Build-a-Book Report #2

Eighty percent of a writer's time must go into promotional activity. Not only does this give authors more exposure in their centers of influence, publishers expect it. Since they put $ 40,000 -$ 58,000 into every new book, they have a legitimate right. With that in mind, I took time last Wednesday to send a letter of introduction to a local bookstore that recently came under new ownership. I also wrote the rough draft of a letter inviting two well-known authors to review and (hopefully) endorse a book I have listed with a Christian manuscript submission service. It pays to think high, in this business. They can always say no.

I took notes that day from a TV interview for my Truth book. This was a prize-winning example of "make-up-the-news-if-you-don't-have-any-today." ABC News interrupted Prince Harry's trip to the polar region with a group of wounded veterans to ask if he was going to work on his "best man" wedding toast while there. What a ridiculous question! This is news? Not to me. Besides, the location was totally inappropriate for such a task. Rightly, he told the reporter he was "here for the men." I also took notes from a devotional reading that illustrated "stretching the truth." Two in one day. A good day for me. These stories that illustrate points I am making are vitally important to the writing process; they make the book I am putting together more lively, interesting, and meaningful.

On Thursday I noticed I had worn eight pencils down to a stub already. When I started writing, in pre-computer days, I wrote all my first drafts by pencil, but when I got my first computer I found I could get my inspired thoughts down faster and more accurately by typing directly into the computer. Now I'm back to pencils again. Blog posts are much shorter than most articles and book chapters, and inspiration for my posts comes anytime, anywhere---at the kitchen table during breakfast, in church (Sorry, Pastor), lounging in my easy chair, or in bed--everywhere except the shower. (It's too wet there, but I've thought about it. :) So it's just easier to use a pencil right now.

Studying how Facebook uses business pages was on my "to do" list last week. Then suddenly, Thursday night, I got off-script in my writing. My scribbling related more to the topics in the book I'd left behind than my current one, but I took down the notes anyway. What comes comes, and I have to use it all, so long as it fits my topics. So now I'm all about writing two books, off and on, this spring. I hope you will hang in there with me. Even though I don't complete the whole book when I send in book proposals to publishers for their consideration, this still may take some time. Are you finding my Build-a-Book posts enjoyable reading? I hope so. It would help me to know.

Your avid happy scribbler,
Margaret