Farewell to Leanneism

On Monday, April 26th I will stop blogging here. I have a bright and shiny new blog on Word Press. My new address there is www.authorleannedyck.wordpress.com That blog will focus on my life and my writing as this one has done. I hope that you will follow me over there.
See you there
Leanne
Visit me: www.oknitting.com

I'm working...

I'm working on the next book in the Maynely A Mystery series -- MAYNELY HIDDEN.
I finished writing two other books before setting sail on the good ship MAYNELY HIDDEN. One of these other books was written, edited and submitted in one month -- I was inspired. The other, after four years of labour, was finally finished and submitted this month. These experiences left me feeling invincible. I was writer hear me roar.
Then, then I meet MAYNELY HIDDEN. Then I panicked and my pen stopped moving.
Why?
I'm not sure but I think it may have been pressure.
You see it seems that everyone I have spoken to lately about my writing has loved MAYNELY A MYSTERY. Their words still sing in my ear. I love praise.
However, like eating too much chocolate hearing too much praise made me sick. I began to panic. I want you to enjoy MAYNELY HIDDEN just as much as you had enjoyed MAYNELY A MYSTERY. ...But what if I couldn't pull it off?
It has always surprised me that some of my most favourite authors only published one book. I'm not surprised any longer. Now I know one of the possible reasons why.
So that was my dilemma.
What was the solution?
Freewriting.
I just wrote -- blindly, fearlessly. I wrote. I didn't worry about the merit of my words. I wrote.
Have you heard of this technique.
Today on The Book Designer blog Joel Friedlander has a blog entry entitled: Unleash Your Creativity Now: How to Freewrite
It's a good article you should read it. Here's the link: http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/04/unleash-your-creativity-now-how-to-freeewrite/#more-5757
So if you are blocked try freewriting. It works.
Oh, yeah and please don't forget this Saturday, April 24th starting at 1 pm two fellow Mayne Island authors and I will be giving book readings at Overleaf Cafe and Bookstore (1105 Pandora) Victoria, BC
Leanne
Visit me: www.oknitting.com

Self-publishing: a different point of view

I found an interesting blog entry. Please read it and then come back here for my two cents, thank you...
http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/

To this I say...
So self-published books are the only ones with errors...really?
So the only reason why self-published authors self-publish is because no publisher will publish them...really?
Well, there are other reasons to self-publish. Here are mine...
I had a clear vision of my book -- the cover, the title, the content
I knew my target market and how to reach them
I wanted to educate myself regarding the publishing industry
Could I build a readership? I wanted to discover the answer to this question.
I wanted to take a risk on myself before I asked someone else to.

Oh, yes, Becky and Vanessa don't worry I have read the title of your blog entry. I have read it and will respect your wishes.
Leanne
Visit me: www.oknitting.com

Progress on my ebook project

I found a eprinter: http://www.smashwords.com/ Check them out they look really cool. I hope things work as smoothly as they look like they do. Please remember that I'm not computer savvy. So this could be a steep learning curve for me.

I have a publication deadline: Monday, May 31th. That's right, I hope to have it availalbe by next month. So you know where I'm going to be doing for most of the day.

In the ebook you will find not only the best of Novelty Yarn the audio book but also some new pieces.

If you read on -- I'll write on

Leanne

Visit me: www.oknitting.com

T.D. Christopher on his way

I received a link to a web site address in my email inbox this morning.
"Hmm, this is from Toby Snelgrove, I wonder what it is?" I thought.
I click on the link
I was impressed. I was impressed not only with Toby's fine writing voice but also because of the subject. The title of Toby's article is: From the Pits to the Pinnacle: TD Christopher Sings at the Olympics
http://www.metroblenznewssquad.com/category/tobysnelgrove
Please have a read and tell me what you think.
The sun is always shining -- somewhere,
Leanne
Visit me: www.oknitting.com

Prefectionism vs. Progress: what I think

I just visited the Writer's Digest blog: There Are No Rules.
http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules
Jane Friedman is leading an interesting discussion entitled: Perfectionism vs. Progress: When is Good Good Enough?
Here's what I said...
Even though I would never call myself a perfectionist, I must admit that I have cringed when I have read some of my writing that is years, months, or even days old.
"How could I have ever submitted or posted that?" I've said.
What I've come to understand is that it is a fair representation of who I was a writer at that time.
I wasn't born a talented writer. I still have much to learn. Why not embrace the journey.
And as for the big "R" (rejection), I have recently learnt something that takes the sting out -- mass submissions. When you submit more than one piece at a time the odds that one will be positively received increases. An added bonus, you may even forget that you submitted a manuscript for publication. Then its acceptance comes as a pleasant surprise. Try it. It works.

I encourage you to join the discussion.
Leanne
Visit me: www.oknitting.com