I’ll be away for the holidays, maybe popping in once or twice late next week, maybe not. In any event, happy holidays to you and your loved ones, and as the kids at my grade school used to delight in saying to each other at the end of December, “See you next year!”
*****
I have been revising my novel in progress on and off since late September. This is (I hope) the final revision before sending my baby out into the world, so it’s not the time to say, “Oh, I’ll fix this later.” Later is NOW.
You may guess where this is going…there are several things to fix that I didn’t “feel like” fixing earlier, because they were too hard. There are things to fix that I didn’t know needed fixing until I got to the end of the manuscript and had the whole story (finally!) out in front of me. Some things I thought were fine until my fabulous writing group kindly informed me that, no, actually I was mistaken to think those things were fine; those things need serious fixing!
Basically, what I’m saying is that as much as I prefer revision to the empty terror of the first draft where I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, this revision right now is actually quite hard for me. It’s not a matter of wide swathes of change—new scenes, new characters, massive deletions, joyful red pen everywhere. Rather, it’s that type of revision where you know you need to come up with one or two sentences that are absolutely perfectly written, to fit exactly there between these two paragraphs, to convey a nuance to a character’s personality as they illustrate an important thematic thread, move the plot forward, AND set up things for the big reconciliation scene two chapters ahead. Hard, hard, hard. There are moments when I think I’d rather be digging ditches.
During those difficult moments, I find that the first place I want to turn is the refrigerator or the cupboard where sometimes there are potato chips. If there’s nothing there, I head to the internet (yes, those articles about Britney’s pregnant sister are very important). I have even been known to jump at the sound of the dryer dinging because folding laundry is preferable to the task at hand. Sick, sick, sick. But, perhaps not entirely unfamiliar to your “process.”
So it’s a struggle to stay focused, especially since there are many other activities beckoning at this time of year: cookies won’t bake themselves. Appropriate gifts for loved ones don’t select themselves (or pay for themselves either, come to think of it).
In the midst of all this internal and external distraction, I was working on a particularly troubling chapter that needed a great deal of work—I’m hoping it might be safe to say that this is the chapter that required the MOST work, but we’ll see. For several days, I tried to squeeze in my work around cookies, laundry, etc., figuring some writing is better than none (true). But it wasn’t going well, and finally I buckled down. I went to the library, which is the most intense place around here—everyone there is buried in their work; it’s hard even to get a carrel, and the place is spookily silent. It’s the kind of place where you’re embarrassed to get up after sitting at your desk for two hours straight because the person directly across from you hasn’t left their seat in all that time and had been sitting there before you arrived. So, needless to say, I focused on my work in the library. (I previously wrote about this very intense library here.)
The next day I turned off the internet for as long as I could stand it.
Then I let the laundry pile up. I didn’t jump to answer emails. I put off going to the post office to mail my packages. As much as possible, during my writing time, I tried to immerse myself in my hard chapter. I was disciplined.
My reward? Because I was much more present in the work, thinking about it and not letting myself get distracted with either the tediousness or the joy of daily life, I woke up one morning with the dialogue in my head for the most difficult part of the chapter—I jumped up and wrote it all down, several pages, just letting the words flow, deciding to worry later about making them perfect.
Later that day, I sat down and looked over my “vision.” It wasn’t perfect, but it was something I could move forward on. I worked on it that afternoon, fixing it, enhancing it, plugging it into the chapter. I made it “perfect.”
I’m not sure I believe in visions. But I do believe in the kind of discipline where when you show up and take your work seriously, your subconscious will take pity on you and do the heavy lifting: “Hey, dummy, see how you can get the father to have to make an impossible choice if he doesn’t go to the hospital first? Uh, isn’t that one of the important themes of your book? How about pulling that forward? Duh!” (I hope your subconscious is less surly than mine.)
