Editing Your Manuscript: Stage 7

We’ve covered all the stages or steps of Editing Your Own Manuscript:

• Stage 1: Put it aside
• Stage 2: Edit by steps, not marathons
• Stage 3: Let your baby go
• Stage 4: Re-write some more
• Stage 5: Read it aloud
• Stage 6: Synopsize

What’s the final stage?

• Stage 7: Move on, but keep in touch

Once you’re satisfied it’s ready to query, then start sending those letters out. The querying phase involves a lot of waiting, though, so use this time constructively. What’s constructive for you may not be the same for someone else. Some writers take a break, relax, work in the garden, do the dusting that’s piled up, play golf. Some plunge right into another book or writing project. Some read, do research, check to see if they still have a family.

If you’re consistently getting form rejection letters, then pull out your query letter and see if it needs to be rewritten. And every once in awhile, pull out the manuscript, especially those first few pages you’re sending out with the query, and re-visit them.

I would tell you that after you’ve done the Herculean task of writing the book then the long process of editing, it’s time to put it away and not re-visit it. You’ve done your best. But few authors can do that. Even after it’s in print and bound, authors say they’d like to change things.

Editing Your Manuscript: Stages 4-6

To recap: We’ve covered the first four stages of editing your manuscript –

• Stage 1: Put it aside
• Stage 2: Edit by steps, not marathons
• Stage 3: Let your baby go

On to Stages 4, 5 & 6:

• Stage 4: Re-write some more
• Stage 5: Read it aloud
• Stage 6: Synopsize

Stage 4: Re-write some more

Once you have all the comments, both written and oral, from your readers, work on the manuscript some more. Spend some time thinking about what your group has said and how you can incorporate their ideas and suggestions. Once you’ve decided what to change (and what not to change) and how to work those changes into the manuscript, then sit down and do the work. If you’ve thought it out ahead of time and even worked out the logistics of how to make the changes and have those changes flow smoothly, the work will be not only easy but fun (by fun, I mean enjoyable as you see the improvements you’re making).

If, after another draft, you feel you've made major changes in the manuscript, consider sending it back through your group or onto new, fresh readers.

Stage 5: Read it aloud.

Try reading your manuscript aloud. Either to yourself to get the flow of the dialogue and the pacing -- or onto tapes so you can play it back while you take notes.

If you tape the book, maybe you could give the tapes to a trusted friend or reader and ask them to comment on the flow and pacing, characterization, all those things you've labored over during the re-write.

Stage 6: Synopsize.

Write a logline -- condense the essence of your manuscript down to 20 or 25 words. Can you do it? If not, then spend some time thinking of the theme or major turning point of your book. Once the logline is done, expand it into a one-page summary. Then expand that into a three-page synopsis. Not only is this a good thing to do in terms of being ready to query the book -- agents often ask for a synopsis - it forces you to know the skeleton, the backbone, of your story. I put this as Stage 6, but it works just as well as Stage 2, before you begin the major re-write.

Editing: Let Your Baby Go!

Now, back to editing your manuscript. We’ve covered the first two stages:

• Stage 1: Put it aside
• Stage 2: Edit by steps, not marathons

On to:

• Stage 3: Let your baby go.

You've gone through draft after draft, re-writing, cutting, self-editing, molding your words. In other words, your original draft has grown up, matured. It's time to let it go out to the world. Give it to your critique group or trusted friends.

Some people like to test their work on a critique group or one-on-one readers as they write. That's okay. But what your group saw as you wrote is far different from the polished piece you now have. So, whether they saw the manuscript in its infancy or are reading it for the first time, you need their comments.

They'll find things you missed, even though you've read it so often you're sick of it. They'll misinterpret or not understand something that was perfectly clear in your mind (and the pertinent phrase here is "clear in your mind.") They may even tell you to start the whole thing 50 pages later.

When your group or reader gives you comments, it's important that you listen without worrying about how to respond to or counter their suggestions. It's probably best to even forego taking notes. Tape record if necessary. They will give you their notes, either on the manuscript or separately. That way, you can pay attention, ask them to elaborate or give examples. You might even find it helpful to brainstorm within the group.

But, if your manuscript is too precious to you to even let your group read it, then it's too precious to send it to an agent or editor. Your group or friends may be tough, but they care about you and your career. To an agent, you're just a name on a query letter.

Yes, there are some writers who work alone, like tight-rope walkers without nets. But I'd venture to bet that even they eventually let someone critique or edit. It might be another trusted author or a spouse or even their longtime agent.

More stages to come!

I've Been Tagged!

