Slap my hands

[bespangeled]

Do you know how many book pitches I have made for this book series? 0-many. I have the stories - I even have the pitches. But it has been years since I wrote one of these, I left writing for teaching - in what would seem a down word spiral in this culture - and I only wrote two books in the last decade, very early in the decade in fact.

I write for children, and about half my book are for the educational market. This project came to me when an old editor told me she wanted me to submit. It's stuff that will be published in all the english speaking countries.

You know why I haven't sent anything yet. Because I am terrified. So I spend hours here daily because I can just get caught up in stuff and hours pass, and then I can promise myself I'll get it started tomorrow.

This is not a good life choice on my part. So slap my hands, make a witty and cutting remark, remind I have turned into a total slacker - you can even pour cold water over my head!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

The place is the death of productivity sometimes.. but I find electronics to be that often. It's difficult for me to write on or at a computer. I always have a pad and pencil to write. Then once I have enough I transfer to the computer to edit/add more. I find this beneficial for TWO reasons.

1- I don't censor myself as much writing by hand as I do typing (unless I type loaded but thats another matter)
b- If you write by hand you arent at the computer. If you aren't at the computer you arent tempted to sign onto BB. Once you go to the computer to add more/edit you've already got the pump pumping and are more likely to continue versus being distracted.

And just because I am me:
"about half my book are for the educational market" good job there teach!

 

[Blaze]

Don't worry, I'm fairly sure I would be much more successful in my field if I didn't spend so much time on the computer...

Well, that didn't help did it?

 

[Fuffy]

If you need to write things for submission, try to plan a small amount of time during each day where you just focus on writing (you will still have a lot of time to spent on BB 🙂).

Hope my attempt to help succeeds.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

Do you think finding a routine would help? Figuring out when you work best and then scheduling yourself to do nothing but writing when that time of the day comes? I think that helps me. When I don't have my days worked out (on a regular schedule) I do tend to drift and find excuses not to do real work. Every since I put into practice my new routine, I have had no problem going to the gym to lift and running every day in the mornings. I also find it easier to do my voice over work (i.e. practice) that way too.

Do it, damn it! Don't succumb to inertia. Things not in a state of growth and activity are in a state of decline and atrophy. Rage against the torpor of the enveloping dark, that which would like to reduce everything to nothing and perpetual stillness. And don't forget that momentum makes things a little easier. You have to build it though.

 

[white avenger]

I would feel a great personal loss if you were to leave our merry band here, but if the internet in general, and the Boards in particular, are a distraction to something that you feel that you should be doing, have you considered just taking a laptop and going somewhere where you don't have access to the net, at least for a few hours a day?

 

[bespangeled]

Thank you everyone - I am in the process of getting contact information about the nonfiction author. Once I have that I will send off my first pitch. The other pitches I will need to look over because I think they were leading to this idea. You guys gave me the courage, and I really appreciate that.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

You're smart and an entertaining and insightful commentator bespangled. Good luck.

 

[bespangeled]

And I love it here!

 

[bespangeled]

Okay - first pitch has been sent. The lead editor is someone I've worked with for decades so she's going to look it over. Fingers, toes, and all other movable body parts are crossed. 

Do you think finding a routine would help? Figuring out when you work best and then scheduling yourself to do nothing but writing when that time of the day comes? I think that helps me. When I don't have my days worked out (on a regular schedule) I do tend to drift and find excuses not to do real work. Every since I put into practice my new routine, I have had no problem going to the gym to lift and running every day in the mornings. I also find it easier to do my voice over work (i.e. practice) that way too.

Do it, damn it! Don't succumb to inertia. Things not in a state of growth and activity are in a state of decline and atrophy. Rage against the torpor of the enveloping dark, that which would like to reduce everything to nothing and perpetual stillness. And don't forget that momentum makes things a little easier. You have to build it though.