And not only do I believe in that, I rely on it. You will figure it out, you will get through the hard parts, you will come up with those two perfect sentences that do everything you want and more. You will that is, if you keep working.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Learn to Publicize Your Book
Here’s an upcoming, not-to-be-missed event you MUST mark on your calendar right now. Not that I’m bossy or anything (!), but I would be distressed if you missed this great opportunity to learn from two experts how to send your book out into the world properly. And if your book isn’t quite ready…no time like the present to learn what to expect and how to lay the groundwork for a successful launch.
Remember, it’s not enough just to write the darn things anymore…we also have to market them! The reclusive Salinger or Pynchon thing just doesn’t cut it these days.
"Promotion and Publicity"
Sponsored by Women’s National Book Association, DC Chapter
Monday, January 14, 2008
6:30 PM—Refreshments & Networking
7:00 PM—Program
Charles Sumner School
1201 Seventeenth Street, NW
Washington, D.C.
Admission to programs is free for members, $10 for non-members/guests.
If I have a book coming out in June 2008, what would be my time frame for setting up promotions? If I wanted to do some readings, how would I set that up? If I wanted to offer my book at certain events, who would I approach? How would I get on the radio? How do I get my book reviewed? How do I get it into libraries? What other venues should I be considering? What will all that cost me and will I have to quit my job to do it? Do I need a website? What if I need help setting one up, creating links, etc.? How do I get noticed by influential bloggers? If I post excerpts on a website how do I protect them from copyright violation (theft)?
Join us for the answers to these questions and more as the Washington, DC, chapter of the Women's National Book Association presents an informational session on "Promotion and Publicity" for authors, with independent publicists Lauren Cerand and Imal Wagner.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Lauren Cerand (www.laurencerand.com) is an independent public relations representative and consultant in New York. Her clients are a purposefully eclectic mix of creative professionals, and she specializes in generating initial buzz and building sustained attention for projects and individuals. She is often asked to share her innovative perspective on publicity and has spoken to audiences at Book Promotion 101, Mystery Writers of America, NYU's Center for Publishing, The (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest, Penguin UK, Virginia Festival of the Book, Word of Mouth, Women's National Book Association, and the 20th Annual Independent and Small Press Book Fair (December 2007). In 2004, The Village Voice included her in its "Best of New York" issue.
She is the vice chair of the board of directors of Girls Write Now, "a nonprofit volunteer mentoring organization that has been matching bright, creative teenage girls from New York City's public high schools with professional women writers in the community since 1998." A Cornell University graduate, Lauren compiles "The Smart Set," a weekly round-up of cultural happenings for www.MaudNewton.com, and writes about art, politics and style at www.LuxLotus.com.
Imal Wagner (www.imalwagner.com) provides advanced public relation, marketing and media placement services to authors, web sites, business entrepreneurs, speakers, and entertainers. Imal Wagner has special skills in knowing how and where to promote her clients and the extraordinary ability to forge long-lasting relationships with editors and producers. Her unique capabilities and relentless determination have resulted in an impressive client list of N.Y Times best-selling authors, up-and-coming performers and trailblazing business leaders. She works with people who have authored books in the areas of self-help, how-to, business, finance and family/children's issues. Imal creates market positioning that showcases her clients in the print and broadcast media where influential consumers will pick up the buzz and keep it going. She places clients on radio and TV, in magazines, newspapers and on the internet. She has placed clients on Fox News Channel, The Neil Cavuto Show, Reuters, in all the top 25 radio markets, NY Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, NY Post, Investors Business Daily, National Geographic Adventure, People Magazine, Entrepreneur, The Financial Times and in regional and community papers throughout the country.
ABOUT THE WNBA: The Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) is a nonprofit professional association of women and men who work with and value books. The organization was founded in 1917. The Washington, DC, chapter was established in 1978. WNBA, whose purposes are both educational and charitable, promotes reading and literacy, and supports the role of women in the community of the book. A volunteer board of directors manages chapter business and coordinates chapter activities.
Our members include publishers, writers, editors, librarians, booksellers, agents, designers, illustrators, marketing and promotions professionals, book and magazine producers, teachers, and others.
