A Writer's Diary

Yesterday I spent some time researching agents and getting a list together. Not a lot of agents ask to see category novels. I found a few. But I’ve got other non-category novels to sell, so I’m gathering the intel for those, too.

This morning, I drafted a synopsis for Blue Heaven. I actually have a completed synopsis for The Paris Notebook. That one’s ready to go. I’m just worried about keeping the queries and manuscripts straight. I need to make a very clear plan and keep impeccable records.

It almost feels like too much to pitch two novels while teaching three classes. I will probably wait until the semester ends to dive totally into marketing. Right now I just have a toe in the water.

So I have these three romantic comedies I want to publish. Lately, I’ve been hearing that the smart move these days is to publish a series rather than single titles. Series build reader loyalty. Series carry better name recognition. Series are where it is at.

I’ve heard this from a variety of sources: an author with a three book contract whose publisher is holding off on publication until all three books are ready to go so they can be brought out within months of one another, more than one agent, and in an article by Bob Mayer in this month’s RWR.

Mayer especially went into detail about career planning and goal setting, and how it relates to the market. He made some points that might seem obvious to some people, but not me. I have kind of a thick skull. Born that way. And I’ve been so stuck on the idea of single title (well, until the paranormals…but those are going to be my focus again after I get these three rom coms pubbed) that it never even occurred to me to try to make these three books a series.

Then came Bob. Who pointed out that series don’t have to have the same characters (like my paranormals) but can also be set in the same place. Ahhhh, I thought. Then brightness descended into my dark mind and I realized: all my rom coms are set in small towns in Michigan. How difficult would it be to make them the same small town?

All the small towns I write about feature natural elements I love about Michigan: changing seasons, abundant water from lakes to rivers to creeks. Michigan also has man-made troubles: a failing auto industry that is plunging the state into economic despair.

Plus I could totally see my heroines being friends if I introduced them to each other. I can do it. I know I can. I am just amazed that I didn’t think about this before…

Nothing new on the fiction project, although I’ve beenn busy writing other things. I’m going to a writer’s retreat this weekend, and everyone is bringing something to share, so I worked on that. I turned in a review. I’m still adding to the “Writer’s Block” WIP. Expect another entry on that soon.

Also, tonight is the last night of The Writer’s Life series at Royal Oak Public Library. Stop by if you are in the area. We’ll be discussing publishing and marketing and at the end, there’s a book sale. We authors will be signing, too. Hope to see you there!

We writers hear many voices in our heads. Our characters. Our critics. Our muses. Our guides. Recently, my guides suggested I write about writer’s block. So that’s the WIP these days. I tried talking back to the writing guides, telling them I didn’t have a clue what to say on the subject. Don’t worry, they said. I knew what they meant. Most of the time I don’t have a clue what to write until I’m writing. And sure enough, when I picked up a pen and put it to paper, the words were there. Yesterday’s was not the last post on the topic. I have more to say. I’m still working on it.

This weekend I heard another kind of voice. Over the telephone. Someone I knew slightly had gotten a hold of one of my cards, called my number, and wanted to know, could I tell him how to get published? We had a conversation about that. I am not one much for telephone conversations, but I think I did okay. And when we hung up my writing guides said “Write a little booklet on that, too.” So I dutifully made a note on my goal list.

I think I know what is happening here. Some of the women from DWW who I admire have lots of little booklets that they sell along with their “real” books when they do speaking engagements. The booklets are printed locally, deal with specialized subjects, and priced low. They sell out all the time. My guides are giving me marketing ideas along with writing topics and help handling the telephone.

Because the next time someone finds my card, and calls and says, how do I get published, I can say “What’s your address?” and mail them my booklet.

When I lived in Key West, I loved watching hermit crabs on the beach…they were so cute, dragging their outgrown shells around for awhile before the empty husks dropped off. Going from writer to author has made me lose my old protective shell, too. I used to be a person alone in her room, writing whatever she wanted, or what she thought an editor, or readers, might want to read.

Then my book came out and I became an author. It was an uneasy fit at first, but I’m getting used to it. I remember at my first DWW meeting, people were giving me their cards. Someone asked “Do you have a card?” I didn’t. Writers don’t need cards. But authors who give public talks and personal workshops do.  