Today I planned to finish up the discussion on editing your manuscript. It’ll have to wait, though. Yesterday I got tagged.

That doesn’t mean my husband put me in a yard sale for fifty cents. Not yet, anyway.

David Bowles of Writing the Westward Sagas tagged me. In blog-talk that means I’m now “it” in an online game of tag. I have to write five things that you may not know about me. Then, I have to tag five other bloggers. And the game spreads across the internet.

Here are the rules of the game:
Each player of this game starts with the “5 little known things about you”. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 5 unusual things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 5 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says “you are tagged” in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

This was not an easy assignment for me. I’ve been writing a weekly e-newsletter for 8 years now and started daily blogging last year. I’m a fairly open book already.

1) I grew up in a household of women: my mother and four girls. Actually, though, it was three girls. I don’t really remember my oldest sister living at home since she left when I was five and that was about the time my youngest sister was born. As kids, the three of us did not get along. We fought and argued all the time. My sister, Cathy, once told me to shut up. I didn’t, of course. She told me to shut up or she’d knock the snot out of me. I didn’t. So she did … knock the snot out of me. Another time we were fighting and somehow in the scuffle I bit the metal rail on the bunk bed. Cracked my tooth. It’s still missing the corner. Surprisingly though I don’t have that many childhood scars. And the three of us get along fine now.

2) I’ve lived in Texas most of my life. My mother moved us here when I was ten. You ask people overseas or even New Yorkers and they’ll tell you Texans ride horses or drive pickups with gun racks. So not true. Sure, we have cowboys and gun-toting pickup drivers, but we’re also city-fied. I’ve never shot a gun. I did go deer hunting with my husband once years and years ago. He left the blind for a few minutes and let me hold the gun. With the safety on. Across my lap. Turned away from his direction. Did I mention I was not to turn off the safety?

3) Friends know I have curly hair. But I didn’t always have curly hair. It used to be straight. Seriously. Straight as a board, as they say. In high school, I was always putting my hair in rollers or sleeping on wet hair in pin curls. Within an hour of styling it, it’d be flat. My sister was always ironing her hair to try to take out her curls. Then, something happened. I had kids and my hair began to curl. First waves, then curls. Tighter and tighter. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but there are still times when I miss my straight hair.

4) One time in a screenwriting class, the assignment was to write a short scene about something that happened in your life. When I finished reading mine aloud, half the group looked shocked as if they wanted to cry; the other half looked skeptical as if they thought I’d made it up. The reactions surprised me because I thought the story was really funny. When I was seventeen I left home for college. Not long after I did, my mother left Lockhart and moved into a trailer. I would go home on occasional weekends. One weekend, I drove into the trailer park and discovered that the only thing left was the steps that used to lead up to her trailer. She’d moved. I had no idea where she or my younger sister had gone. They’d just pulled up stakes and left. Without a word. Now, that’s funny, right?

5)Lastly, if you’ve read my bio, then you know I was a mermaid for three years. What you may not know is what that entailed. For three years (the place was open every day except Christmas day) I jumped into 68 degree spring-fed water. Even when the catwalk iced over, I swam. I could do synchronized underwater ballet and hold my breath for two to three minutes. You could always tell who were the rookies and who were the seasoned performers: the rookies would flash through the ballet moves and grab their air hoses before the rest of us could finish our first reverse split. I can eat and drink and blow air rings underwater. I can swim in a mermaid tail – and that’s not easy folks. I can talk underwater. The mermaids used to sit on our lily pad perches during picnic and talk to each other. I’ve swam with a pig, with several pigs, actually, and I’m not talking about the guys in the show. And I have a couple of postcards to prove my mermaid days. In one I’m standing on the volcano in the show area. In the other, I’m on top of the submarine in which the audience sat to watch the show. Being a mermaid didn’t pay much, but it was fun.

That’s it. My secret talents and stories. Well, not all of them. But enough for now.

Speaking of “now.” I now tag the following bloggers:
Robert Giron at Chez Robert Giron
Todd Glasscock at Exile on Ninth Street
Susan Wittig Albert at Lifescapes
Cynthia Leitich Smith at Spookycyn
Sherry Thomas at Plotters and Manipulators United

Tell us five things we don’t know about you.

Editing Your Manuscript: Stage 2

Yesterday, we went over the first stage in editing your manuscript: Put it aside.

Before you start a major edit, if possible, set aside the manuscript for a few weeks. When you then take it up, it’ll will be fresher to your eye and you’ll have a little different perspective on the words.

Stage 2: Edit by steps, not marathons.