The Washington, DC, chapter hosts monthly events for members and other professionals in publishing and allied fields. Held between September and May, our events include networking brunches, panel discussions and workshops. Programs address topics of interest to our members, from the craft of writing and the business of publishing to professional development, freelancing, and literacy promotion. For more information go here.
Remember, it’s not enough just to write the darn things anymore…we also have to market them! The reclusive Salinger or Pynchon thing just doesn’t cut it these days.
"Promotion and Publicity"
Sponsored by Women’s National Book Association, DC Chapter
Monday, January 14, 2008
6:30 PM—Refreshments & Networking
7:00 PM—Program
Charles Sumner School
1201 Seventeenth Street, NW
Washington, D.C.
Admission to programs is free for members, $10 for non-members/guests.
If I have a book coming out in June 2008, what would be my time frame for setting up promotions? If I wanted to do some readings, how would I set that up? If I wanted to offer my book at certain events, who would I approach? How would I get on the radio? How do I get my book reviewed? How do I get it into libraries? What other venues should I be considering? What will all that cost me and will I have to quit my job to do it? Do I need a website? What if I need help setting one up, creating links, etc.? How do I get noticed by influential bloggers? If I post excerpts on a website how do I protect them from copyright violation (theft)?
Join us for the answers to these questions and more as the Washington, DC, chapter of the Women's National Book Association presents an informational session on "Promotion and Publicity" for authors, with independent publicists Lauren Cerand and Imal Wagner.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Lauren Cerand (www.laurencerand.com) is an independent public relations representative and consultant in New York. Her clients are a purposefully eclectic mix of creative professionals, and she specializes in generating initial buzz and building sustained attention for projects and individuals. She is often asked to share her innovative perspective on publicity and has spoken to audiences at Book Promotion 101, Mystery Writers of America, NYU's Center for Publishing, The (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest, Penguin UK, Virginia Festival of the Book, Word of Mouth, Women's National Book Association, and the 20th Annual Independent and Small Press Book Fair (December 2007). In 2004, The Village Voice included her in its "Best of New York" issue.
She is the vice chair of the board of directors of Girls Write Now, "a nonprofit volunteer mentoring organization that has been matching bright, creative teenage girls from New York City's public high schools with professional women writers in the community since 1998." A Cornell University graduate, Lauren compiles "The Smart Set," a weekly round-up of cultural happenings for www.MaudNewton.com, and writes about art, politics and style at www.LuxLotus.com.
Imal Wagner (www.imalwagner.com) provides advanced public relation, marketing and media placement services to authors, web sites, business entrepreneurs, speakers, and entertainers. Imal Wagner has special skills in knowing how and where to promote her clients and the extraordinary ability to forge long-lasting relationships with editors and producers. Her unique capabilities and relentless determination have resulted in an impressive client list of N.Y Times best-selling authors, up-and-coming performers and trailblazing business leaders. She works with people who have authored books in the areas of self-help, how-to, business, finance and family/children's issues. Imal creates market positioning that showcases her clients in the print and broadcast media where influential consumers will pick up the buzz and keep it going. She places clients on radio and TV, in magazines, newspapers and on the internet. She has placed clients on Fox News Channel, The Neil Cavuto Show, Reuters, in all the top 25 radio markets, NY Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, NY Post, Investors Business Daily, National Geographic Adventure, People Magazine, Entrepreneur, The Financial Times and in regional and community papers throughout the country.
ABOUT THE WNBA: The Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) is a nonprofit professional association of women and men who work with and value books. The organization was founded in 1917. The Washington, DC, chapter was established in 1978. WNBA, whose purposes are both educational and charitable, promotes reading and literacy, and supports the role of women in the community of the book. A volunteer board of directors manages chapter business and coordinates chapter activities.
Our members include publishers, writers, editors, librarians, booksellers, agents, designers, illustrators, marketing and promotions professionals, book and magazine producers, teachers, and others.
