Happy Wednesday to you all! I believe this is the first day I have not had a fire in the woodstove since October. Thank the heavens for spring and I know many of you will join me in giving those thanks.
My new manuscript has been sent to various writer friends for their review. While they do that, I have another friend (love you Lizzy) who is doing some preliminary sketches for a book cover, and I am trying to craft the perfect synopsis and tagline. After that I have query letters to write, videos to film, a website to construct and a re-write of the manuscript based on suggestions to do. Then, and only then, it will be time to publish the ebook and start contacting agents about hard-copy publishing.
How long will it all take? I’m hoping to have the ebook published by the end of April. I think that’s realistic.
And just about the time that is published I’ll begin my month of writing classes at the community center. I am thrilled to be teaching those classes and I hope attendance is huge and spirited.
And then, of course, it will be time to begin my new novel.
So that’s it with my life. How about you? What are you working on currently? Let me know in your comment section if you don’t mind…..and don’t forget that you are always welcome to do a guest blog here on the subject of writing any old time you feel like it. Just send your blog to holland1145@yahoo.com and I’ll give it priority.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Christina Aguilera
And guess what we are talking about today?
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Mentoring….it is a subject near and dear to my heart. With eighteen years of classroom teaching, mentoring comes easy for me and I love every minute spent working with other writers and helping them when I can.
I’ll be writing an article about mentoring in the next week or so, but briefly let me say a few things about it. Finding a mentor is like discovering gold in them thar hills. Learning from the best….picking the brain of one who has already walked your path…that is invaluable for anyone in the arts….heck, in any walk of life.
For we writers, our mentors can be successful writers, former teachers, or just trusted friends. Remember that the goal of finding a mentor is to help you grow in your craft, so choose wisely. Remember also that they are doing you a favor by helping you. Start out with small requests and build a working relationship based on trust and admiration. Remember, also, that the mentor owes you nothing and may not be able to help you all the time….just be grateful for whatever mentoring they are able to give you.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
My mind has turned to nice weather and summertime events…so enjoy this picture and hope that one day soon your area looks like this.
WRITER OF THE DAY
Say hello to a dear friend of mine, Suzanne, or Suzie HQ on HubPages. Suzie has carved out quite a niche for herself with a series of articles about homemade concoctions and remedies and herbal products….she really has done a marvelous job of establishing herself in this field.
Suzie lost her father several months ago, and then found herself in the hospital several weeks ago for a rare ailment, so she hasn’t been writing of late. Go visit her site and see a perfect example of niche writing, and if you know her wish her well while you are there. She could use a little support right about now.
CONTEST OF THE DAY
Welding Power Essay Contests are taking submissions for their current contest which ends May 4th. This is a great opportunity for those of you who like to write political essays and there is no entry fee. Check them out here.
AND THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY
But I’ll see you again on Friday. Until then, I’ve got a ton to do and time stands still for no man, or so I’m told.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
So exciting all the goings on with your novel and seriously can’t wait for it to be released now. As for Spring seems to have forgotten us. Although the predicted snow passed us by, it is 32 and extremely windy here today. Downright freezing and seriously longing for spring and warmer temperatures now. Enjoy your spring though and please send some to us soon. Have a great day again, Bill 🙂
Janine, if I could do that I would do it today. You guys have had a horrible year of weather…it is definitely time for a change. Raining here today, but at least it isn’t cold….of course our rain means that clouds will head east…sorry about that.
Thanks my dear and enjoy your day.
So proud of you. What a journey, huh?
I can’t WAIT to return to some writing projects that I’ve started. Everything had to drop off while I am in these two intensive courses. But, I just finished a 30-page paper about global education. 😛
I share that because I’m so glad to know you and to be on this journey. I don’t have a lot of time to visit blogs these days, but I do like to support my friends from time to time. 🙂
Go you!!
And Cyndi, I greatly appreciate your support. What a journey indeed, and now the stuff I hate to do has to be done…the marketing. Yuck! Congrats on finishing that paper and thank you so much for your friendship.
Wow! you are rocking Bill
You have your whole year planned out, my friend. As I from a distance wish you the best!!
Thank you Ruchira! I’ll need all the best wishes I can get.
You certainly are a busy man, Bill! Setting deadlines for yourself seems to be a huge factor in your success. That’s something I haven’t mastered. 😦 Yet. This morning I’ve been busy going through the jobs on LinkedIn. I applied to two and got turned down for one. Next on my agenda is to formulate a LOI to send out to local businesses whose products or services inspire the writer in me.
I’m doing well in my fiction writing class and have completed this week’s assignment. I’m just waiting to hear back from the professor. I’m also hoping to get chapter 10 of The Gifts of Faith written and published by the end of the weekend. I started doing research yesterday on the sub-plot coming up in 10, so at least the juices are flowing!
It’s actually cold here today. Yesterday was extremely windy.Guess it was in a hurry to give Florida one more blast of cold before sweltering us with heat and humidity.
Sha, I have to stick to deadlines. I have too much I still want to do before I can’t write any longer. 🙂 And I can’t pay for a trip to Europe unless I get the writing done and sell some books. 🙂 Seems pretty straight forward to me. Now all I need is that elusive success.
