Following My Own Guidance

Well, I'm celebrating today and of course, everyday, but today in particular because my editor for my book, 101 Author Tips: Creating A Successful Book Campaign, has finally approved the interior pages. I submitted my completed manuscript on the evening of Sunday, March 22, 2009, and on Thursday, April 16, 2009, the very, last chapter was approved.

I was surprised that it took this length of time for the book to be edited and it wasn't necessarily because the manuscript, itself, needed so much work. I was not directed on three points. First, do not include any personal comments, remove all "I, me, mine, my" associations. Second, just because it's a tip book doesn't mean that the text should include an unlimited number of "lists" per se. Third, I wasn’t aware that my editor, wasn't my editor and that my work was being turned over to a new editor. (I had been communicating with a particular editor for a year and assumed she would be my book editor, but that wasn't so.) The newly assigned editor had a different take on my book and we had to become acquainted with each other and the book's premise.

So, just as my book guides an author through some possible scenarios of what can happen with the publisher and understanding the publishing process, I was subjected to the very things I had written about for "other" authors, never thinking that I would be experiencing some of those very same situations.

What I learned was to follow my own guidance in remaining calm, polite and cooperative. In the long run, this newly appointed editor proved to be a breath-of-fresh-air. Her suggestions and insight have made my first book a winner!

If' you'd like a sneak peak at some of the content, I invite you to visit my blog, http://publishing.lifetips.com./ .

101 Author Tips will release towards the end of May 2009. Watch for a listing of my upcoming appearances in your area.

Every Day Is A Good To Write

I need to remember that every day is a good day to write, even if it's a quick journal entry or a post on my blog. I tend to think that if I don't have a lot to say then it's probably not worth taking the time to sit myself down and let my fingers do the hopping on the keyboard.

Being mindful that NOT writing, will keep me exactly in the same place as I have been for too many years and will ensure that I will still be waiting for the writing to happen.

So, today and everyday, I write short or long, doesn't matter; what matters is the action, creating the space and transcribing the thoughts as a reminder that I'm still here doing what I set out to do.

Many writers want to write a book and there are many that complete the task, but there are many more who never get to the finish line. It's been said that writing a few pages a day can produce a completed book at the end of a year.

I invite you to join me in writing a book, an article, an essay, a journal entry, or whatever will help you to get the creative juices flowing. As for me, I'm working on two projects, a memoir and a short story. Will let you know how things are going, if you'll do the same.

Write On, Write Now!