Time’s running out. I’m told my new picture book with Pelican Publishing, The Declaration of Independence from A to Z, will be out sometime after January, and there’s lots to do before then. I need to build an official website; write up a study guide; and work on two different programs for school visits. Plus, I need to keep marketing ideas flowing that will promote the book: bookmarks, postcards, flyers, etc.

There’s lots to do and one could easily get worried since time is zooming by. But I know if I take things step by step, working on a little each day, I will have these projects completed with time to spare. I already have a ton ideas floating through my head. I just hope I remember them all!

It is important to give yourself plenty of prep time. Sometimes we procrastinate and then wonder where the time went. Write down your list of ideas of things to do. Give yourself reasonable deadlines. Try to work on each item a bit each day or every other day.  Then reward yourself when you meet and even beat your goals.

Make your prep time work for you!

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The other day I toured an old Queen Anne style home in a nearby city. It was part of a research trip for a mystery story I’m writing. Because I needed first hand information, this tour helped me get a feel for a home that I will be writing about in my story.

I took along a small note pad and pen, but I never pulled them out. I was too busy taking pictures of every detail I could find: candelabras, mirrors, sash windows, fireplaces, an alcove, the music room, the library, etc. I took a total of 68 pictures in that little 45 minute tour. I would have taken more, but I had forgotten to change out my camera batteries, and I was trying to conserve energy by only taking pictures of crucial areas.

And the pictures turned out great. I have a good visual library now of an 1891 Victorian home that I can refer to as I work on my manuscript.

Next time you need to do research on a particular topic, take your digital camera along. The pictures will help keep that creativity flowing into your story.

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I couldn’t imagine being a writer in the days of Dickens or Shakespeare, where every word was penned onto parchment. Talk about carpal tunnel! And if you made a mistake, there was no white out. You could only scratch out or rewrite the whole page.

Then there were the old manual typewriters where you pounded your words onto paper. If you weren’t careful, you could punch holes when you typed your a’s, o’s, and e’s. I liked the erasable bond paper, but some thought it wasn’t very professional. Of course, I personally felt all the obvious correction-paper marks on the thicker sheets looked tackier.

I’m very thankful for modern computers and their word processing software. It’s so easy to type, edit, and copy your manuscript. What will the future hold for us scribes? Will we just think and our words will appear onto holographic screens? Who knows, but no matter what the tools, the creative process will never change since the idea much first formulate in the brain before it can be translated onto the page.

I’m glad I live in a time where technology can help get my words out faster. Too bad the publishers didn’t work as fast.

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This past week has been extremely busy running to and fro from school plays, awards assemblies, functions, etc. As a mother of four, I seem to be spending more time in my car than in front of my computer.

As a writer, I need to spend time writing, not only to hone my skills, but to keep those creative juices flowing. But what do we do when we are inundated with some very hectic times? How can we keep that creativity functioning?

Write at every opportunity. Carry a small notebook in your purse or pocket, so when that funny incident occurs, like a kid making a cute comment when his brother goes up to receive an award, or when you hear a great name for a character, you have a place to jot down notes.

Keep your brain working. Have a small tape recorder handy to record thoughts or ideas. This can even work  as you’re driving from place to place (as long as it’s ‘hands-free,’ like we need here in California). Then later when your schedule calms down a bit, transcribe those thoughts, ideas, and dialogue snippets and place them into the projects you’re working on.

The important point to remember is that if we don’t put these things “somewhere,” then we can’t use them anywhere, especially when they’ve been forgotten.

Do what it takes to record your ideas until a time when you can give them better attention. Don’t let a busy schedule keep you from your writing.

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I had to stop working on the middle grade mystery I was writing.  You see, I brake for research. Sometimes as I’m writing a story, I find I’m lacking a bit more background information. So I’ll put aside my writing for a bit so I can dig into some books or articles or whatever I can find to give me a better understanding of an incident or a time period or a fact I need to use. In this case, I need some more details about a specific time in California’s history.

How long will this “brake” last? It all depends. I’m finding a number of sources that are very useful, so it may be a brief stop before I can take up where I left off.

Don’t be afraid to put the brakes on if you find you need more info for your stories. It will make for a more accurate manuscript in the long run.

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I hope all of you are keeping track of your submissions. It’s vital to know what you sent, who you sent it to, and when you sent it. I used my Excel program to create submission sheets for manuscripts and articles. I even included a space for notes so I can jot down any contact I have with the publisher, like if my article is being sent on for further review. There is also a space for payment amount, which I highlight when my check is received. At the end of the year I add up the highlighted areas to tell me how much I made.

I plan on making a few new submission sheets. One for queries (including snail mail and e-mail), and sheets to track individual manuscripts so I know at a glance all the publishers I sent that one story to.

Make sure you’re keeping track of where your stories are going. You will find it a tremendous help, especially at tax time.

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I don’t know about you, but I’m a hands-on kind of person. I like to roll up my sleeves and learn the intricacies of things so I can understand them better. Recently I signed up for a Creating Web Pages class. I want to develop an official website, and I figured it was worth the expense for me to learn how to do it myself.

Developing your writing style is a step-by-step hands-on process. You can talk about being a writer all you want, but you aren’t going to learn about proper sentence structure or developing plots and storylines until you put your words and ideas down onto your paper. You need to roll up your sleeves and write.

What do you write about? Anything and everything at first. You need to get comfortable formulating your thoughts, which will eventually lead to creating stories. For some this will be an easy transition; for others it will take both time and dedication.

So grab a pen and paper or pull out your computer keyboard. Sit down and write. Gets hands-on experience so you can become the writer you’ve always wanted to be.

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I enjoy plays, especially musicals. I love how the actors use their talents to bring the performance to life.  Adherence to stage direction is vital, because if the timing is off and an actor comes in before his cue, then the whole performance can end in disaster. The same is for the backstage crew. If they don’t cue the lights or the music or the sound effects at the right time, they could make even a Broadway production look amateurish.

Our writing is like a theatrical production. We each play a unique part that God has specifically designed for us. Some of us will be a supporting cast member or maybe an understudy. Some will work behind the scenes, prepping others for a greater work. Some will be able to step out on stage and stand in the spotlight, even if only for a brief moment.

As writers we are waiting in the wings. We are waiting for God, the most perfect stage manager and director we’ll ever have, to tell us when it’s our time to shine. Sometimes we try to rush out on stage beforehand because of  impatience. But if we want to be the best we can possibly be, then we need to follow His lead, trust His cues, and submit to His direction.

So don’t be discouraged while you’re waiting in the wings. The final outcome will be the best event you could ever imagine.

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I have been called to write. It was never a serious intention of my life to become a scribe, but that is exactly the path God provided for me. And now that I know it’s the direction God wants me to take, and I have whole-heartily accepted this design for my life, I am pursuing its avenues with dedication and perseverance.

What about you? Is writing a serious pursuit or just a hobby? If it is a serious pursuit, are you learning all you can about this craft? Are you taking classes, joining a critique group, and reading up on the latest information? If not, then you need to. You will never develop the essential skills you need to be a good and effective writer if you don’t take the time to hone your gifts.

God gives each of us talents. If writing is yours, get serious and learn all you can to become the scribe God has called you to be.

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