I know how difficult this is. You start reading through the manuscript and your tendency is to try to do it all at once. You'll end up bogged down, lost, maybe even depressed. Trust me. Try to break it down and edit step by step.

Here's what I try to do: I read it on the computer, copy-editing as I go. Not only am I re-acquainting myself with the plot and characters, I'm catching whatever spelling or grammar errors I might have missed.

Then I print out a copy on recycled paper (don't waste good trees). And I start the real re-write process. I don't think it's critical that you look for certain things in a certain order. Some of the areas to look for are: Show and Tell, Characterization and Exposition, POV, Dialogue, and Voice, among others.

I usually start by making notes -- you can even do this as you copy edit. Chapter by chapter, note who is on-scene, what happened, the ending hook, POV, scene goals.

Then take a colored pen and start editing one aspect of the novel -- Point of View consistency, or checking to see that there's not too much Exposition or Narrative, or breaking down the Dialogue -- is it believable, does it move the story forward, does each character have a consistent, unique, identifying voice. Another area to look at might be Repetition. Do you say the same thing over and over? Do you need to? Another area to check is Consistency. In the movie world, there is someone whose job is to check consistency. When the filming stops to reset cameras, or whatever, that person must make sure that when filming resumes, everything is exactly the way it was before. In the writing world, the author must check to see that nothing vital, like eye-color or car-type or time of day, has suddenly, inexplicably changed.

I do one thing, say POV, marking and re-writing with my little red pen. Then I enter it into the computer, putting a pencil check mark by each edit. Then I work on the next area, say Dialogue, marking and re-writing with my little green pen. Then I enter it into the computer, putting a pencil check mark by each edit. Then I work on, say, making sure I haven't left a character out of the story for too long a stretch, marking and re-writing with my little purple pen. Then ... I think you get the idea.

You may reach a point where your hard-copy looks like a rainbow melted on it. No problem, print a fresh copy and keep going. You may reach a point where you're ready to scream. No problem, set aside the editing and take a rest. Go back to working on those other projects. You may need to refresh the lines on your dust drawing since by now they may be filling in with new dust.

And once it's polished and perfected, you're ready to go on to: Stage 3. Tomorrow.

Editing Your Manuscript

Some people will tell you that the writing of the book is the fun part -- the creative juices flow, the muse visits. Others say the re-writing is the best part -- molding and shaping the rough draft, turning it into a thing of art.

All writers are different. Some wander through the world of their story, writing scenes as they formulate, skipping around. Others create an outline and write the opening scene then progress straight to the end.

Most authors re-write to a certain degree as they go. Very few plod along, never re-reading what they wrote the day before. Most of us, when we finish what we call the first draft have actually re-written the majority of it several times already.

Even those people who profess to enjoy the re-write process will admit that self-editing is hard work. I find that it's easiest, though, if you take it in stages. Today, Stage One:

Stage 1: Put it aside.

Take the manuscript and put it in a drawer ... for 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months ... whatever you can stand. Start a new project, catch up on a little reading, maybe take up art by drawing in the dust that has accumulated on the furniture while you were writing.

What you're doing is putting some distance between you and your writing, so that when you take your red pen to it, you'll be able to view it more objectively. It won't be so immediate, so precious. And cutting it won't seem like self- surgery. You might even be able to edit it as if it had been written by someone else.

Doing It Write! and Jack Reacher

A couple of things to mention today: office spaces and Jack Reacher.

First, office spaces. Or more exactly, your office spaces. In last week’s issue of my e-newsletter, Doing It Write!, I wrote about the office I’m creating for myself in one of the downstairs bedrooms. In response, subscribers sent in descriptions of their own writing spaces. This week and next week, I’m putting in two of the more unique ones. Both of them reminded me of Hemingway’s office in Key West. All three are ones I’d like to explore. At the very least – take a picture! If you want to hear about these fabulous writing spaces, you can sign up to receive Doing It Write! (for free) by going to my site and clicking on the words Sign Up or sending me an email with your email address with “subscribe” in the subject line.

Now to Jack Reacher, the protagonist of Lee Child’s mystery-suspense series. I’ve been reading the series, although not exactly in order. I bought a couple of the newer books and liked them so much, I backtracked to start the series from the beginning. I’m almost to the end of Tripwire, which is the third in the series. This book is quite different from the others I’ve read – primarily because Reacher is not the action hero as in the others. I’m getting close to the end, page 354, and he’s done very little except go from here to there doing leg work and contemplating his life and falling in love. It’s the antagonist, Hobie, who has all the action.

