I haven't been here in a while. That's because I was under the weather and didn't feel like writing, fact is, I haven't written much for the past month. Why? 

1.    I'm lazy, maybe this will get me going again.

2.     I've been busy, what with Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving                    coming in the same month as well as working two eight-hour                days each week, hampered my time to sit down to the computer.

3.     I was sick, my wife was sick, and she fell and is injured. I am                now the chief cook and bottle washer at home.

 Does this sound like an excuse. Not to me, I think number one is the real issue here. I'm working to overcome that right now. It's the weekend.

 We've been through the worst storm of my lifetime and there are stories to tell. If you survived Hurricane Ian and want to tell your story in writing, get it down while the memories are fresh. Fear has a way of dulling your memory. Admit it, you were scared. When the storm passed and you viewed the damage, was it as bad, or worse, than you feared? Write! Write what you felt, write what you imagined, write what you saw.

I have been experimenting with contacting Literary Agents requesting representation. I’ve sent queries to several agents over the past few weeks. Although I’ve only received one rejection, I’ve not heard back from the others. I’m not surprised. In their query directions, most agencies state that six to eight weeks is the average response time. I will persist in my efforts and report any progress at future meetings.

 I am embarking on a quest to find a literary agent. 

I'm looking up agents online who are accepting new authors. I'll keep you posted on my progress.  STAY TUNED......

I've sent two queries to agents listed as accepting new authors. I'll try to find some more to query.

 

So, you want to publish your book. How do you get started? How would you like to publish it?

 

Traditional publisher?

A.      Be sure your book is finished, edited, and formatted to a publisher’s standards

On the internet, there are loads of ads wanting to publish or represent authors

Be very careful; many ads are simply scamming to take your money

1.       Look up the publisher you’ve chosen. Most publishers list their standards for submission on a website or in a Publishing Guide. Please read and adhere to them carefully, or they won’t even look at your offering.

2.       Many publishers require you to have an agent.

a.       Use similar methods to find an agent as you used to find a publisher.

b.      Literary agents often represent specialized genres. Read their standards carefully before sending off a query.

c.       Don’t get discouraged if many agents do not respond or do not choose to represent you. Do not expect an instant response. I know writers who have set off over a hundred queries without acceptance and received answers to less than a quarter of the queries.

d.      Legitimate agents do not charge an up-front fee to represent you; they do charge a percentage of the income generated by your work (sometimes as much as 25%).

 

Self Publish?

A.   How much would you pay to publish? 

1.       Research

a.    On the internet, there are loads of ads wanting to publish or represent authors

b.   Be very careful; many ads are simply scams to take your money.

c.    Check your local library. Books listing agents and publishers are available but change often. Check the date of the book; if it’s over six months old, it’s probably out of date.

2.       What services do you need to be sure your book is ready for publication?

a.       Is it edited thoroughly? Editing is important. Again, many editors want your business and advertise on the internet and in publications. Be sure you check them out entirely. Will they give you the edit you need?

b.      Is the formatting correct for publishing

c.       Have you had beta readers read your work, and have you made the necessary corrections?

A.      Would you consider free publishing?

1.       There are free publishing sites out there. Amazon KDP, Dorrance, Lulu, Blurb, Book Baby, and Ingram Spark are a few. Research! Are they really free; many have hidden costs they don’t tell you until after you’ve signed a contract.

2.       Check each of them out. These have standards and rules, as does any publisher

B.      How do I market my book?

1.         Write a blog. Blogs are a great way to explain your book. As an author, you can share advice or experiences on what you’ve learned. Post the first chapter.

2.       Talk to people; Colleagues at clubs or work; Use LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social media to search for people who might be interested in what you’ve written.

3.       Schedule local events; speak at neighborhood meetings; does your neighborhood have a book club?

4.       Check with your local library; do they sponsor readings?

 

 

New Work

An author producing new work is a lonely job. Some writers are prolific and pound out hundreds of words each day. Others, like me, manage to squeeze out a few paragraphs sporadically. I envy the likes of those who can concentrate on their writing for hours on end. I’m retired, pushing eighty, and live in a community that provides all outside-the-home maintenance. You’d think I have nothing to do but write.

That ain’t the case, folks. Here’s a sample of my day:

1.     Arise early. Early is relative; now it’s around 8:00 AM.

2.     Eat a healthy, energy-producing breakfast; I’m married to a retired RN, and she is adamant that I eat correctly.

3.     Our marriage is a partnership (at least that’s what I’m told), she cooks the breakfast, and I clean up the dishes afterward.

4.     I head for the computer to begin my writing day, but “We have to go to the grocery store,” she says. She has her purse over her shoulder and a list in hand. It’s missing a few essentials like Ice Cream, Cookies, Beer, and other important stuff. If I don’t go with her, that stuff won’t be here when I need it.

5.     It’s almost noon before we return home. Elderly couples fill the store while strolling down the aisles, carefully reading each label and price tag while their shopping cart sits dead-center, blocking passage in either direction. We’ve scored a bonanza of specials and BOGOs. However, the cookies I like best were in short supply. I had to settle for an alternate brand forty cents lower in price. That’s a plus.

6.     We unload the groceries and put them away just in time to eat a light lunch. A minor debate as to whether we have grapes and cheese or a small salad takes longer than preparing either one.

7.     Having been on my feet for nearly three hours, I’m tired. I plop down in my recliner as wifey sets the table for our lunch. It’s almost 1:30 PM when I finish my wilting salad. It’s been sitting on the table for forty-five minutes, waiting for me to finish my nap.

8.     I’m almost to my desk when the doorbell rings. It’s George, my neighbor, wanting to borrow my stud finder. I know right where it is. We go into the garage, where George spots my new rechargeable drill. “That’ll be handy for drilling the pilot holes in the shelves,” he says, beginning a detailed explanation of what his project entails. At 2:30 PM, George is on his way home carrying my stud finder, drill, Skill saw, and a coffee can full of screw inserts for putting the screws stashed in his pocket into virgin drywall.

9.     I dash to the restroom for a quick…, well, you know, and return for a spell at the computer. The phone in my pocket rings; for a moment, I contemplate not answering, but it’s too irritating to ignore, so I answer. “No, I’m not interested in purchasing an extended warranty on my minivan.” I’m almost to the desk when wifey says, “Honey?”

10.    It’s almost four o’clock when I finish untangling the ribbon from the rotating brush of the vacuum cleaner. “Dinner’s almost ready, Dear. Don’t start anything right now,” she says with that honey-dripping sweetness that can only come from her Southern upbringing.

11.    She’s cooked a wonderful meal, with sweet potatoes and melted cheese topping a green vegetable that must have been broccoli but could have been Brussel sprouts. You got it. She cooked, and I cleaned up.

12.    As I hang up the last dish towel, the 6:00 evening news fills the television screen. “Sit down and watch the news with me,” she says—my recliner beckons.

13.    It’s eight o’clock, and I’m just sitting in my chair in front of the computer. I think, Have I balanced the checkbook yet this month?