The Washington, DC, chapter hosts monthly events for members and other professionals in publishing and allied fields. Held between September and May, our events include networking brunches, panel discussions and workshops. Programs address topics of interest to our members, from the craft of writing and the business of publishing to professional development, freelancing, and literacy promotion. For more information go here.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
"What Is to Give Light Must Endure Burning"*
The Sun Magazine is one of my favorite magazines, worth every penny of the subscription fee, and I’m pleased to pass along news that the web site offers a wonderful new feature, “Favorites from the Archives,” in which editors and contributors have selected pieces from the past that they found to be especially memorable. Something new will be posted each month, so this is a good site to bookmark.
I liked the essay “On Being Unable to Breathe,” by Stephen T. Butterfield who explores ways of coming to an understanding of chronic disease that do not revolve around the “think happy thoughts” school of pop psychology. This essay was first published in 1988…sadly, the bio note refers to Mr. Butterfield in the past tense. How fortunate we are that this remarkable essay has come to light again.
Here’s a brief excerpt:
“We have little choice about anything, moving around as we do in a sleepy, anxious cloud of habit and conditioned response. When we slow down, that cloud settles, finally, and the details hidden within it begin to emerge with startling precision. I hold the kettle to the faucet; hear the water swirl in the bottom; place it on the stove, the little drops sizzling away from the hot grill; stare out the window at the vortex of snow down in the valley, swirling over the trees. Finally, the steam whistles through the spout and I pour a cup of tea. My thoughts flutter and swirl like water, like the snow. Having to slow down begins to seem less like a disability and more and more like a precious gift.
“But I cannot delude myself that this is some kind of accomplishment, for I would dearly love to leap, like my cat, from the stairs to the floor; I would love to dance, run like a horse across the yard, play football, go out for a pass. The fact that slowing down is choiceless becomes part of the gift: taking credit for things just keeps stirring up that cloud. Since I cannot take credit, what really matters is the scent of the tea. The only choice we have anyway is to wake up.”
*This quotation, by Viktor Frankl, seems to serve as the magazine’s mission statement.
I liked the essay “On Being Unable to Breathe,” by Stephen T. Butterfield who explores ways of coming to an understanding of chronic disease that do not revolve around the “think happy thoughts” school of pop psychology. This essay was first published in 1988…sadly, the bio note refers to Mr. Butterfield in the past tense. How fortunate we are that this remarkable essay has come to light again.
Here’s a brief excerpt:
“We have little choice about anything, moving around as we do in a sleepy, anxious cloud of habit and conditioned response. When we slow down, that cloud settles, finally, and the details hidden within it begin to emerge with startling precision. I hold the kettle to the faucet; hear the water swirl in the bottom; place it on the stove, the little drops sizzling away from the hot grill; stare out the window at the vortex of snow down in the valley, swirling over the trees. Finally, the steam whistles through the spout and I pour a cup of tea. My thoughts flutter and swirl like water, like the snow. Having to slow down begins to seem less like a disability and more and more like a precious gift.
“But I cannot delude myself that this is some kind of accomplishment, for I would dearly love to leap, like my cat, from the stairs to the floor; I would love to dance, run like a horse across the yard, play football, go out for a pass. The fact that slowing down is choiceless becomes part of the gift: taking credit for things just keeps stirring up that cloud. Since I cannot take credit, what really matters is the scent of the tea. The only choice we have anyway is to wake up.”
*This quotation, by Viktor Frankl, seems to serve as the magazine’s mission statement.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Get Up, Stand Up
This isn’t an event or agency I’m familiar with, but trusted source Anna Leahy sent this along and I’m intrigued. Ha—it’s certainly not as though Congress forks over money hand over fist for the arts…wouldn't we all rather see a theatre or literary journal funded than another “bridge to nowhere”?
National Arts Advocacy Day
Capital Hilton Hotel
Washington, DC
March 31–April 1, 2008
The 21st annual Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event that brings together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts.
LEARN how to lobby congress.
NETWORK with other attendees from your state and across the country.
BE HEARD by your members of Congress when you visit them to make the case for the arts and arts education.