Not necessarily a bad thing. We want to know about Reacher’s more personal life; it is a series where the character should develop and grow. But half-way through the book, I was wanting him to DO something. Fight off an attacker. Kill a bad guy. Definitely save the brave woman being held hostage. Get out of that first-class airline seat and DO something. Surely there will be some action in the final 63 pages. Hopefully.

Establishing Character

I had a busy weekend. My husband and I are still painting. We finished my office (blue and yellow), then moved on to the guest room (all yellow). We got it all done except for the trim. Still have the trim in the bathroom and closet to do also.

But the weekend started off great. That’s because on Friday I got together with a big group of friends. We’re all writers of one kind or another and you couldn’t ask for a better convergence of personalities. We meet at various houses, supposedly for lunch, but it goes beyond that since “lunch” usually lasts around 3 or 4 hours.

We gathered at a perfect house. Not a humongous house like those around the Barton Creek Country Club. Not a cozy lake house overlooking Lake Travis. The house was perfect because it so very much reflects the owner. It’s bright; it’s funky; it’s elegant; it’s colorful; it’s warm; it’s inviting. It’s HER. You could be blindfolded, taken to this house, and when you saw it, you’d know whose home you were at.

Now that’s something to keep in mind when you’re establishing character. The character’s home tells a lot about that person. It’s not black or white – either it’s a mansion with white-everything except for the masters on the wall or it's a disheveled rundown dump. Also keep in mind that every character’s home, office, car, etc. doesn’t have to match your tastes. They should match the tastes and lifestyle of the character and his/her personality. Even more than that, they should reflect the character; they should be an extension of the character.

The reader should be able to enter their home and learn more about the character than what’s been told to them. Yes, as someone said, it’s all in the details. But for you to use the environment to establish character, you don’t have to have a lot of details. The room doesn’t have to be described ad nauseum. One or two things will tell the reader more than you could describe in a page. Like the delicate, porcelain, hooting owl on the coffee table. Or the twirling, kicking, pom-pom Barbie on the bookshelf.

Or the blue and yellow office with the upside-down shelves on the ceiling.

Are You a Writer?

At what point can you consider yourself a writer? Are you a writer when you’re twelve and make your first entry in a journal? Is it when you’re thirty-two and your first short story is published? When your first article appears in the local paper or in a national magazine? Is it when your first book launches? When an agent offers a contract for representation? Is it when your fourth book appears? When you self-publish or only when you’re published by a big house?

I bet you know people who’ve been asked what they do … and they answer that they’re a writer. Immediately the asker responds with, “Oh, have I read any of your books?” As if novelists or book authors are the only ones qualified to call themselves writers. What about reporters, short story writers, essayists, travel writers, newspaper food critics, humorists, technical writers, greeting card writers? What about someone who’s not published at all?

And if you are asked that question and you’re not yet published, how do you respond?

When it comes to books, are you a writer until you publish, then you become an author? Do authors not write? Aren’t writers authors of their own works?

I have a friend who’s published by a small press. She’s a writer. I have another friend who has sold thousands of books published by his own small press. He’s a writer. I have a friend who has been published by a large press many times. She’s a writer. I have a friend who says she’s not a writer, yet she writes beautiful, meaningful essays. She’s a writer.

At what point do you start calling yourself a writer? And if you don’t have “credentials” yet your write, how do you answer the questions about what you do and what are the titles of your books?

Speaking Engagements

We’ve talked about how to have a successful talk: pointers to prepare for the speech and how to conduct the workshop, then how to follow up.

Now ... how do you snag speaking engagements? The fact of the matter is that you have to go after them. Offer your services. Let service organizations know you're available to speak. When you hear of a conference or weekend workshop nearby, send in workshop proposals (months in advance). Call bookstores and offer to speak at a signing. Call every writers organization in your area, small and large, and offer to speak at one of their meetings. Hook up with libraries. Figure out what niche markets fit your book or you. If you're a YA author, call the local schools. If your protagonist is a gardener, look up the garden clubs, shops, and so on.

When you're traveling, contact in advance the local radio and TV stations. See if they could use you. Remember to make you and your subject or book enticing. Think of it from their perspective. What is it about you or your expertise that would make them want to interview you and take up their expensive air time? What's your irresistible angle?

Being able to talk about yourself, your book, or your subject matter is a good way to increase your sales. So, arrange those speaking opportunities, take three slow, deep breaths, and go for it.

