2017 is shaping up to be a very busy year – I hope I can keep up! My first picture book is slated for publication by Clear Fork Press this August. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. I’m sure other soon to be published authors feel the same way. I’m trying to keep writing new work or revising others but my focus is not cooperating.
In an effort to re-focus myself, this weekend I spent time organizing. I started by reviewing my other manuscripts. I keep everything I’m working on in hard copy, old fashioned I know but it works for me. Any critique group notes are filed with those manuscripts. That makes it easy for me to look back if I’ve left the manuscript and notes to cook a little. I looked at all of them and selected two that I want to begin revising. Two should be enough to keep me in the writing mode.
Then I moved on to planning marketing for the Au
gust 2017 book release. It’s only seven months away. Granted, I started thinking about this before I had even submitted the manuscript but I never dreamed I’d be really doing it! I’ve not gotten very far, but I recognized that it is not something that I can just set a couple hours at and let it grow. This will need my attention.
Super Bowl Sunday is usually busy and we were supposed to attend a party, but that was canceled at the last minute and I quickly looked to fill up that time slot with productive writing time. I typed up notes for a new story idea that I had worked out the day before. It seemed to flow so well, I kept going and actually got my first draft on paper too! That was exciting. I researched upcoming conferences and organized some library books that I have to return. I’ve not had that much momentum for a story in a long time. Creativity is very recognizable if you stop to listen to it.
I’m not that much of a fan for either of the two teams playing so I have no problem sitting here, away from the T.V. with my notes, my laptop, and my thoughts. If only there were more days like this. Getting back to work… Go, Team(s)!
Pam Jones-Nill - Children's Author 