I watch TV programs on the Web now so my chances for Ad-Rant-Therapy are, thankfully, shorter. But, my talking back to books has always been with me, and not just the swearing variety. Sometimes I coo at what the book is saying. I've even gotten so far into philosophical discussions with a book that I've forgotten to finishing reading it...
Reading is a creative act. Some even say that the author of any given book is only the first writer--every reader rewriting it as they perform the magic act of translating words into ideas in their minds.
Looking back on my nearly 6.5 decades of life on this planet, I honestly think I would have been a very nasty character if I hadn't developed a love for reading. Some of the books I've read have been way nasty; but, somehow, they taught me to not be that way. Nothing like an evil character getting their due to influence the moral compass...
Earlier today, I stumbled on a Web site that sparked this post--Reading.Org. I almost thought it was a joke (with my weird sense of humor) but it belongs to the International Reading Association, a global organization dedicated to literacy. They even have their own blog radio show :-)
I'll stay away from trying to say anything profound in this post but words can be crafted to talk about themselves, seeming to somewhat ignore the reader. For example: "I think the first word in this sentence is egotistical ! "
If you want to dip your reading ladle into a large pond of ponderability, check out Arts & Letters Daily. The three main categories for reading are: Articles of Note, New Books, and Essays and Opinion. And, if the sheer amount of available reading on the landing page doesn't impress, notice that they have archives back to 1998 :-) Plenty of stuff to talk back to on this site...
Do you read a lot?
Do you have any funny stories about reading?
What's your very favorite kind of writing?
November 26, 2010
What Does "Publish" Really Mean?
This blog is about reading, writing, and publishing. I've read one
heck of a lot. I've written more than most. I'm now learning what
publishing means...
I have published in the past and all those books are free to download. Now, though, I'm getting ready to publish my first novel. You can get a free pre-publication copy; and, making comments on it can get you into a special listing in the book, even a short Bio and your Web address :-)
In
fact, giving away a manuscript to get feedback is part of what
publishing means to me. Just as much as my adventures in a
virtual world are part of publishing for me (see the previous post...).
Might be a good idea to give the word origin for "publish": "early 14c., "to make public," from M.E. publicen (c.1300), altered (by influence of banish, finish, etc.) from O.Fr. publier, from L. "make public," from publicus "public" (see public). The meaning "to issue (a book, engraving, etc.) for sale to the public" is first recorded 1520s."
Notice that part about the influence on publish from banish and finish? Reminds me of a quote from the poet Paul Valery: "A poem is never finished, only abandoned."
The influence of the meaning of banish interests me lately. The manuscript is with the copy editor and I've been feeling a bit like I've banished it from my life, paying all my attention to pre-publication social media activities. Once the editor returns it and I collate all the other comments and feedback and criticisms, I'll repeal the banishment, take the novel back into my writer's cave, and lovingly polish and preen it...
Have you published?
Are you getting ready to publish?
Do you wish you could publish?
Are you confirmed in the opinion that you will never publish?
I'd love to hear comments from anyone who answered any of those questions with a "yes".
By the way, if you've ever posted to a blog or even made a comment, you've been published. Facebook and Twitter also count. How many other ways to publish can you think of??
heck of a lot. I've written more than most. I'm now learning what
publishing means...
I have published in the past and all those books are free to download. Now, though, I'm getting ready to publish my first novel. You can get a free pre-publication copy; and, making comments on it can get you into a special listing in the book, even a short Bio and your Web address :-)
In
fact, giving away a manuscript to get feedback is part of what
publishing means to me. Just as much as my adventures in a
virtual world are part of publishing for me (see the previous post...).
Might be a good idea to give the word origin for "publish": "early 14c., "to make public," from M.E. publicen (c.1300), altered (by influence of banish, finish, etc.) from O.Fr. publier, from L. "make public," from publicus "public" (see public). The meaning "to issue (a book, engraving, etc.) for sale to the public" is first recorded 1520s."
Notice that part about the influence on publish from banish and finish? Reminds me of a quote from the poet Paul Valery: "A poem is never finished, only abandoned."