Successful Workshops

Today, I wanted to continue with the topic of public speaking for authors. Earlier, in the posts Public Speaking for Writers, Steps to Successful Public Speaking and More on Successful Public Speaking, we covered the topics of:

• Prepare
• Don't memorize
• Relax
• Dress comfortably
• Keep track of your talks

I'd like to throw out two other tips for speaking to groups:

1. Prepare handouts.
If you're conducting a workshop or seminar, take and give handout(s). First of all, it gives you something to do; it breaks up the monotony of a long talk and provides variety. Secondly, it gives your audience something to take home. They’re more likely to remember you and your subject if they leave with something in their hands. And they feel like they got their money's worth (even if the talk was free, they paid with their time and attention).

Those of you who have attended my workshops at UMHB, Baylor and other places know that I practice what I preach. I gave a blizzard of handouts.

If you're doing a reading or on a book tour, handouts are not so important. You, of course, hope they leave with your book. Plus, it's not easy to carry around extra papers when you're living out of a suitcase and moving from city to city. Consider giving out lots of business cards with your website listed.

2. Leave time for Q & A.
Whenever possible, open the floor for questions. You can do this at the end of your talk, or let the audience know it's okay to interrupt. Audience participation livens the talk and lets you find out what your listeners want to know. Yes, it may get you off-track, but I find that that's not so bad. The questions are almost always interesting. If you get too far off-track and feel you really must get back to topic, then just bring it back around to your subject. You're the speaker; you're the one in charge. You can either go with the flow or dam the questions and re-direct the flow.

Sometimes, when you allow questions to be asked, you'll hear questions that you don't know how to answer. Just say so. Don't bluff. Not only can an audience usually tell that you're guessing, if you're wrong, it can come back to haunt you.

Diane Fanning

A friend of mine – the prolific, multi-genre, 2006 Edgar nominated author, Diane Fanning – sent me the cover of her upcoming mystery. She’s getting close to publication! I’m excited for her because she’s a great writer and this is her first mystery. I’m also excited because I got to read the manuscript months ago.

Diane has a whole list of true crime novels in print, including her Edgar nominated book, Written In Blood. You will also be able to catch her on TV in the coming weeks. On January 24, at 8 CST, you can see her on Court TV. She was interviewed for the show Forensic Files regarding the case she wrote about in Written In Blood. Then either in February or early March, you can see her on 20/20.

Her most recent release is the book Baby Be Mine while Under The Knife is scheduled to be released in April this year. If she’s in your area, go see her. She’s a very interesting speaker. Believe me, she’s a true crime author with some fascinating and hair-raising stories to tell!

And be sure to look for her debut mystery Bite The Moon, coming out in July 2007. Congrats Diane.

Plot Ideas

Last night I called a friend in California. During the conversation, I told her about my husband’s lasik eye surgery. She did the same thing I did while watching it. She squealed. Again and again. And I didn’t even go into detail. The eyes are really weak points for most people.

When I wrote about his surgery in an earlier post, I said I could never write horror because I’m a wimp when it comes to stuff like that. But it’s been about three weeks since he had that first eye done and I’ve had time to mull it over. I still couldn’t write horror, I don’t believe. But I have come up with a scene involving the surgery and the glass-walled surgical room.

I need to write the basic skeleton of the scene down and set it in my ideas file. Then, the next suspense novel I write, I can pull it out. See it I can fit it in the story. Or build the story around the scene.

Always jot down your ideas and keep them for future use. Even keep those scenes you cut from something you’re working on. They may work in the future. Keep them in whatever filing system you use, be it a box, on your computer, in a notebook, on sticky notes, whatever works for you.

Book Editing

For a couple of days now, I’ve been doing a line edit for an author who gave me a call when her agent recommended she get an edit done before the book went out to editors. I’ve done a first read-through and am now going back through it again.

Whenever I read, I take breaks. Partly because I have to do other things, but mostly because I need to rest my eyes. This time, though, I’m breaking because I kept thinking of things I ought to say in this blog about editing.

First off, you should have a book editor or book consultant read through your manuscript before you send it to an agent. The author I’m working with now is a multi-published author who works closely with her agent, so there was no need to have a professional look at it until this point. But if you’re new, have someone edit for you before you approach an agent. You need a new, untainted eye to read your work. You will be surprised what you miss, no matter how many times you read your own work.

If you decide to have someone edit, you’ll have to consider what you want done. A basic line edit is usually the cheapest. The editor looks for grammar, punctuation and spelling primarily. The cost goes higher if you have someone focus on areas like continuity, POV switches, characterization, pacing, etc. With the second level, you’re looking for a book consultant to work with.