Thank you - inertia is exactly the problem. Writers are actually people who sit in little rooms and pretend things, and then write them down. Sending them out - inertia rules. I used to send my own stuff out and chose the publishing company by how quickly I wanted the rejection letter.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Writers are actually people who sit in little rooms

Have you tried that actually? The have alot of writers rooms, but I dont think I could get the inspiration in one of them things. I would rather sit outside, by a lake, listening to geese and ducks and the breeze blowing my hair. Much better than being stuck in a small white on white room in a cubicle.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

The publishing world is changing. The world of e-books and self-publishing has affected traditional publishing even more than youtube has affected music publishing. You have to establish your platform of fans, past triumphs and successfully published books and be active on blogs and social media to get the attention of a publisher these days because with their fortunes falling, they want a writer who is a proven commodity that is willing to promote their work through book signings, readings, social media and reviewing sites. If you have a relationship with an editor, make sure she is at the same publishing house - editors tend to move like the shifting dunes in the Sahara. Turnover is high.

Writing the book is the easy part.

 

[bespangeled]

The publishing world is changing. The world of e-books and self-publishing has affected traditional publishing even more than youtube has affected music publishing. You have to establish your platform of fans, past triumphs and successfully published books and be active on blogs and social media to get the attention of a publisher these days because with their fortunes falling, they want a writer who is a proven commodity that is willing to promote their work through book signings, readings, social media and reviewing sites. If you have a relationship with an editor, make sure she is at the same publishing house - editors tend to move like the shifting dunes in the Sahara. Turnover is high.

Writing the book is the easy part.

This work comes with a contract and a kill fee. 😀

Yeah, I did the author thing for a while - spoke at local conferences, met a few big name writers, taught writing. taught, etc. It's actually the bread and butter of most writers. I'll write now for money, but I may well start to familiarize the drastically changing publishing world. If I ever get creative enough to spin a longer tale. it will be useful. I was submitting during the great publishing company cannibal fest. And I flat out hate book signings. The part that everyone thinks is so glamorous is exhausting, boring and tedious and sheer hell for an introvert.

However, I did not like Ray Bradbury but I really liked Harlan Ellison. Barbara Kingsolver is hilarious, and Hillerman is fun.😎
Not that I'm name dropping😛 

Have you tried that actually? The have alot of writers rooms, but I dont think I could get the inspiration in one of them things. I would rather sit outside, by a lake, listening to geese and ducks and the breeze blowing my hair. Much better than being stuck in a small white on white room in a cubicle.

I have a small office, and I live in the desert so the lake is sand, the birds are red tailed hawks and hummingbirds, the breeze is a sign of an upcoming chubasco if we're really lucky.. We have lots and lots of sunshine - it's a dry heat, just like your broiler.

I'm actually a lefty so writing by hand sucks. I was thrilled when I got my first computer - a C64. All my old work is virtually unreachable. But the great thing about a computer is that you can move parts of a book around. But, again, most of what I do now is written after the contract is signed. What I do has to be incredibly concise and at the same time multi-layered - that's the key for writing to a young audience. And you need to have editors who know you can work to a deadline, and to spec.

I write fanfic for creativity, at least for now.

 

[UndeadAmerican]

Boy do I understand getting lost on the computer for hours instead of doing what I should be doing!

That's so awesome, best of luck to you. In the little time I've been here, I've really enjoyed reading your posts, I'm sure anything you write is very good 🙂

EDIT: You've sent the pitch and taken the plunge! That's great! I don't know much about this sort of thing, how long until you hear back from them about it?

 

[bespangeled]

Boy do I understand getting lost on the computer for hours instead of doing what I should be doing!

That's so awesome, best of luck to you. In the little time I've been here, I've really enjoyed reading your posts, I'm sure anything you write is very good 🙂

EDIT: You've sent the pitch and taken the plunge! That's great! I don't know much about this sort of thing, how long until you hear back from them about it?

Good question....very, very good question. 😕