Getting Organized

I know. Anybody who knows me is asking, "What? You weren't organized before?"

Well, now I'm getting REALLY organized. I've spent a bit of time this week getting files in the right place (physically and electronically), making lists, checking them twice (no, wait, wrong attribution) -- you get the idea.

I discovered that since I am juggling books from two publishing companies, I need to juggle styles, as well. That's not even counting the style I have to follow as a technical writer, which is a whole different ball game.

So for one company I have to have 2 spaces between sentences and double spacing for text. For the other company, it's 1 space between sentences, 1.5 spacing, etc. This may not sound like a concern to you, but believe me, it's a headache when you're working on edits. I don't understand the 2-space rule, which I thought had gone out with typewriters, but hey, it works for them. And the other stuff can be accomplished if I fuss with templates and stylesheets.

What I find perplexing is the other style issues -- word usage, cover art forms, punctuation rules, comma and semi-colon rules. Company A and Company B are DIFFERENT. I am going to have to insert a new brain when I work on each manuscript, swapping back and forth.

I've been a writer all my life (okay, since I was four years old or whenever I first picked up a crayon[TM]. {Trademarks are another confusing issue for me, so I figured I'd better put that TM in there}).

As one example, I never realized there was such a gulf between the use of the comma. I am a sparse comma user, inserting it only when I think it assists comprehension. I never really learned grammar rules (cover your ears Mrs. Bundy, my English teacher from grade school). I don't know a clause from a phrase. Well, I do, but I don't think about it. I put a comma into a sentence when I think it's needed, not when it follows a rule.

I have found that is Not Right according to one of my publishers. I must follow RULES for them. Okay, I can manage. I'll dig those rules out of the dark recesses of my brain and dust 'em off for use when needed. But the other company does NOT use those rules. They want the 'commas aid comprehension, use 'em sparingly' philosophy.

And that's only ONE example of differences. I'm finding I have to keep lists handy full of items like "remember to do this when you're working on Book A but don't do it on Book B". Sort of a Right Brain/Left Brain thing.

All part of the learning process I guess. All part of Getting Organized.

Yes, I'm busy

It's getting crazy ...

I know, I asked for this, right? Yikes, but I'm busy.

I'm doing a rewrite (almost done, yea!) I just got edits from my editor for my book coming out next year. I need to get going on promotions. I need to sign on to some loops and introduce myself and figure out what I *should* be doing for promotions.

Oh, yeah. I'm V.P. of my local RWA chapter next year.

And I'm working -- out company is the middle of being took over, so things are lulling right now (everybody waiting for the hammer to drop), but still ... I've got a 40/hr/wk job. And because we're being took over, I want to touch base with doctor, tax guy, etc., because all of that stuff (medical plans, insurance, retirement) will be changing soon.

Then add in the holidays: going to a play on Saturday (a chance to relax and laugh, yea!), an open house next week (should be fascinating, it's at a wild animal preserve, I will blog about it, I'm sure), local RWA party (at which I will play Vanna White to a friend's Pat Sajak as we auction off various items for fund-raising), then there's Christmas (my shopping is mostly done, yea!).

Hey. I had a lot of 'yea' in this blog.

I guess it ain't all that bad. {smile}

Later.

And more news!!!

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I've been busy and what time I don't spend writing, I spend sleeping -- which ain't much. Between Thanksgiving, work, and other obligations, it's been crazy, especially since ...

I have more news to share -- Closing Time, which is now renamed Your Saving Grace, will be published by Cerridwen Press!!

Yes indeedy, I will be a multi-published author in 2007. I'm not exactly sure on my release date, but it'll be earlier than the Pig Book. The book will come out in E-format first (downloadable) then will hopefully be available as print later (i.e., within a few months, I hope). Bear with me, I'm still new to this publishing game.

I just filled out my first Cover Art sheet (I was probably WAY too wordy on what I wanted, but there are certain things I just don't like on a cover, and I figured I may as well shoot the moon and discuss everything and anything I like and dislike).

Next I'll move on to edits. Those shouldn't be too bad because my editor and I have been talking about changes as we go along, so the manuscript is pretty clean right now.

I'm also working on rewrites to one of my reincarnation stories. I'm anxious to get that wrapped up ASAP so I can move on to the whole publishing, promotion, and pitching thing for my books.

I'm glad to be with these two publishers (Cerridwen and Triskelion). Both are solid leaders in the E-industry, Triskelion has a good print base, both have authors working for them who I respect and read, and both are well organized and welcoming to new authors. So I feel like I've landed in a good place.

Now if my work life will settle down, I'll feel better. The company where I work has been acquired by a Biggie from California, and I may be 'selected for redundancy' as they so quaintly phrase 'lay offs'. I won't know for a few more weeks yet. This could be a good thing or a bad one -- more time to write, but loss of steady income and medical benefits. I'm not panicking yet. I won't panic until I get the pink slip (if I do get it).

Until then, I'm busy ...

I'm going to try to post to this blog on Wednesday and Saturday, so stay tuned for the continuing saga of As The Author Learns [about the publishing industry].

J

COMING SOON

Okay, not really SOON, but coming next year at this time.

(are you ready)

THE PIG BOOK

Officially titled:

Every Rose Has Its Thorns

Yep, it's real, folks. I'll have a book published next year, one starring Melvin the pig, J.T. McCord and Molly Lawford. It's set in Tangle Butte, Minnesota, a fictional small town based on a real small town that shall remain nameless.

I'm so excited I'm just about unable to sit still. Note I said 'just about'. I can sit still long enough to post this. My publisher is Triskelion Publishing, an e-pub outfit. I'm hoping I'll get a print deal out of this -- not sure if I will. I'd love to see my book sitting on a shelf.

No, I take that back. I'd love to see it FLYING off the shelves. Which it will if stocked in certain parts of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, several bookstores in Iowa, a few in Kansas City, some in L.A., a few in Denver and surroundings, and in the University of Pittsburgh area in Oakland (Pittsburgh). I've got friends and/or relatives in those spots and they've guaranteed me a run on the store.

More will be coming about the book, the process, and the impending publication. Ike Bernstein, the editor of the Tangle Butte Daily Tribune, will be posting to this blog shortly, interviewing the main characters of that and my other books. So stay tuned for Ike's pithy prose and incisive questions, like,

"Molly, why the hell do you love M&Ms so much and why do you sort them into different colors and keep them in an artist's tray on your desk?"

See -- deathless prose. You'll love it, I promise.

J

Thinking of a happy place ....

I'm still blogging and slogging. I was on vacation for a week (see picture of what my sunsets looked like), and got embroiled in various publishing things, but I'm back, at least for a while.

"Publishing Things" = See, I was offered a publishing contract.

YIPPEE. Happy dance!

But there's been a glitch with the contract -- I sent it, they didn't get it, I've been in limbo. So I sort of announced it but I can't REALLY announce it or shout about my release date or shout about my book or do promo because it's not REAL yet.

Sigh.

Add to this the fact that I've had car troubles. Had an 8-year-old car, started having troubles (that damn Check Engine light -- I'll blog about that someday when I can laugh about it). Well, the Spousal Unit needs a new car (he's using my 12-year-old car as his, which still runs like a top, but it's bound to die someday). So we figured I'd pass off the Eight-Year-Old to him, let him fix it a bit, and use it. So I bought a new car.

Yep. New car had a glitch. Had to be towed to the dealership with 300 miles on it to be fixed.

Double sigh.

My tarot cards say that things are Getting Better and Count Your Blessings.

It's tough sometimes, though.

Think Happy Places. Remember Happy Places.

See picture above.

That's where I came in.

J