Another thing to remember when you decide to approach an editor or consultant is that the editor might want a hard copy of the manuscript, although some can work strictly with an electronic copy, and some want both. If you assume they’ll want an electronic copy, then you can be prepared to send that. That means one file. If you write each chapter as a separate file, when you decide to work with an editor, you’ll have to create a master copy, so you might as well do that from the beginning. It’ll make your life easier as you write. On a master copy, when you make your own edits, the page numbers automatically adjust. When you want to search for something, you can do a search and find on the one document, rather than on twenty separate chapter documents. So by creating a master document from the very beginning, you’re ahead of the game if you decide to get outside editing done.

Before you have a professional look at your book, have a friend or two look at it. Hopefully, they’ll catch spellings and punctuation mistakes you missed. This will save your editor time and you money.

There’s a lot you, your friends, and your critique group can do to perfect your manuscript before you submit it. So exhaust all of those avenues before (or if) you decide to hire an editor.

Altar Boyz

Last night, I went to a musical at the Paramount Theatre. The play is called Altar Boyz. If you want to laugh and have a great time, go see it. But you’d better hurry – it’s only there for a week.

I had great seats – center, fourth row. Being that close, you can see the actors sweat. And sweat they did. The five characters, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham, never stopped dancing and singing the whole show. I couldn’t have done it; I would have been crumpled in a heap off stage.

But they weren’t. Within minutes after the show ended, they were dried off and upstairs at a meet-and-greet champagne reception. Laughing, smiling, taking pictures, talking. Ahh, the resilience of youth. And young they were. When they were onstage, you could tell they were all young, but up close, they were YOUNG. Not sure how young since I managed to get to my seat without a program, but I’d guess early twenties.

Also at the reception was one of the stars of the TV show, Friday Night Lights. I don’t watch the show, but others told me he’s the one who suffered a spinal cord injury on the show. Also young.

Perhaps I’m just old so everyone else looks young. But not so old I didn’t notice what a great play it was. As I watched, I realized I was wishing I’d written it.

Office Dreams

Today’s guest blogger is Helen “The Smurf” Ginger. At least, that’s who I felt like yesterday. For those too young to remember the smurfs, they were little blue cartoon characters.

This weekend, my husband and I began painting the downstairs bedrooms. We started painting the inside of the house a year ago, working on winter days when we weren’t so likely to be outside. I’ve decided we’re going through our “color” phase. We’re slowly getting rid of every blah wall in the house.

The bathroom and laundry room are bright yellow. The living room and dining room are baked clay (red), while the kitchen and stairway is a pumpkin-soup color. The upstairs loft is a combination of the baked clay and the pumpkin soup.

The two downstairs bedrooms will be totally different. One room will be all yellow, sort of a lemon custard yellow – the ceiling and walls. The other bedroom will be a yellow ceiling with turquoise walls. The bathroom in-between will be yellow ceiling with a combo of yellow and turquoise walls. We started with the room with blue walls – hence my blue hair, hence my nickname.

The blue and yellow room is going to become my office. The main part of the house has sort of a Tuscan feel to it, but this makes me think of the Caribbean. It’ll take us a while to convert it to an office since the plans include more than just paint. My husband is going to build a big (8X4) bulletin board for one wall and in the closet there will be floor to ceiling shelves on one side for books and office supplies. Yea! I get to bring out all the books in storage.

Besides my desk and the bulletin board, I’m hoping to also include my treadmill and elliptical trainer. Those are good “thinking” tools. Problem is, the room is not terribly big and we’d like to fit in the pull-out sofa for when there are guests. May have to give up something. Sofa or treadmill? Hard choice.

But the main thing is having an actual office with a door … an office with a bulletin board I can use for plotting or notes … an office that’s mine. When it’s all done, which may be months from now, considering all the building my husband will have to do, I may have an office warming. If nothing else, I’ll put pictures on my website. Hmm. That’s an idea. I should have taken pictures of the before, the during and the finale. Maybe I’ll take one today, before I head in there to do some more cutting in at the corners.

Have you ever planned out your dream office?

Texas Mystery Month Update

Yesterday was not quite the full day I expected. It started off with a serviceman telling me I would be better off buying a new washing machine than fixing the old one. Bummer. Now I have to decide whether to spend the money to buy one or just wear dirty clothes. Decisions, decisions. Then I went to the meeting for the Texas Mystery Month committee. Then I did NOT have to go watch more lasik eye surgeries. Yea! The place was having trouble with one of their machines, so they re-scheduled my husband’s appointment for next week. I’ll get to do my cringing then.

But on to news about Texas Mystery Month.

