Reader.Writer.Reader.Writer.Reader.Writer

Show me the money…eventually

As if life (and social networking) isn’t complicated enough, I wrote my latest post on She Writes rather than here. (I’m a She Writes newbie.) I hope you’ll follow the link in the previous sentence and read it!

Visit She Writes

Shameless Self-Promotion: Writing Your Bio

The Call for Submissions for Bless Your Heart includes a request for a “brief bio.” A few potential contributors have been less than confident about creating this description of themselves, especially those with limited or no publishing credits.

One of my favorite books about writing covers this very topic—-how and why to get over the idea that humility is a virtue, because, when it comes to promoting your writing, it won’t serve you well. The book I’m refering to is:

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights, by Ariel Gore. Now, with no offense intended to Ms. Gore (I’m calling the book a favorite, after all), this isn’t the most well written or edited book you’ll ever read—-I’d guess there was a race to a deadline involved. But the book’s message is right on, and its delivery is as irreverant and entertaining as the lesson is important to learn.

Give it a read, then take another stab at that bio. I’m willing to bet it will be easier, and stronger, the second time around.

A book contract! I like the sound of that!

When I quit working outside the home back in March, I had no idea that before 6 months had passed, I’d be signing a contract with a publisher to compile and edit a book of essays. (Warning: Trite expletives ahead: It was meant to be! It’s a dream come true!)

Besides being one more fact I can point to when trying to convince myself, and when telling others, that, yes, I am a “real” writer (I still need convincing!) it’s fun to have a new project to work on. I thrive on creative projects, especially those that demand organization skills. Kind of weird, since no one would accuse me of being organized at home. I guess organizing bills and throwing away junk mail isn’t as much fun, and doesn’t produce a satisfying end product, like my favorite kinds of projects do.

This book project, an anthology of essays written by parents of kids with ADHD or kids who, for whatever reason, behave in ways that present challenges to their parents, is definitely my kind of project. I didn’t even wait to sign the contract before I got started–I already did a throrough market comparison, wrote the Call for Submissions, and started a long list of venues for placing the Call.

I ran into my former boss, Lynne Carey, the other day, and she’d heard my good news through the workplace grapevine. She congratulated me. “You know how I love having a project!” I said. If anyone on the planet understands my affinity for creative projects, it’s Lynne. I drove her nuts for 9 years with a steady stream of ideas for things I wanted to do, but that ultimately created work for her too.

Well, now it’s Adrienne Ehlert Bashista of DRT Press that has to put up with me! Luckily, I get the feeling Adrienne works a lot like I do. I think we’ll get along just fine.

Watch for more info, and that Call for Submissions, soon!

Read with me; write with me!

Kay