Advocacy Day Highlights
March 31: 21st Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public PolicyDaniel Pink is a best-selling author and an expert on innovation, competition, and the changing world of work.
March 31: Emerging Arts Leaders Networking Reception
April 1: Congressional Arts Breakfast
Hear from members of Congress and celebrity guests. ~~ View the schedule for all the activities. ~~ Register and book your hotel today!
This past year, the first hearing in 12 years dedicated to the importance of investing in the arts was held on Arts Advocacy Day including testimony by Wynton Marsalis. Your involvement does make an impact.
For more information about this program or any Americans for the Arts programs and services, please contact us by e-mail or call us at 202.371.2830 or check the web site.
National Arts Advocacy Day
Capital Hilton Hotel
Washington, DC
March 31–April 1, 2008
The 21st annual Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event that brings together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts.
LEARN how to lobby congress.
NETWORK with other attendees from your state and across the country.
BE HEARD by your members of Congress when you visit them to make the case for the arts and arts education.
Advocacy Day Highlights
March 31: 21st Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public PolicyDaniel Pink is a best-selling author and an expert on innovation, competition, and the changing world of work.
March 31: Emerging Arts Leaders Networking Reception
April 1: Congressional Arts Breakfast
Hear from members of Congress and celebrity guests. ~~ View the schedule for all the activities. ~~ Register and book your hotel today!
This past year, the first hearing in 12 years dedicated to the importance of investing in the arts was held on Arts Advocacy Day including testimony by Wynton Marsalis. Your involvement does make an impact.
For more information about this program or any Americans for the Arts programs and services, please contact us by e-mail or call us at 202.371.2830 or check the web site.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Guest in Progress: Dan Ryan
I met Dan Ryan when he took a couple of my workshops at the Writer’s Center; we immediately hit it off because he, too, is from Iowa. (If you need a refresher on why people from Iowa are so special, please go listen to the soundtrack from The Music Man.)
I also admired his ambitious reading: during one workshop he noted that he was a tremendous Anthony Trollope fan. This is an author not so much in favor today—not sure why; I remember his work as enjoyable—he was the Joyce Carol Oates of his time, in terms of productivity; check out the lengthy list of novels at the end of this post.
In the next workshop, Dan had decided to read James Joyce’s Ulysses…always a noble undertaking. I needed a college class to force me into it (with a forgiving syllabus that let us skip one or two chapters). And, okay…secret confession: Cliff’s notes to get through some of the more challenging parts. (Lest I sound too much of a slacker, in my defense, the summer before I was to take that class, I did read Homer’s Odyssey on my own so I could more fully appreciate Ulysses.)
Back to Dan—along with this ambitious reading schedule, he has finished a draft of the fascinating coming-of-age novel that he was working on back then, and lately he’s been trying his hand at short stories. As with the reading—Dan is always pushing ahead into new territory, which I very much admire.
Here is his amusing piece on a more technical matter of interest to writers: a computer program that helps with formatting issues. Speaking for myself, I need all the help I can get when it comes to computer issues…maybe this will help me get the pages numbers on my manuscript into the same font as the text!
A few years ago I decided I wanted to write the Great American Novel. On that glorious first day when I started my manuscript, I opened Microsoft Word and started typing Great Words of Wisdom. Immediately I started to wonder about format. What should be the size of the margins? Should it be double-spaced? What should be on each page’s header and footer? How should chapters be formatted?
I found the answers on the Internet, and made the necessary changes to my Microsoft Word document. But as I did so, I thought to myself, “This isn’t the first time someone has formatted a manuscript. Surely somebody has created a Microsoft Word template that has all these settings configured so I don’t have to do it each time.”
A Microsoft Word template is a file that specifies how a document should be formatted. When you open Microsoft Word and start typing, behind the scenes you are using a template. The default template is the psychologically-charged name “Normal.dot.” But Microsoft Word allows you to create your own custom template to define your own settings for options such as spacing and margin. Once you have a custom template, you can create documents from it.