Things are gearing up now. Different members of the committee are working on their part of the month. Author Dave Ciambrone will be coordinating with authors. If you’re a mystery author and would like to do an event in your area of Texas, he’s the person you’d want to talk to. The idea is that you set up your own event. You can do a class for an organization or find a place and set up the class yourself. Or you can talk to other mystery authors in your area and work with a bookstore to have a panel discussion. You could do a mini-seminar or whatever. Then you talk to Dave. He’ll work with the people here in charge of marketing. If you set your gig up in time, it can be included in advertisement for Texas Mystery Month and you can be included in the “Books in Print” of involved authors.

Dave is your point man who can give you ideas for classes, if you’re having trouble thinking of what you could do. He can make sure you get your books in print information to Kimberly Sandman, who is in charge of putting that together. He can make sure the right information gets to the marketing committee.

If you’d like to mentor an aspiring author, there is an opportunity for that. Mentoring is not a long-term commitment. Mentoring means you’ll be given the name, contact info and opening pages from an unpublished author’s manuscript. At the big Barbara Burnett Smith Aspiring Author Event on May 20th, you sit down with your aspiring author and talk with them about their pages, about the publishing business, about working with agents or editors, or just answer their questions. That’s it. Not a big commitment on your part, but a great opportunity to help those climbing the ladder behind you.

My part of the committee is working with those aspiring authors. By the end of this month, I expect to have all the information and guidelines on the Heart of Texas Sisters in Crime website. I’m hoping this year, submitting your pages will be even easier. It will all be done electronically, and, if possible, it’ll all be done via a form on the website. It’s FREE. There’s no fee. There’s no catch. There’s no judging. It’s first-come first-serve, though. How many aspiring authors we can match up with published authors depends on how many mentors we have. I’m expecting we’ll have between 6 and 8 slots. That’s not many, so send in your stuff ASAP, or as soon as I have the guidelines up on the website. You do have to attend the BBSAWE on May 20th here in Austin.

As soon as I work with our webmaven and have the page of guidelines and, hopefully, a submittal form, I’ll let you know. So, check back often with this blog – it’ll be posted here first!

Almost a Post

Good morning. This is just a quick post to let you know I may not be posting today. Except for this post, of course. But it's not really a post; just a note explaining a lack of post.

Okay, then. I have a Texas Mystery Month meeting this morning, then it's off to the horror-mill again.

My husband is having lasik surgery on his other eye this afternoon. Aaaiiieeekkk. I am really hoping the place is less crowded today so we can sit in the front waiting room -- not the one next to the glass-walled surgery room.

My husband keeps urging me to have lasik surgery, but, after watching so many the other week, including his, I keep saying, "No way!"

So, it's another day of squealing for me.

Hopefully, though, I'll have news from the TMM meeting to report in tomorrow's post.

More on Successful Public Speaking

Today, the third installment on having a successful public speaking experience.

We may not like having to speak in public, but in today’s world, it’s essential for an author to get out and promote his or her books. And part of marketing your books is speaking. That can include reading at book signings, teaching classes, conducting interviews or leading workshops.

Yesterday, I covered what to do to get prepared to give your talk. Today, what to remember and do during the speech and afterward.

Relax. Someone somewhere gave the advice that to help overcome stage fright, you should imagine everyone in your audience without clothes. Excuuusssee me? That would not relax me. A naked audience would be distracting and trying to mentally undress them would take my mind off what I'm trying desperately to remember to say. Leave their clothes on. Relax. If I'm nervous, I do deep breathing before I have to speak. You know when it's getting close -- your introduction is starting or the little red camera light goes on. That's the time to close your eyes, breath in, and slowly exhale through your mouth. Do that three times. (Assuming the camera is pointed at the host and not at you, of course.)

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. One year, when I emceed the Violet Crown Book Awards, I wore heels. I don't wear heels, hardly ever. When I arrived, I checked out the stage and imagined myself going up and down those stairs over and over. I wobbled my way back out to the car and traded my pumps for flats. If you're comfortable walking in heels, then wear them. But a speech is not the time to try out new shoes, or tight pants, or that slinky, low-cut dress, or a jangly bracelet. No, don't wear your favorite torn up jeans and beer t-shirt. But dress so you can move, stand, sit, bend, and walk comfortably. The more comfortable you are, the better your speech and the more fun the audience will have.

And finally, after it’s all over and done with …

Keep track of your speeches. That way, if you're invited back, you won't repeat yourself. Plus, you'll have a copy of your talk so you won't have to re-invent the wheel every time you speak to a new group. With minor adjustments to fit the group or situation, you can give the same speech over and over.

And there you have it. Those are the basics.

