Well, it’s Friday and… I got nothin’. Honestly, I feel like the Industry Friday posts have caught up with me a little, like I’m not sure what more industry ‘expertise’ I can offer because I’m still learning myself, still trying to make a living at my chosen field. What do I know that you don’t know already? Or can’t Google and find out for yourself? I guess I’m thinking of nixing the series or perhaps changing it into something else. A forum for discussion, a day for guest blogs and/or interviews, but not necessarily every week, and not always on Fridays. 🙂
On a different note, here’s an inspiring story about a woman who self-published her first novel and became a best-seller: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-woman-self-publishes-hits-182850961.html
A lot of folks have suggested I do the same with my memoir (about me and Kaz) and I’m considering it. Either way, I need to do a book proposal, which has been an absolute wall that I have yet to figure out how to scale. Not sure what the issue is exactly, except that I’ve never written anything similar and find it difficult to “sell” our story. My memoir is not a ‘how to’ book. It’s a love story that shows how the entire experience of loving and losing him changed my life. For a proposal, I need to articulate why anyone else would care, why a stranger who’s never heard of me or Kaz would want to buy this book. I just started reading Thinking Like Your Editor (thanks, Caitlin) so that might help me figure it out.
Curious what others are working on. Are there writers out there? Have you faced this type of challenge before? Written a book proposal or self-published a book? I’d love to hear from you.
Happy creating and thanks for tuning in to these posts.
Riding Bitch 
April 26, 2013 at 6:19 pm
I am in exactly the same place you are. Although its not just the one of Tim and I, but the whole STORY. Yet I’m thinking “death death and more death”, that sounds like a riot Paula 😉 Back-burner for now.
So I’m concentrating right now what’s close at hand, and it looks like perhaps monthly, or maybe weekly, articles for the heritage book project committee I’m on – to be published in our community newspaper. I’ve been assigned the noble title of “Chair of Promotions” and hence have set up a blog for them, and met with the editor of said paper just this morning at the house of one of the other members of the committee. EEK!!! Scary stuff…scary exciting stuff 🙂
I have come to really enjoy these industry posts, but it doesn’t have to be on Friday, and you don’t have to be an expert. I think just the dialoguing aspect is important, or even the kvetching over the keyboard aspect, or just open the floor. I like that idea of keeping it fluid.
April 26, 2013 at 7:05 pm
That’s awesome news Paula!! Sounds so perfect for you. It is scary but I know you’re going to SHINE. I’ll keep the industry posts going but fluid, as you say. I agree that dialoguing about the business of art is important.
April 26, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Remember that everyone (ideally?!) falls in love with someone (or several someones) and loses them — to death. It is the wall everyone has to hit, and you and Kaz hit it a lot earlier and faster than most. We are all terrified of that loss. So any book that talks honestly (and with any possibly humor or wit) is de facto of interest to a lot of people.
The writing will be key to this, no question. The story, told dramatically (characters, plot points, scenes, dialogue, narrative arc — all familiar from TV, surely) are the same. Tell us a great story. Make us care.
No pressure! 🙂
April 26, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Hm, good point. That reminds me, in A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis says (I’m paraphrasing) “we all enter love unions knowing on some level one of us will die first leaving the other alone.” I mention that in the book actually. I suppose it is a universal fear/reality, but one usually (hopefully) faced later in life.
April 26, 2013 at 7:21 pm
We know and fear – my grandmother kind of hoped she would pass on first because she had no idea how she’d cope. She was about 75 when her husband died. She died still missing him 15 years (!) later.
I’ve started writing. A bit. Just to see where it gets me, and to ’empty’ an overfull head 😉
You’ll get there I’m sure.
April 26, 2013 at 9:05 pm
Thanks for the encouragement. Glad to hear you’re writing!
April 28, 2013 at 1:37 pm
I read your Industry Fridays because I am not part of the industry and to me, you are an expert. 🙂 I find it extremely interesting, but you don’t have to write just for me.
I think your book will be greatly received and is needed. I think broadsideblog said it all. I look forward to reading it.
April 29, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Thanks Ramblinann. 🙂