The influence of the meaning of banish interests me lately. The manuscript is with the copy editor and I've been feeling a bit like I've banished it from my life, paying all my attention to pre-publication social media activities. Once the editor returns it and I collate all the other comments and feedback and criticisms, I'll repeal the banishment, take the novel back into my writer's cave, and lovingly polish and preen it...
Have you published?
Are you getting ready to publish?
Do you wish you could publish?
Are you confirmed in the opinion that you will never publish?
I'd love to hear comments from anyone who answered any of those questions with a "yes".
By the way, if you've ever posted to a blog or even made a comment, you've been published. Facebook and Twitter also count. How many other ways to publish can you think of??
November 24, 2010
Book Promotion ~ Virtual & Real
I started an activity over a year ago and only found out last month that the "experts" think it's a good idea.
Long before I began the writing of my novel, I started promoting the idea of the book in Second Life--a virtual world where the residents create everything; their avatars, their houses; their landscapes; and, ultimately, their Reality.
At first, I just rented a shop on Book Island and started talking up the idea for the book. My plan was to encourage folks to discuss the book's themes and help me organize my thinking. I certainly had strong ideas about what the book "should" be but I was wide open for feedback.
Eventually, the constructed reality of Second Life seeped into my promotion activities and I created an avatar for the "co-author" of the book--Sena Quaren. She now has her own Facebook account and is becoming a bit notorious :-)
Here's a bit of explanation about my "relationship" with Sena...
Almost all writers of fiction will tell you that their characters are "real"; even real enough to change the author's ideas about how the book should be written.
I took that phenomenon and boosted it's reality--made the "co-author" come alive in Second Life and on the Web. And, I'm glad I did ! Even people who know Sena is my creation will talk to her differently than they talk to me. It's a fantastic way to gain fresh perspectives on what I'm doing with the book :-)
You can talk to Sena on Facebook, in our Forum, and in Second Life. She's "really" me but she's also "really" not me. Beyond considerations of possible mental illness, I'm finding the fiction of her reality to be a form of writer's therapy--stepping back from intense involvement in the work and viewing the process from an alien perspective.
The alienness of that perspective is very real since Sena is from a star system twelve light years from Earth...
Anticipating your comments :-)
Long before I began the writing of my novel, I started promoting the idea of the book in Second Life--a virtual world where the residents create everything; their avatars, their houses; their landscapes; and, ultimately, their Reality.
At first, I just rented a shop on Book Island and started talking up the idea for the book. My plan was to encourage folks to discuss the book's themes and help me organize my thinking. I certainly had strong ideas about what the book "should" be but I was wide open for feedback.
Eventually, the constructed reality of Second Life seeped into my promotion activities and I created an avatar for the "co-author" of the book--Sena Quaren. She now has her own Facebook account and is becoming a bit notorious :-)
Here's a bit of explanation about my "relationship" with Sena...
Almost all writers of fiction will tell you that their characters are "real"; even real enough to change the author's ideas about how the book should be written.
I took that phenomenon and boosted it's reality--made the "co-author" come alive in Second Life and on the Web. And, I'm glad I did ! Even people who know Sena is my creation will talk to her differently than they talk to me. It's a fantastic way to gain fresh perspectives on what I'm doing with the book :-)
You can talk to Sena on Facebook, in our Forum, and in Second Life. She's "really" me but she's also "really" not me. Beyond considerations of possible mental illness, I'm finding the fiction of her reality to be a form of writer's therapy--stepping back from intense involvement in the work and viewing the process from an alien perspective.
The alienness of that perspective is very real since Sena is from a star system twelve light years from Earth...
Anticipating your comments :-)
November 23, 2010
One Book - One Gazzilion Reactions...
It's only a little over three months before I publish my first novel. I've known from my other writings that people can vary widely in their response to any given set of words. Even calling my next book a novel has varying reactions. It will top-out at about 45,000 words. Many people will tell you that a "novel" has to be at least 50,000 words.
Well, as it seems to be with all things written, there are exceptions to the "rules". One famous author, Samuel Beckett, wrote a "novel" called Mercier and Camier that's 128 pages long . That's only about 34,000 words (in the size of the book I checked) .