You can do it. If you’re scared of speaking in public, remember, the actual speaking is not nearly as scary as the dread. Follow these steps:

• Prepare
• Don’t Memorize
• Relax
• Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes
• Keep Track of Your Speeches

Steps to Successful Public Speaking

Yesterday I started talking about public speaking – promoting your book through talks at book signings, leading workshops, speaking to groups, teaching classes, even talking one on one with an agent or editor or book buyer.

Here are the first two steps to having a successful speaking experience:

Prepare. Know what you're going to talk about. Now, you may say, I'm going to talk about my book -- what could be easier? That would work if all of your audience has read your book and asks questions about the characters, plot, etc. But, most likely, the majority of them are there, hopefully, to buy your book. And they'll be asking questions about how, where, and when you write, where your ideas come from, the title of your favorite book from childhood, the author who inspired you the most, the thread of feminism that runs through all your works, the political ramifications of the clash of cultures in the Middle East, the philosophical teachings of Socrates. Okay, maybe I exaggerated on those last two, but only a little. You've been to conferences and heard other authors speak. Think of all the questions you've heard asked. Now think how you would answer them. Of course, you have to know your book, but be prepared to answer other questions.

Don't memorize. That doesn't necessarily mean don't write out your speech ahead of time. You can if you want to, or you can do an outline of the major points you want to cover. You can practice your talk, time it, record and listen to it, and practice it some more. But, I recommend that you NOT memorize it word for word. Inevitably, you'll forget a word or sentence, or someone will interrupt with a question, and then you'll get flustered. Unless it's imperative you say something word for word, don't bring your speech to the podium -- you'll be tempted to read it. Most people, when they read something, sound like they're ... reading something. Take a sheet of paper or note cards with you that list the highlights or major points or key words of your talk. Refer to that if needed. You can even take a pencil and discreetly check off what you've covered.

So, before you actually talk or teach, do those two things: Prepare and Don’t Memorize.

Tomorrow, some hints on what to do during the speech and what to do afterwards.

Public Speaking for Writers

Authors write. Nowadays, authors also have to speak.

In order to promote our books, we have to talk at book signings, to readers' groups, to large organizations, on radio or TV, and at every opportunity we can arrange, large or small. This can be a real stopping point for those writers who have a fear of speaking in public. Although it's never bothered me, I can understand the fear.

There's a store here in Austin called Central Market - a great place for fresh fruits and vegetables, every cheese imaginable, unusual foods and wines. It's also a maze of a store with narrow aisles and people taste-testing, bulk-buying, and attempting to turn their carts around and fight against the flow of rat-shoppers trying to work the maze to the check out. Did I mention that it's a claustrophobic maze of a grocery store?

Yes, I understand that tight-chested, panic-driven, push against the invisible plastic suffocating you, just-get-me-through-this feeling of someone facing an audience. But it doesn't have to be that way.

I have a B.A. with a double major in English and Speech Communication, with a specialization in Oral Interpretation (which, incidentally, is great asset when it comes to writing dialogue). My graduate work is in Speech, and I've taught college-level Public Speaking (one of my most memorable students was a police officer who gave a How-To speech on Performing an Autopsy).

With all those credentials, the best advice I could give you is “Do it.” The more you speak in public, the easier it becomes. But ... in order for this to be true, you need to have positive speaking experiences.

Tomorrow, five steps to help you have those positive speaking experiences.

Writing Resolutions

Happy New Year to everyone.

I’m assuming you’ve all made one or two resolutions for 2007. I did. I’m hoping to keep them longer than in years past.

The new year is a good time to make new plans, decide on different directions. It’s twelve unblemished months, a new calendar, a fresh chalkboard. Anything is possible. So, the thought is “why not?” and “I can do it.”

So, make those resolutions. Hopefully, at least one of them will involve books – either writing your own or reading those of other writers. But make resolutions that affect other parts of your life. There is life outside of writing. And everything in your life affects your writing.

I’m not quite ready to reveal my resolutions. That’s probably a bad thing. If no one knows them, then I don’t have to be accountable when I fail to keep them. On the other hand, maybe it’s a good thing. If I do forget to keep working toward them, then it’s easier to pick myself up and start over if no one knows I dropped the ball.

Either way, I have two. One I started on before New Year’s Day. One week and counting – so far, so good, so – yea! One I started making moves toward. It’s not something I can immediately begin, but I’ve taken the first step.

Whatever your resolutions, add this one – resolve to be happy and centered.

Happy New Year to everyone – those who’ve made comments, those who’ve sent me private emails and those who lurk and read. And don’t forget to eat some black-eyed peas today!