Ready to Edit, Format, and Publish Your Book
Don’t forget: tonight at 2 AM, we lose an hour. But don’t lose sleep over losing sleep; plan ahead and relax. Unless Congress changes things, you’ll get that lost hour back at 2 AM on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
In the mean time …
Write Creatively.
As a 10-year-old, I was having a difficult time explaining something to my dad. When I finished, he said, “Well, you certainly are loquacious.”
Later in life I learned that some writers are loquacious, but we often use the term verbose – using unnecessary words, filler material that does not help the story. Some time ago, I read a book and told my wife, “This author didn’t have much to say, and he spent a long time proving it.”
Writers – including myself – should not waste potential reader’s time with verbosity.
I’m not suggesting that we limit our words. What I am hinting at is to make our words meaningful. It isn’t the multiplicity of words that carry the story; the story is in the content of the words. We need to cut out the chaff, the fluff, the filler material, and let the readers feed on the meat. That takes time and planning.
Mark Twain understood it and said, “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”
President Woodrow Wilson addressed this subject in 31 words when he was asked to give an impromptu, short talk. “If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; If fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.”
Don’t be loquacious … I mean, verbose. Make every word count. And be sure to …
Write Creatively.
You want to write a book, but you don’t know how to start?
You might need to consider personal time management. Separate tasks or projects under “urgent” – “important” – “necessary” – “desired.” This takes insight, planning, preparation, and promotes efficiency. It also greatly reduces time spent in crisis-management.
Decide what’s needed to accomplish that task. Of all those necessities, which ones are more important? Of those, which ones are mandatory?
Of course, you will have decided on a theme, plot, and story line. You will also need pen & paper, typewriter & paper, or a computer. And it would help if you had a place to write, and time to do it.
However, one of the most important aspects of writing is what I call living your story. Authors who mentally enter the story write with a more balanced emotion, and that gives the story life.
So make your plan. Study your topic, ask for and receive proper mentoring, and pick out a good editor. Why? Editors refine and improve our material by correcting a lot of things we writers miss: errors in spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation. They also ensure that ideas flow logically and smoothly.
But you’ll never write the story or book unless you sit down and just start writing. It won’t write itself.
Please keep these thoughts in mind, and …
Write Creatively
P & L Publishing 