Hi folks, just wanted to let everyone know I’ve not forgotten about the blog this week, but I’ve been really trying to get my writing going, book-wise. So I’ve been getting up early, like usual, about 4-4:30 a.m., and instead of going to the gym every day, have sat at my chromebook and let whatever thoughts I had in my head come out onto paper. It’s very hard to not edit myself all the time, but that’s a skill I am working on shutting down.
The good news is that I have two different projects going. The first is a non-fiction one, self-help, kind of work. Also, a fiction book. Not sure which one will win out and be my first finished project, but we shall see. I’m finding that the more I write, the more I want to write. However, I still find it more difficult to fill up a blank sheet of paper, or white screen, than with my blog editor. With my blog, I find the words sometimes flow much more freely.
So, stay tuned, as I plan to put up a few posts very shortly about some other hikes I’ve done in the past months at Bryce Canyon National Park and at Zion National Park. Also, I have some great photos of Lake Powell I can’t wait to share with you (above is a teaser). I’m so lucky that these places are so easily photographed, as I don’t have any special talent, that’s for sure. In fact, with my cheap phone, sometimes I can’t even see what I am taking a photo of. 🙂
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Chasing Simple Dreams 
The only way to be a writer is to write – but you also have to do things so you have something to write about and give your writing a break. I think writing and hiking make a nice combo… (except most of us also have to work). But eventually the writing will pay off and be your work.
If I can find a way to hike and write and work, I will do it! (So far, I’m trying, with being the weekend warrior where hiking is concerned. Not enough energy left to hike at the end of my work days.) And I’m finding as I write more, I want to continue writing more. It’s helping the creative flow process, I think.
Your photography is great!! I’m glad you are writing a book. When I wrote mine, I was constantly editing for sentence structure, etc. It was really hampering my creative flow. Finally, I did a rough outline of the chapters (topics)I wanted to talk about, then just let whatever came to mind flow onto the paper.I didn’t worry about editing till the very end. This helped me a lot. The writing was the easy part…then there’s the formatting, the book cover, the back cover, which I hired out in Fiverr. I’m so excited for you!! Everyone has a book inside of them. Can’t wait to see yours!!
That is what I am trying to do, Gary, not edit right now, but wait until the end. I think I will be ok with the formatting but then again, I’ve not looked into all those details. How long did it take you to write yours? (I’ve been meaning to ask you.)
It took me probably 6 mos. Terri. I only wrote when I was inspired to…not an everyday affair. Now, the formatting. I chose to offer my book in hardback form and Kindle ebook. So they each have a different formatting. And also the front cover and back cover had to be a certain dpi. Navigating through all that was the toughest for me. I had nobody to teach me, so I had to learn the hard way. Lol. But finally got through it. I haven’t sold many books because I don’t have a website to advertise (maybe someday you’ll help me with that) but being able to say you’re a published author is a great feeling!! Take your time Terri.
Gary, I’ll be happy to put your book on my Helpful Resources page and blog about yours (and Jerry’s, who I also have to add to that page.)
So does this mean that I can come to you for help when I get to the formatting stage?? 🙂
I did publish once, when I was in law school, but I think maybe Me, Myself and I were the only people who read that very boring article on a still more boring statute called CERCLA. 🙂
I’ll help you any way I can Terri. It’s been a while though. I went through about 3 people on Fiverr…1 was in the Ukraine..1 was from Bulgaria..1 was from the US. You have to be very specific when you get some of these people and let them know exactly what you want, but most of them were willing to make revisions. If the format and book cover dimensions and quality isn’t perfect, Kindle rejects your upload. It was very nerve racking to me…but, if I can do it, you surely can too. Wow, you’d blog on my book? That’s very kind of you Terri!! Thanks my friend!!
Looking forward to reading and seeing more!
Thank you, Dawn. You are always so supportive!
Terri, Congratulations on getting started on two books. That’s a big accomplishment. I don’t write fiction (I wish I could because it pays more than non-fiction), but when I write non-fiction, I like to start with a Table of Contents (which I modify a lot as I go along).
Then when I sit down to write, I think about what topic I want to write about and decide which chapter it best fits into.
I also like to go to Fiverr and have a working book cover designed to look at and refer to while I’m writing. That keeps me focused and motivated. About half the time I will end up changing the cover before I publish the book.
Just my two cents worth.
Thanks, Jerry, yeah, I’ve just been going with what my brain feels like spilling out onto the paper for that day, and seeing what comes of it. I’m trying to not self-edit, there will be lots of editing time later on in the process. I don’t think I’m yet at that point, though, where I can even think of picking out a cover for one. The fiction one, definitely not!
Terri
I use designers at Fiverr for most of my covers, but I have also selected covers from http://www.goonwrite.com. You can go to the site and select a category (Romance, Animals, Adventure, etc.) and then look at the different cover designs. That might give you some ideas for covers.
Going with what your brain tells you to write is the way to go. I’m looking forward to reading your books.
Thanks, Jerry. I don’t think I’m at the point of picking out covers yet – the story is still unfolding in my brain! But I will keep this in mind and on my list of resources, for when I get to that point, for sure!
I’ll help you any way I can Terri. It’s been a while though. I went through about 3 people on Fiverr…1 was in the Ukraine..1 was from Bulgaria..1 was from the US. You have to be very specific when you get some of these people and let them know exactly what you want, but most of them were willing to make revisions. If the format and book cover dimensions and quality isn’t perfect, Kindle rejects your upload. It was very nerve racking to me…but, if I can do it, you surely can too. Wow, you’d blog on my book? That’s very kind of you Terri!! Thanks my friend!!