Saturday, October 16, 2010

Too many ideas -- too little time

I was beginning to feel good about getting caught up. After many hours hunched over my keyboard, I finally have the ms. ready to upload to Create Space. I am lacking a cover, but a photographer friend is working on it.

I "published" the book in 2002 with PublishAmerica. Please, no commiseration. I didn't know any better, all right? But the rights have reverted to me and I plan on seeing how well I do self-publishing where I will have more control of the product.

I am not doing this out of vanity; people are still asking me if I have a copy of the book so they can give it to a friend. The book is an account of my bout with breast cancer and tells a newly-diagnosed patient what to expect from treatment. It's not just clinical, I also discuss spells of depression and how to handle the reactions of friends and family. From what people tell me, it has helped them get through this difficult time in their lives.

Anyway, I hoped to complete this project and start editing another book I wrote about a year ago. After taking Eliza Knight's course, "Edit Your Book in a Month," I can see many places where it could be improved before sending it out into the world. Next up, doing the same process on my historical novel which is about three times as long as the other one.

Then what happens? A new idea for a new book. I can't stop thinking about it and my fingers itch to get it down on paper -- er, a digital file.

So, I need to set up a schedule. So many hours on paying work (I do have a job, even though I work at home), so many hours editing, so many hours for querying and marketing, and then -- so many hours for creating.

Let's see if I can stay with my plan. Maybe I need to get an alarm clock -- or set my computer to beep after working a for set time on one chore. Hmmm...

2 comments:

  1. There is no denying that a new idea is exciting, exhillarating and tempting whereas the current work in progress (WIP) has usually lost it's shine. The WIP often becomes work, sometimes drudgery. But I get paid for finished works not brilliant ideas. So...I write down just enough of the new idea to help me remember it, then I get back to work.

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  2. Some of us could act as "alarm clocks" and buzz you occasionally to remind you to hit those keys! We are all eager to see you get the next great book down on paper (or on hard drive, CD, etc.) so it will be come more than a WIP. So we can whip you to the WIP!!

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