Formatting a novel. Three words. It sounds so easy. Let me tell you, it’s not. I’m working on a second book to put out this year but decided I need to get The Boo Hag all ready to go, so I can put it out whenever I want. The only things left are cover art, which I’m working on, and the formatting.

I sat down to do some formatting last night. And it sucked. It was horrible. I spent like three hours doing nothing. I ended up in very nearly the same spot where I started. I looked online for help with formatting, but as you can imagine, Createspace doesn’t offer much help for novel formatting. It makes sense. Why give people guides, when you can charge them hundreds of dollars to do the formatting for them? It was one of those moments when I just wanted to give up.

But I’m pushing through. I am not paying to have someone else format my book for me. It may be terrible for my blood pressure. I may lose hair and sleep, but I’m gonna do it. I got a book from Amazon that is gonna help me get through it. And when The Boo Hag is finally out there, it will be my own.

My Home Alone experience

This has nothing to do with Home Alone. Well, kind of I guess. I just had a Kevin moment today. It was one of these...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5CSBZz3eOI. The one where Kevin is upstairs running around with his hands waving around. See, I've decided to go indie. Self publishing is a viable option these days if you have a good story, and my good ol' Boo Hag is a good story. I've been feeling really good and upbeat about it until today. I really freaked out. I was a young Kevin running around the upstairs landing screaming like a lunatic. It was all in my head, but it was the same feeling nonetheless. I've calmed down since, but it'll come back. I think it's gonna be like this until I get my writing out there. But once it's out there, I'm gonna work my butt off to make sure it gets read. If I don't, I'll have a Kevin experience all over again.

New plan

That's right, I have a new plan. So, I have been getting rejected left and right. I don't even think my book is really being given a chance. I don't blame anyone. What can an agent do? They're inundated with query letters, receiving hundreds every week. It's cool, because it's given me time to take a breath and look around, check out my options. What I'm seeing is that self-publishing is no longer the bad idea it may have been several years ago. Pairing e-books w/ print-on-demand paperbacks is actually a viable option. More and more people are shopping for their books online, so it isn't necessary to be out in the stores; writers who are working hard are able to make a profit while selling their books at considerably lower prices than authors writing for a big publishing house. I'm not saying I won't pursue a publishing contract, but...

Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping. Two words. So simple. If only the actual process could mirror the simplicity.

I went for the second round of Christmas shopping for my wife tonight. She has school in the evening, so I loaded up the kids and headed out to the mall. I went one night last week and made it through a little more than an hour, and one purchase, before heading home to get the girls to sleep. I was determined to make this night different.

Didn't happen. I upped my time at the store by double, but still made the same amount of purchase. Shouldn't the word be purchases, for grammar's sake! Maybe, but I only made one, so I will not add the s. I refuse. It mocks me with its superior air of plurality. No, I didn't make much headway in the gift department, but I wouldn't call the night a total failure.

Can a night be a total failure when it ends with chocolate? I don't think so.

Today is Tuesday.

I thought I had nothing remarkable to write today, but then I remembered...today is Tuesday.

Good News/Bad News

Good News:  I sent out another query letter. Felt really good about this one.

Bad News:  It was rejected in just under six minutes. Okay, it took about a day, but it felt like five minutes and thirty-eight seconds.

Good News:  I am becoming more experienced as a writer. Seasoned if you will. I'm like a juicy steak, marinating in a pan of juicy, oozing ideas.

Bad News:  I'd rather eat a steak than be one. It could be dangerous. I live near several dogs.

Good News:  At least I have this blog and all the comments I get to comfort me.

Bad News:  I haven't told anyone about the blog. So no one's seen it.

Good News:  I found this really cool website called authonomy where authors get together and share in a lively critique of each other's writing.

Bad News:  It's kind of a popularity contestish type thing. "Hey, buddy, I loved your book. How are you not published yet? Now could you take a look at mine? It's currently ranked in the top 25 and could really use your help! By the way, I gave you six stars."

Good News:  I've recently found Parks and Recreation on Netflix. Wonderful.

Let's end on a good note. Hasta la hasta.

November, the end

It's the end of November. What does that mean? Nothing. I just thought it was worth noting. Still plugging away at the book to get it ready for round 2 of submissions. I'm getting closer. Thanksgiving didn't help get me any closer, and with Christmas right around the corner, I really want to get it out there sooner than later, as later could become much later.

In other news, I got really sick the day after Thanksgiving. It was horrible. Some kind of nausea, let me tell ya. I think it was some kind of food poisoning. My own food, tryin' to kill me! Looking forward to that never happening again.