 "I don't know what to do." That's what Barbie wrote when she contacted me about her book. She'd been working on her memoir for years. The writing was done and she wanted to move forward, to publish the book, but she had so many questions. Should she find someone to edit the book? Where could she get a cover design? And what about the inside? She had no idea where to begin. She's not alone. Writing a book is a huge accomplishment, getting it into book form and publishing it is another. Together we reviewed her manuscript, edited and organized what she'd written, talked about titles, cover designs ... and how and where to get it published. As we worked through the project, Barbie often thanked me for my guidance and told me she was learning so much about the process. I was learning, too. Learning about how hard it can be for writers to share their work, to hand it over and trust things will work out. Last month after Barbie's book was published, she sent me a note: "Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have been a dream to work with. I am so happy with my book. I could NEVER have done with out you." Do you have a book tucked in a drawer ... waiting to be published?
Do you have an idea for a book but aren't sure where to start? I can help. Especially with things like ...
 So there's this dog up the street; a menacing, bothersome dog. It came at me on Sunday, full bark. It was one more run-in with a dog that reminded me of another run-in, so I decided to write about it. After getting it all down, it was too long, so I edited what I'd written. And edited some more. But there was still one bit that wasn't right. Does that happen with your writing? You have too many (or too few) words, but still struggle to find the right ones? Well, I kept at it until I found the one word that would fix it all: dumbfounded. Here's the story. I'm sharing it because it's ridiculous and good for a laugh if you need one. ----- Years ago I was walking with Agatha, my long-earred, droopy-eyed, red-and-white basset hound. It was early morning and I decided to mix things up and walk through a neighborhood across the avenue. We were two blocks in when a German shepherd bolted from the side of a one-story house on the corner. Now Agatha was a sweet, easy-going dog and she merely raised her head, looked at the German shepherd, and continued on her way. I should have followed her lead, but that dog just kept barking and circling, getting closer and closer, and it was making me nervous. And then I heard a voice. A woman's voice coming from inside the house. It was hard to make sense of it all, but there she was, peering out from a six-inch gap at the bottom of an open window. With her head tilted to the side and wedged in the opening, she spoke again. "Ask him if he wants a bath," she said. "What?" I asked (though I was fairly certain I heard what she said). "Ask him if he wants a bath," she said again. Dumbfounded, but feeling a bit desperate, I did what she said. Turning to the circling German shepherd I said, "Do you want a bath?" Apparently not. That dog stopped barking, dropped his head, tucked his tail, and turned back toward the house. The gap in the window closed. ------ Dumbfounded. Until I found that one word, I was struggling with the story. I tried writing about how confused I was, how I wasn't sure about what I was hearing ... blah, blah, blah. Delete. So I kept at it. Walked away a few times. Rewrote what I had written. And did it all again. Writing is hard for all of us because writing is hard. Do you sometimes struggle with writing? I can help. Especially with things like ...
  Spelling is complicated ... and easier than ever. Spell-check is a great tool, even if it's always correcting me, fixing my mistakes, and schooling me on the proper spelling of this word ... and that one.
But, despite its know-all application, I know it's not perfect. Do the spell-check double check Spell-check catches a lot, but a regular check on spell-check is good practice. Proofread your writing Your book, ebooks, and essays, all need proofing before being shared. Give your writing (no matter the format) a good review; eyeballs on each and every word. Read your writing out loud When you've got your final draft, read your writing out loud. It's one of the best ways to catch awkward phrases and confusing sentences. This simple graphic was designed to help you visualize three words that spell-check, and your memory bank, might struggle with: their, they're, and there. If you need help with words, let's exchange a few. Maybe I can help. I write words, edit words, and arrange words, online and on paper. Helping you look like the professional you are. Call 207-252-9757 today, or write. p.s. I did the spell-check double check on this email and my fingers are crossed I didn't miss anything. But let me know if I did. |
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