So many books so little time

Found this quirky site while looking for something else.  Obviously a woman after my own heart, a librarian and book lover. 

http://somanybooksblog.com/me/

Lowdham Book Festival

'Woke up this morning witha terrific urge to lie in bed all day and read' Raymond Carver

Instead I'm off to Lowdham Book Festival Last Saturday.  Looking forward to all the bookstalls, (not a safe place to be) and see if I can sneak into some of the events.

Writing a book; how to find positive comments - before you publish

Another good meeting with a client this morning.  She's making steady progress towards having a complete book.

One of the problems when you're writing a book is having of sense of how good the book is.  She's sending me the chapters as she completes them and this morning I complimented her on how strong one of them is.
This surprised her because can't remember what she wrote.

If this sounds odd to you, it's common.  When you're in the flow of writing, often it comes out in a way you don't expect.  Which means that you aren't prepared for it and maybe don't understand it. 

I always advise writers, not to re-read chapters when they're in the creative flow.  Can start doubts in the mind, stop them moving forward and generally screw up the process.

Our discussion led on to considering the value of outside review and at what stage to involve that.  And who do you involve?

For non-fiction you have to choose people who have some reputation, experience in your field or have suffered the problems for which you've a solution.

How do you approach them?

This can be a difficult issue, including as it does, the fear of pestering, not being taken seriously, and not being good enough.

There are three things to consider.

1. Know what you're asking for?  Be specific, be limited and be polite. 
2. Be organised.  If you want something to include in the book, such as a review, a case study or an opinion, then you need to make it easy for the person you approach.  Do 90% of the work for them.  Create a list of questions for an interview; show them the template for a case study.  Make sure they know you realise the value of their time.
3. Be prepared to reciprocate.  Or even better do something first.  Other authors will welcome positive feedback on their work or reference to research you know about.

Will you receive rejections, or no replies?

Very likely but there isn't any point in attaching an interpretation unless they give you one.  The wider your network of contacts, the more likely you are to find the right person to help you.

Ever thought you can write better than what you can see on the screen?

Best selling science fiction writer Octavia Butler did just that age 12.  One of the only African-American women to be successful in a genre dominated by white males.  Author of Patternmaster, Kindred and Fledgling.

So next time you shout at the television because you think the writing is rubbish, pull out your pen and get going.

New Article

"Writing For Your Business - How to Create Urgency and Overcome Buying Inertia"


http://ezinearticles.com/?Writing-For-Your-Business---How-to-Create-Urgency-and-Overcome-Buying-Inertia&id=4440080

Writing habits: how much time do you need to write?

How are your writing habits?

Do you scribble on shopping lists, used envelopes and newspaper margins?

Congratulations, you've developed excellent writing habits.

Most would be writers assume that you need perfect conditions to develope as a writer.

They couldn't be more wrong.  The more time you have the less likely you are to make it. 

Remember, activity expands to fill the time available.  Making cups of tea, checking the washing, having a walk round the garden.

All these can be justified by 'I have plenty of time.  I don't need to start for another 10 minutes, half an hour or half a day.'

It's when you've only got ten minutes, that you can be at your most creative.  Don't go for the long essay title or think you'll write a complete article, though you might.

Scribble down the important facts of what you want to write about.

Use bullet points, 1.2.3 format.  Use whatever it takes to capture those ideas.

Then when you have half an hour, expand your notes into the format you want.  An article, the bones of a book chapter, a blog entry.

There's a wonderful short story by Somerset Maugham called the Lotus Eater who goes to a small island to create the definitive novel.  When a colleague visits him several years later, the would be novelist is lazy, drinks too much and hasn't written a word.

Here's to not having enough time.

Writing East Midlands Workshop

Writing ambitions : networking and information day for Derbyshire writers on Sat 3rd July 2010, 10am-3pm at Genesis Business & Conference Centre, 32-46 King Street, Alfreton, DE55 7DQ

for more information check out the website http://www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/