And, when it comes to the content of the book, opinions start to veer off in multitudinous directions. A case in point:
I have a prologue in my novel. Many folks have told me they liked it and it helped them get into the story. Many other folks told me to get rid of it...
In that prologue, my co-author breaks a "rule". She gives the reader a chance to decide if they want to believe she's real or treat her as a fictional character. Some people like it, some don't. Here's that debatable excerpt:
~~~
" What I say next may or may
not be believed but, either way, this story is true—true as fact or
true in the way fiction can rise to heights unattainable by mere
facts.
"I am a woman from a star
system about twelve light-years from Earth. If you choose to believe
me, my story is a history lesson—how to achieve unity and peace—a
lesson that Earth desperately needs. If you choose to not believe I'm
real, my tale is a science fiction story about how to achieve unity
and peace—a lesson that Earth desperately needs...
"I'll proceed on the premise
that I am real."
~~~
Would that kind of disclosure bother you?
Do you think it adds reality to the character even though she presents the opportunity to deny her reality?
What are your thoughts/feelings about how wildly varying readers' responses can be??
Well, as it seems to be with all things written, there are exceptions to the "rules". One famous author, Samuel Beckett, wrote a "novel" called Mercier and Camier that's 128 pages long . That's only about 34,000 words (in the size of the book I checked) .
And, when it comes to the content of the book, opinions start to veer off in multitudinous directions. A case in point:
I have a prologue in my novel. Many folks have told me they liked it and it helped them get into the story. Many other folks told me to get rid of it...
In that prologue, my co-author breaks a "rule". She gives the reader a chance to decide if they want to believe she's real or treat her as a fictional character. Some people like it, some don't. Here's that debatable excerpt:
~~~
" What I say next may or may
not be believed but, either way, this story is true—true as fact or
true in the way fiction can rise to heights unattainable by mere
facts.
"I am a woman from a star
system about twelve light-years from Earth. If you choose to believe
me, my story is a history lesson—how to achieve unity and peace—a
lesson that Earth desperately needs. If you choose to not believe I'm
real, my tale is a science fiction story about how to achieve unity
and peace—a lesson that Earth desperately needs...
"I'll proceed on the premise
that I am real."
~~~
Would that kind of disclosure bother you?
Do you think it adds reality to the character even though she presents the opportunity to deny her reality?
What are your thoughts/feelings about how wildly varying readers' responses can be??
November 22, 2010
Jumping Through The Hoops of Self-Publishing
Got back from my trip to the Chicago area last night--body exhausted, emotions drained, spirit soaring :-)
Jumped right back into all the activities I must pursue as an author choosing to self-publish; even though last night's work seems like it happened in a dream...
Significantly more conscious today. Ready to line up my sights on a few more hoops I need to jump through...
I just did a search on "jumping through hoops" ( I often go looking for things when I'm writing a blog post :-) and found a nice site that defines phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions.They talked about animals being trained to jump through hoops and reminded me that it's a difficult task that needs practice and may involve fire !
I went a bit further in my search, toward the more symbolic and humane activity of Native Americans. Found a cool video plus an article on the possible origins of hoop dancing that brought up the representation of animals in this traditional activity.
When I started my pre-self-publication promotion activities for my book, I did feel like a wild animal being forced to perform hard tasks that certainly seemed to compel me to confront danger and fear. Yet, learning them was mandatory if I wanted my book to appear before audiences giving me their approval.
Now that the actual publication is quite near and I have over a year of effort in promotion behind me, I feel more like a dancer sharing artistic lessons to the members of my tribe.
Speaking of tribes and their relationship to book promotion, I recommend checking out Internet Marketing Strategies That Work (Without Being Obnoxious) from Third Tribe Marketing.
I think all the activities necessary to letting the world know about a new book can be summed up in phrases like:
Find Your Tribe
Listen To Your Tribe
Serve Your Tribe
Love Your Tribe
And, realize that not all definitions are accurate. Here's the first one for "tribe" in my dictionary:
"A social division of (usually preliterate) people"
Hummm... Promoting a book to preliterates would really qualify as jumping through a hoop :-)
What are your experiences with learning new and seemingly fearful or dangerous tasks?