So, last week, I had business cards made up. I had to decide what to put on the card. My phone number in black and white was the hardest thing. I have a phone phobia that goes way back. But if I’m going to be an author (translation: if I’m going to sell those books in my closet) I have to be open to communication from the public. And not just through email. So. The phone number went on the card.

The next hardest thing I had to do was list what I do. I settled on “Author. Speaker. Writing Coach. Workshop Leader.” That’s when it really sunk in that I had moved from my safe little shell of writer to the much more public author. And speaker, well, that one really shook me when I saw it in print. Who, me? The last two were easy, since I’ve been doing both for years.  

I decided to feature my book cover on the front of the card. The info is simple and nicely spaced on the back. It looks good. Professional. A tiny thing, really, but it feels exhilaratingly huge. Like I’m heading into the ocean and the sun is hot and the breeze is blowing and the sand under my feet is soft. That’s how I know this new direction is right. By the way it makes me feel. 

I spent Friday & Saturday in Leonard, Michigan, down a dirt road with a gorgeous canopy of trees, nestled in green hills dotted with lavender. My first book signing event ever may have been unusual location-wise, but it was a wonderful setting and a soothing venue. Lavender just makes you feel good, and our Michigan Authors tent looked straight out to fields of lavender blowing in the breezes. Often, people bent over the plants with wicker baskets and scissors, cutting bouquets, releasing the scent into the summer air.

I didn’t cut my own, but came away with a bouquet of dried lavender, already assembled, and tied with a pretty ribbon. I sampled lavender ice cream, brownies, scones, and shortbread. Actually, I more than ”sampled” the shortbread.

In the book tent, there were six or seven of us, which gave me plenty of time to wander the festival, try the the food, and buy the crafts. I bought many herbal products and a lot of books, including a few by Iris, the owner of the farm. I couldn’t resist Growing Lavender, her book of poems, or the recipe collection that included the lavender shortbread and other yummy treats.  

On duty in the author’s tent, we took turns cashing customers out at the central register, and we also had spotlight hours, where each author got to be featured at the front of the tent at a table, signing books. I did that on Friday and it was more fun than I thought it would be. The whole thing was more fun than I thought it would be.

I was really pretty nervous about doing this festival. Stressing all month. I’m shy, which none of my friends believe, but really I am. I do well one-on-one, but don’t like to put myself out there with strangers. Unless I want my books to stay in boxes in my closet, I have to get over it and introduce myself to the writing public. This was the perfect, gentle place to transform myself.

Over a thousand people went through the festival, and all of them passed our tent. I was surprised at how many of them stopped and shopped. We had a variety of authors and books: children’s books, Michigan history, poetry, memoir, and my book. You wouldn’t think many people at a lavender festival have a secret yearning to be writers, but many people I spoke to, and sold books to, have just that wish. Amazing!

Although I went in with no expectations, and really just wanted to meet other Michigan authors, especially those in my writing group, I’m happy to report that my first book signing and hand-selling experience was a lovely lavender success.

My friend Donna told me Snapfish has posters for $6.99. That’s amazing. I’m going there! But first I want to revise my essay for this competition. And I have a massage in an hour … part of the cleanse. Yes! Still cleansing, and will take a break over the holiday weekend. I really have no desire to eat meat or start on the caffeine train again, but since Al and I are going to a couple of parties, I’m not forcing myself to be gluten, dairy, or alcohol-free. And I might have a little bit of sugar, since I’m bringing dessert to one of the cookouts. 

In the past few weeks, I’ve filled a notebook with personal writing. What surprised me was the 13 page day last week, and that those 13 pages actually make a pretty good feature draft. Or maybe it will be a long essay. Or a memoir. I’m not sure yet what to call it, just that it isn’t the usual disjointed ramblings. It actually has a central point and some self-help sort of message. Surprise!

