Happy 2014! I am over the moon excited about this year. All of the work done in 2013 just HAS to pay off in 2014. But, to get that mojo going, I am putting in the necessary work to make sure it happens. The one way I absolutely have to do this is by writing again.
Yes. That is correct! I have been rewriting the book and it is going swimmingly. Seriously, the best advice has been to outline after your write. The holes were absolutely glaring. Errors just pop off the page. It is a little embarrassing considering how much I had already put the book out there, but it will be beneficial now. To have a professor of marriage law give me FREE advice and the tools to make major improvements and I don't finish the work? That would be a travesty. That would be such a waste.
I am so inspired and ready to make the changes. There was a LOT of procrastination happening. At first, I did the easy part. I took out a pen and reread the book making notes in the margins and in a notepad. The hard part was actually opening the computer file and starting to make the edits. I like what I had written. I like the funny anecdotes and what not.
Reality hit me: if it doesn't work, don't force it. Delete it, move it, reconsider the way you said it. Just because you said it once doesn't mean it couldn't be said better in another way. I am looking at my work differently. I have to see it as "in progress;" always needing improvement. Others will not love it as much as I do. There is no way. Especially if it is not jumping off the page for the reader.
My only issue now is that I want to rush the process. You know? I want it to be over, like, tomorrow. I want to just say, "Rewrite!....Done!" I need to look at this like the marathon I know it to be. I must be careful in order to not make errors. Errors such as not referencing a point or deleting chunks of text and then forgetting to reenter the notes elsewhere. Just sloppy editing is my part. So, I am just focusing on one day at a time. I will continue to put in the necessary hours. I hope to be done by the beginning of February. Matter of fact, I will set the deadline for Mardi Gras.
Yay! Back to rewriting for me!!
CC
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Monday, January 13, 2014
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
When It Rains, It Pours
Okay - So the meeting with the National Association of Professional Women was by far the most rewarding experience on this roller coaster to date. First off, let me say that the meeting was comprised of some amazing, talented, wonderful people. There was my friend Richard Perque who is running for Traffic Court Judge here in New Orleans, a woman running for the Sheriff of Orleans Parish, a man who work at Saks Fifth Avenue, an Assistant Dean, and so many other professional, experienced people. Even the creators of What the Sleepy Animals Do at the Audubon Zoo were in attendance.
Having the opportunity to discuss my process and progress to date felt great, but the feedback was especially appreciated. Regarding the cover: we all agreed there is room for much improvement. The recommendations were to find a freelance artist to help me. I know I have been trying to do this on the cheap and on the fly, but paying someone to help me with the creative end is more likely the necessary thing. At first, they recommended stock-art (I think that is what it is called). Stock photography. Basically, there are these online services that will sell you a downloadable image. They have lots of them. For anywhere from $50 to $150, you can purchase an image. But I don't know what file size I need or how to make the changes necessary. At least now, I will have a graphic artist who can figure that all out for me while I focus on the content. I also want them to figure out how to get the words exactly down the spine. Again, something I do not feel like dealing with.
This leads to the next best thing out of that meeting. The Assistant Dean recommended I give the book to a Community Property Professor at her institution. I thought that was a great idea, but I actually gave her a free copy of the book and asked her to deliver it. And...she did. She actually dropped it off and the professor actually read it. We scheduled a meeting. It was amazing advice. She said, "It lacks connectivity." In other words, the advice was strong, but if I were to outline the content, I would be see where improvements could be made. She said it is especially true where there is brevity. For example, when I discuss someone being married to another person at the time of the second marriage, that is not a very common problem. It is frankly very rare, but should I gloss over it? Not really. That was an area she thought could be improved.
Her recommendation was to re-outline the entire thing. Absolute genius. Throughout my education, I was taught to outline my content prior to writing, not to write the content and then outline it. That was one item I was able to really jump into and the issues simply pop off the page to me. It is simply a refreshing perspective for the original writer. It has opened my eyes and I feel very rejuvenated!
Let's get this work improved! I simply have to time-manage again. I have to actually take this advice and move forward. It is going to take some work...
CC
Having the opportunity to discuss my process and progress to date felt great, but the feedback was especially appreciated. Regarding the cover: we all agreed there is room for much improvement. The recommendations were to find a freelance artist to help me. I know I have been trying to do this on the cheap and on the fly, but paying someone to help me with the creative end is more likely the necessary thing. At first, they recommended stock-art (I think that is what it is called). Stock photography. Basically, there are these online services that will sell you a downloadable image. They have lots of them. For anywhere from $50 to $150, you can purchase an image. But I don't know what file size I need or how to make the changes necessary. At least now, I will have a graphic artist who can figure that all out for me while I focus on the content. I also want them to figure out how to get the words exactly down the spine. Again, something I do not feel like dealing with.
This leads to the next best thing out of that meeting. The Assistant Dean recommended I give the book to a Community Property Professor at her institution. I thought that was a great idea, but I actually gave her a free copy of the book and asked her to deliver it. And...she did. She actually dropped it off and the professor actually read it. We scheduled a meeting. It was amazing advice. She said, "It lacks connectivity." In other words, the advice was strong, but if I were to outline the content, I would be see where improvements could be made. She said it is especially true where there is brevity. For example, when I discuss someone being married to another person at the time of the second marriage, that is not a very common problem. It is frankly very rare, but should I gloss over it? Not really. That was an area she thought could be improved.
Her recommendation was to re-outline the entire thing. Absolute genius. Throughout my education, I was taught to outline my content prior to writing, not to write the content and then outline it. That was one item I was able to really jump into and the issues simply pop off the page to me. It is simply a refreshing perspective for the original writer. It has opened my eyes and I feel very rejuvenated!
Let's get this work improved! I simply have to time-manage again. I have to actually take this advice and move forward. It is going to take some work...
CC
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