Good luck with that writing class and your other projects. Thank you for your friendship.
That was a premature declaration of love, but I’ll take it.
Lizzy, the sketches might be premature, but the love isn’t…so there! 🙂
I know I’m not paying you Bill…but you are my mentor:) lol
My days just go all over the place…his week the kids are on Spring break so it was party city here last night – and I just never know what’s up around the corner but never gets boring that way and I have plenty to write about:)
Have a great, productive evening!
Kelly, I remember those days of parenthood, and I only had one. I don’t know how you do it. I’m exhausted just reading about your day. LOL Thanks my dear, and I’ll mentor for free any old day for a friend.
So wonderful Bill to read this update of what is coming your way – such exciting things on the horizon!! Your book – can’t wait! And… teaching too – wow. Really, you deserve all good things 🙂
Christy, you are sweet and I thank you. I could say the same about you with your interviews and notoriety of late. Well done my friend.
Power to the welders!
I have gotten a lot of help and encouragement through the decades from writer peers, and I’ve gratefully and gladly given such help and encouragement as I can, but so far I’ve not had an in-the-flesh mentor. I would very much like that. I’ve been reading Sherwood Anderson’s A STORY TELLER’S STORY (a copy that he inscribed for my father) and as I read I feel a little like he is mentoring me across the generations.
Brian, I understand. I have not had a mentor either and quite frankly I think I have missed out on something special. Thanks for your thoughts.
This was a great post all around. I am not sure what to comment on first without leaving a post of my own! So I will focus on the general topic of mentoring – which is a service I provide and receive daily. Through social organizations and professional networks, I am blessed to both be a mentor to some wonderful individuals who have great potential and am mentored by folks I am honored to learn from each time I am with them. Thank you for bringing to light how much we as writers need to participate in and receive mentoring as well. Great job as always!
And thank you for sharing your experience. It’s one thing for me to say it, but it helps to hear it from someone else as well. Thank you!
Loved this write Bill-bro! So excited for your new book!!
I have one question tho – WHY an agent? I just received the 1st edition of my novel and have begun to ‘flog’ it around. Even with the genre – it’s going well..
For instance, IF Mcnally Robinson (big book store/canada) takes it on AND i print it thru them – they will put it in 2 separate sections – throw an ‘event’ – and pay me 85/15..
I’ve asked some other authors and they’re not pro-agent necessarily..
Now…query letters are another thing. It’s almost time for me to send to pub’s as well, but – not only am i terrified – it’s another brand SPANKING new arena to explore – and i’ve explored my fair share this year – since my mentor began wanting more than just to mentor..
In any case – blahblahblah – i wish you every single success…
if you want to bang heads on tag lines…i’d be honoredxx
Hey Sis, thanks for the visit. As for agents….I’ve read on many occasions that publishers rarely even look at query letters that come from writers…they go into a slush fund and they may or may not get around to them….agents get first notice….I’m still kicking it around and we’ll see.
Way to go, Bill! Sounds like you are on track towards that finish line… what a feeling! 🙂 The marketing side – not so fun, but I’m sure it will all be worth it. I’m planning on having my work-life balance ebook finished by the end of April too. I decided to stop doing extra articles and focus on it because I need the extra time for the research. This book is a lot different to the first one I wrote, but I’m glad I have something to look back on and work at improving into the next book. I’m glad you’re enjoying the spring weather over there, sounds delightful! As for us, we’re enjoying a lovely warm autumn’s day – first sunny day in since Saturday, so all good this side. Have a great one!
Well Mel, congratulations on that work-life ebook…that is wonderful news. I didn’t know you were that far along with it. We both have reason to celebrate.
Thank you as always dear friend.
Good morning Bill, billybuc .
Each of your new writt decreases distance of awareness of you , what you do, how you do and stand for. Many of us are blessed by your presence; certainly mentors are undeniably great assets , making happier those destined to fly higher and safer in their artistic destination. One with mentor thrives…
( Sigh )
Blessed day my friend.
Michael, I would not be the man I am if it were not for a couple mentors who saw something in me worth cultivating. I am a lucky man my friend.
Have a wonderful day, Michael
bill
Bill my friend, indeed you are!
Thank you Michael!
Bill, please delete following if this is inappropriate dragging one meaningless conversation; however your above statement, have produced ” If you never been lucky , you don’t know what luck is.” (mmilec)
Michael, I don’t delete messages from friends. They are valuable pieces of our friendship.
I have been fortunate to have some really great mentors in my life. I also believe that the commuity of writers serves to help one define their skills through feedback and encouragement. Thanks for all the information you provide through this blog, it is very much a mentoring avenue for me.
Dee, I really appreciate that. There are days when I wonder why I’m even wasting my time writing this blog. Then I’ll hear something like that and realize there really is a reason. 🙂
I used to be suggested this web site by way of my cousin. I am not
sure whether or not this submit is written via him as nobody else understand such certain approximately my difficulty.
You are incredible! Thanks!
Thank you, Louisa. I appreciate your visit and your kind words.