Maybe I’m the last person to know about her, but yesterday I bought A Weekend to Change Your Life by Joan Anderson. I understand she has three memoirs based on the mid-life change process she went through. I’ll be reading those soon  She turned her search for self and the memoirist career that followed into a coaching career, and now holds seminars across the country to help other women faciliate the kinds of personal changes she went through. I “did” the first chapter this morning and used it as a springboard for yet more personal writing.   

Here’s what I think: I think I’ve been on this road for a while now. Maybe as long as Joan. But I’m still enjoying her story and getting something out of the exercises. And I have a good feeling that very soon I will be ready to dive back into Rose and Belinda’s story.

The Lavender Festival is only three weeks away! Why I am so excited about lavender? Well, I love the pretty plant, the heavenly scent & healing properties, but the real reason is because I’ll be selling my book for the first time there at the Michigan Author’s booth. I’ve only ever sold Your Words, Your Story through Amazon and at the college bookstore, so this is a new adventure for me. I am trying not to get too crazy, since it IS a lavender festival, not a bookshop;-)

Last Friday, I went to my second DWW meeting, where I spoke to Annick, whose heading up the writer’s tent. She told me to make a poster!! What?? I have no idea how to make a poster. Or what size it should be. Or anything like that. I guess I better start thinking. And why does Mama Mia have to debut the same day as the festival?

Meanwhile, I’m going to send an email to all my friends begging them to attend if they can and at least maybe I’ll have some people stop by and say hi. I have a feeling the cookbooks and the flower & garden books will be selling a lot faster than a book about how to write. But you never know. I’m open to anything the universe sends my way.   

Not me! The other Cindy, Ms. LaFerle, of Home Office fame. Since my first baby step attempts to market Your Words, Your Story, Cindy has been a jewel of a mentor, her generous advice truly priceless. Cindy first showed me by example a few things I could do to up my book’s visibility. After reading her blog, I decided to apply for membership in DWW, the classiest writer’s organization in town, and to submit my book for a Midwest Book Award. Both things turned out better than I imagined.

DWW accepted my application and opened several marketing doors all in one day. I felt a little like Cinderella being introduced to her fairy godmother. Then I got news that my book had finaled for the award. By this time, Cindy and I had begun an online correspondence. When I told her the award news, she congratulated me and said now I could add “award winning” to my book’s description. The thought had not crossed my mind, but I have to say, it feels great to think of my writing self in such positive terms.

Just today, taking more of Cindy’s advice, I used the “award winning” adjective to add cache to a letter asking a local university to consider distributing Your Words, Your Story. As other self-published authors might know, distribution is a major factor in getting your book into brick and mortar stores. And I haven’t done a thing about that before today. I am not much into marketing, but fearless Cindy gave me the idea, the contact, and the courage to go for it, with adjectives.  

So, thank you, Cindy, for your friendship and generosity toward fellow writers!

“Congratulations! Your entry in the Midwest Book Awards was judged a finalist.”

It’s not the Pulitizer Prize but it’s something. This morning’s email got me thinking about those 10 things I sent out in January…how many of them got positive responses? How many do I need to follow up on? I got out my list and here are the results.

Of the 10, 4 have gotten positive responses: today’s finaling in the self-publishing competition, the library project, DWW, and the Cup of Comfort essay. I’m happy with the idea that almost half of my efforts paid off. This proves that if you are persistent and keep trying good things will happen. I really believe that. I mean, I have the proof!   

2 responses (AARP and Better Homes & Gardens) were not what I had hoped for–they simply ignored my queries and wrote generic ”thanks for writing, we love hearing from readers” replies. I did not hear at all from 2 magazines, (Woman’s World & Psychology Today) although I wrote a follow up email to PT because I’d sent them one of my favorite new pieces. I didn’t waste time after the second round of silence, but turned around and entered it into the DWW competition, turning it into a new possibility.

I should also follow up with Woman’s World. It’s been two months, after all. Still, the last time they published a piece I pitched to them it was more like 6 months after I thought my query was dead. So…there’s always hope.  

Speaking of hope, #9 on my list, the short fiction competition, has yet to announce a winner. It could still be me! That’s another great thing about always having things in the mail. Hope is better than despair. With queries out in the world, hope springs eternal!

 I never did write #10, the “Blessings” essay.  But I have to say I feel blessed anyway.