What has your Tribe taught you about life?
What particular hoop have you recently, successfully jumped through??
Jumped right back into all the activities I must pursue as an author choosing to self-publish; even though last night's work seems like it happened in a dream...
Significantly more conscious today. Ready to line up my sights on a few more hoops I need to jump through...
I just did a search on "jumping through hoops" ( I often go looking for things when I'm writing a blog post :-) and found a nice site that defines phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions.They talked about animals being trained to jump through hoops and reminded me that it's a difficult task that needs practice and may involve fire !
I went a bit further in my search, toward the more symbolic and humane activity of Native Americans. Found a cool video plus an article on the possible origins of hoop dancing that brought up the representation of animals in this traditional activity.
When I started my pre-self-publication promotion activities for my book, I did feel like a wild animal being forced to perform hard tasks that certainly seemed to compel me to confront danger and fear. Yet, learning them was mandatory if I wanted my book to appear before audiences giving me their approval.
Now that the actual publication is quite near and I have over a year of effort in promotion behind me, I feel more like a dancer sharing artistic lessons to the members of my tribe.
Speaking of tribes and their relationship to book promotion, I recommend checking out Internet Marketing Strategies That Work (Without Being Obnoxious) from Third Tribe Marketing.
I think all the activities necessary to letting the world know about a new book can be summed up in phrases like:
Find Your Tribe
Listen To Your Tribe
Serve Your Tribe
Love Your Tribe
And, realize that not all definitions are accurate. Here's the first one for "tribe" in my dictionary:
"A social division of (usually preliterate) people"
Hummm... Promoting a book to preliterates would really qualify as jumping through a hoop :-)
What are your experiences with learning new and seemingly fearful or dangerous tasks?
What has your Tribe taught you about life?
What particular hoop have you recently, successfully jumped through??
November 16, 2010
Coming Out of The Writer's Cave...
I've been working on my novel for eleven years. Ten of those years saw four failed attempts--lengthy, sweaty, but failed.
Last year, I found the proper vehicle for the theme and I've been in my cave non-stop (except for quick jaunts to get food and such).
My comfortably small cavern has been aglow with planning, pre-publication promotion, more planning, outlining, beginning to actually write the book, lacerating the outline, watching a minor character demand a more important role in the plot (just like I've heard from many writers), studying more about book promotion, finding a copy editor, devising more ways to get feedback, deciding I wouldn't rush to publication (what some authors call letting the manuscript breathe and what I call giving myself more time for pre-publication promotion), planning my post-publication activities, and beginning to look for folks who will give me blurbs for the back cover.
I'm not the person I was before all this began...
Tomorrow, I have the much simpler tasks of getting ready for a trip to Chicago. It's a set of intense, spiritual/educational consultations that aren't directly tied to my book.
I'll be back to writing in this blog (along with all my other book-birth preparation tasks) on Monday.
I guess, for now, with all dignity and decorum, the only thing I can say is...
Whoot!!!
Last year, I found the proper vehicle for the theme and I've been in my cave non-stop (except for quick jaunts to get food and such).
My comfortably small cavern has been aglow with planning, pre-publication promotion, more planning, outlining, beginning to actually write the book, lacerating the outline, watching a minor character demand a more important role in the plot (just like I've heard from many writers), studying more about book promotion, finding a copy editor, devising more ways to get feedback, deciding I wouldn't rush to publication (what some authors call letting the manuscript breathe and what I call giving myself more time for pre-publication promotion), planning my post-publication activities, and beginning to look for folks who will give me blurbs for the back cover.
I'm not the person I was before all this began...
Tomorrow, I have the much simpler tasks of getting ready for a trip to Chicago. It's a set of intense, spiritual/educational consultations that aren't directly tied to my book.
I'll be back to writing in this blog (along with all my other book-birth preparation tasks) on Monday.
I guess, for now, with all dignity and decorum, the only thing I can say is...
Whoot!!!