The problem with templates is that they’re difficult to understand. Indeed, most people don’t know they exist. Below are the typical steps people use to format their documents:
1. Spend a bunch of time getting the format correct for your first masterpiece.
2. Create a copy of Masterpiece.doc. (ThisTimeItsReallyAMasterpiece.doc)
3. Delete everything in ThisTimeItsReallyAMasterpiece.doc.
4. Curse the computer gods that you’ve accidentally deleted much of the formatting
Fortunately there’s a better way. ProsePro from ScriptWizard ($49, available for PCs only) makes it easy to create a document that conforms to Writers Market specifications with the push of a button.
I’ve been using ProsePro for over three years and am very happy with it. With ProsePro I spend less time fighting with Microsoft Word. This is particularly true at two crucial points of the writing process: the beginning and the end.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m creating a document for the first time, I’m brimming with all sorts of wonderful ideas. The last thing I want to do is kill that creative energy trying to remember what the header is supposed to look like (Name/Title or Title/Name?)
Maybe you blow off all that formatting nonsense until your manuscript is done and you’re ready to send your masterpiece out to the world. Now all of a sudden your darling manuscript needs to look pretty. At this point, you’re completely stressed out and not thinking clearly. Maybe you’ll format everything correctly or maybe you won’t. Wouldn’t you rather rely on a product written by people who has thought about document formatting a heck of a lot more than you’ll ever care to?
One feature I particularly like is that it automatically puts the page number and word count on the cover page. I use this feature to monitor my progress while I’m writing.
ProsePro isn’t perfect and has a few annoying bugs. Given the amount of capability provided, I think the product should cost only $19. Perhaps the $49 price tag reflects the fact that the audience for this product is extremely small and, to my knowledge, there aren’t any competitors.
Should you buy it? That depends on how much money is in your writing budget. One thing to consider is that you’ll actually use it every time you write. How often can you say that about a writing-related purchase?
About: Dan Ryan is an aspiring writer who writes software for a living. He lives in Cheverly, MD. (Also, check out Dan’s previous help on the blog when I briefly became obsessed with “the language of corn.”)
I also admired his ambitious reading: during one workshop he noted that he was a tremendous Anthony Trollope fan. This is an author not so much in favor today—not sure why; I remember his work as enjoyable—he was the Joyce Carol Oates of his time, in terms of productivity; check out the lengthy list of novels at the end of this post.
In the next workshop, Dan had decided to read James Joyce’s Ulysses…always a noble undertaking. I needed a college class to force me into it (with a forgiving syllabus that let us skip one or two chapters). And, okay…secret confession: Cliff’s notes to get through some of the more challenging parts. (Lest I sound too much of a slacker, in my defense, the summer before I was to take that class, I did read Homer’s Odyssey on my own so I could more fully appreciate Ulysses.)
Back to Dan—along with this ambitious reading schedule, he has finished a draft of the fascinating coming-of-age novel that he was working on back then, and lately he’s been trying his hand at short stories. As with the reading—Dan is always pushing ahead into new territory, which I very much admire.
Here is his amusing piece on a more technical matter of interest to writers: a computer program that helps with formatting issues. Speaking for myself, I need all the help I can get when it comes to computer issues…maybe this will help me get the pages numbers on my manuscript into the same font as the text!
A few years ago I decided I wanted to write the Great American Novel. On that glorious first day when I started my manuscript, I opened Microsoft Word and started typing Great Words of Wisdom. Immediately I started to wonder about format. What should be the size of the margins? Should it be double-spaced? What should be on each page’s header and footer? How should chapters be formatted?
I found the answers on the Internet, and made the necessary changes to my Microsoft Word document. But as I did so, I thought to myself, “This isn’t the first time someone has formatted a manuscript. Surely somebody has created a Microsoft Word template that has all these settings configured so I don’t have to do it each time.”
A Microsoft Word template is a file that specifies how a document should be formatted. When you open Microsoft Word and start typing, behind the scenes you are using a template. The default template is the psychologically-charged name “Normal.dot.” But Microsoft Word allows you to create your own custom template to define your own settings for options such as spacing and margin. Once you have a custom template, you can create documents from it.
