Update: Letters of the Dead

After a sick break and pre-nano distractions, I am finally back on track with my novel, Letters of the Dead.  I hope to finish my current touch-up tomorrow, and then take a brief break to work on test formatting that novelette I was talking about.  Still haven't heard word from the e-publishers, though.  So, I don't expect to get it done for my birthday after all, but I will check up with them then.  But it will be good practice to format that piece as an ebook.  So that covers Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Friday, however, I will also resume working on LotD.  It will be a pure read-through, just to make sure it is indeed ready for the grammar pass scheduled to start this weekend.  After that, I'll use what I learned from formatting practice on the novelette and begin formatting LotD.  One last proof in that format, then it should be ready to upload on Halloween.

So, though it might be a tight deadline, I can still make it.  And I will be glad when it is done.  Just this year alone, since I decided to focus on this novel as my first ebook, I've clocked over 80 hours on its revisions.  But the novel is so much better for it.

GWESPE: Two Lessons Well Learned

 

Lesson #1:  Pick a work that you can finish quickly and will keep you actively engaged no matter what.  This way, if you have the attention span of a flea with ADHD, you are less likely to raise the white flag and move on to some other project you won't finish ;-)

Lesson #2:   To perk up flagging interest, read reference works or fiction that serves as such for your work.  This way, when you get obsessed with others' works, you can at least mollify yourself that "it's research."

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Reviving The Great Writing Experiment: Self-Publishing an Ebook

Awhile back I mentioned I wanted to start an experiment on self-publishing ebooks.  Then life happened, and I didn't really work on it.  Anyway, starting a few weeks ago, I unofficially resurrected it.  Now, I want to officially do so. 

Why?  To keep me on track, focused.  To share information.  And because recently I came across someone else doing the same thing, but this person comes across as a Doubting Thomas, negative about the process, expecting the worst.  And, to be frank, that is the worst way to go about this.  After all, you don't expect the worst when you seek the commercial publishing route, so why should you with this route?  And if you do, then you shouldn't do it.  Because, as they say, you tend to get what you expect out of life.  Positive outlook is by far a greater motivator than a negative one will ever be, and I rather my work be sabotaged by positivity and hope than negativity and doubt.  So, my blogged experiment will be a positive counterpoint. 

In a later post, I'll talk about my goals, what novel I am working on for it, expected finish date, preliminary self-publishing work, practice, studies, research--whatever I think will be of help to others, and I will do my best to be positive at the same time (not easy when I am a struggling, born-again optimist).  That doesn't mean there won't be learning curves, disappointments, and hard work ahead, it just means that overall I'm going to look upon it all as a positive experience.  A positive experiment.  I hope you will do so too.

A Bigger Challenge

Someone once said, "Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words."    Another person said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."  What do these two quotes, by St. Francis of Assisi ¹  and Mahatma Ghandi, respectively, have to do with writing?  Well, they speak to me of an important lesson:  to learn or teach something, it's best to first do the darn thing yourself, and then show it.  In my case, if I want to be a self-published author, it is best to actually do it.  Learn--and share--by doing.

Another inspiration came from Kim Lavine's Mommy Millionaire book.  She started her own business, became a success, and wrote down in exacting and engaging detail what happened to her and what she learned.  I have never quite seen a book like hers before, and though it is not about a writing-related business, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Because of her inspiration, and the quotes above, I decided to do the same for  . . .  da da dum . . . The Great Writing Experiment:  Self-Publishing an Ebook (for Better or Worse).  The very idea excites me--and scares the dickens out of me.  But why should that stop me if I really wanna do it?  Besides I think turning it into a blogged project is the very kick in the shorts (hate pants) that I need to get moving.

So today, I started the Project.  Tomorrow?  Hopefully, I don't chicken out ;-)  But we'll see what's what then.




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Footnotes:

¹ Some people say that St. Francis didn't in fact say this or do this.  But at this point, I care more about the quote and its meaning than who said what.

(This blog post took me 35 minutes to create, from conception to posting)