The problem with templates is that they’re difficult to understand. Indeed, most people don’t know they exist. Below are the typical steps people use to format their documents:
1. Spend a bunch of time getting the format correct for your first masterpiece.
2. Create a copy of Masterpiece.doc. (ThisTimeItsReallyAMasterpiece.doc)
3. Delete everything in ThisTimeItsReallyAMasterpiece.doc.
4. Curse the computer gods that you’ve accidentally deleted much of the formatting
Fortunately there’s a better way. ProsePro from ScriptWizard ($49, available for PCs only) makes it easy to create a document that conforms to Writers Market specifications with the push of a button.
I’ve been using ProsePro for over three years and am very happy with it. With ProsePro I spend less time fighting with Microsoft Word. This is particularly true at two crucial points of the writing process: the beginning and the end.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m creating a document for the first time, I’m brimming with all sorts of wonderful ideas. The last thing I want to do is kill that creative energy trying to remember what the header is supposed to look like (Name/Title or Title/Name?)
Maybe you blow off all that formatting nonsense until your manuscript is done and you’re ready to send your masterpiece out to the world. Now all of a sudden your darling manuscript needs to look pretty. At this point, you’re completely stressed out and not thinking clearly. Maybe you’ll format everything correctly or maybe you won’t. Wouldn’t you rather rely on a product written by people who has thought about document formatting a heck of a lot more than you’ll ever care to?
One feature I particularly like is that it automatically puts the page number and word count on the cover page. I use this feature to monitor my progress while I’m writing.
ProsePro isn’t perfect and has a few annoying bugs. Given the amount of capability provided, I think the product should cost only $19. Perhaps the $49 price tag reflects the fact that the audience for this product is extremely small and, to my knowledge, there aren’t any competitors.
Should you buy it? That depends on how much money is in your writing budget. One thing to consider is that you’ll actually use it every time you write. How often can you say that about a writing-related purchase?
About: Dan Ryan is an aspiring writer who writes software for a living. He lives in Cheverly, MD. (Also, check out Dan’s previous help on the blog when I briefly became obsessed with “the language of corn.”)
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Okay, Honestly!
I got my December 17 issue of The New Yorker in the mail today, and because I was already in a crappy mood, I checked the table of contents:
ONE woman
Out of 16 writers.
For the record, it’s Nancy Franklin, their regular (and excellent) T.V. reviewer.
The drawings aren’t much better—though there are a few names that are initials, so I can’t tell. So, assuming all the initials are women, we’ve got 16 drawings with 2 maybe-women. (And the cover is by a man.)
Week after week after week…how can this possibly be coincidental?
ONE woman
Out of 16 writers.
For the record, it’s Nancy Franklin, their regular (and excellent) T.V. reviewer.
The drawings aren’t much better—though there are a few names that are initials, so I can’t tell. So, assuming all the initials are women, we’ve got 16 drawings with 2 maybe-women. (And the cover is by a man.)
Week after week after week…how can this possibly be coincidental?
Ann McLaughlin Reading
Dear friend and writing group member Ann McLaughlin will be reading at the Writer’s Center on Sunday, December 16. The theme of the afternoon is World War II, and Ann will be reading from her lovely book, The House on Q Street (which I had the privilege of reading in progress, in our writing group). Joining her is Louis Maier, reading from his new memoir, The Golden Gate to the Black Forest.
(Check out Ann’s Work-in-Progress piece about writers keeping journals, including her own childhood “war journal,” which she consulted when writing The House on Q Street.)
Event Details:
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Writer’s Center
4508 Walsh St.
Bethesda, Maryland
2:00 pm
More info here.
(Check out Ann’s Work-in-Progress piece about writers keeping journals, including her own childhood “war journal,” which she consulted when writing The House on Q Street.)
Event Details:
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Writer’s Center
4508 Walsh St.
Bethesda, Maryland
2:00 pm
More info here.
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