Today I received an email that said my my novel was full of figure language, and the reader could not recommend it.

Unfortunately, I have sent out many emails and copies of my novel and I have not written all of this down. (Self-corrected now)

I emailed back “Who is this?”

The reviewer identified their name and said I could email back if I wanted a more specific answer, they might provide it.

I read my review and did not understand the word figure language. Now I have been out of writing classes for twenty years, so it is possible that I am ignorant about figure language. I again sent another email asking is figure language was really figurative language. I am an 8th Grade English teacher and I always teach figurative language. Students need to use it and I need to teach it. Yes, she liked the term figure language better.

Lastly, she told me other writers who use significant figure language. “Two authors who write heavily figured language that I like are Mary Gaitskill, Veronica, and Michael Chabon’s  Moonglow. Not everyone I know likes that much figured language, but Chabon’s book is a best seller, so some people like it.”

I am impressed that my book is a book cousin to Michael Chabon’s. I mean it made my day and I walked on clouds. Thanks very much. Some days you have to take it any way you can get it!

“Keep writing and getting feedback. I’ve learned to enjoy the challenge. Otherwise the critics will drive you nuts.”

 

Really?

Trying to get a book club going is very tedious and time consuming. Writers often wait to be selected by a book club, but after some of my super 8th Grade girls read my loaner copy of my book and came back with questions, I knew it was meant to be. Since I am lucky enough to have a phenomenal librarian at school who created and recruited for the book club in the library at school at lunch, I knew I was in good hands with Ms. Crow.  I was lucky enough to ask a student to create our logo(in exchange for a sketch book) while I created the Book Discussion Questions, and showed up with books to sell at cost to these middle school students. By the way I did get administrative approval and the only promotion was the haute chicks poster at the library and in my classroom. I was nervous, but excited when the total count including myself was ten. I look forward to my next meeting and will show up with the lotus flowers I bought to bring to my next signing and probably bread for the table and snacks.  Here is to another first this year, my first book club.

HAUTE CHICKS

I love writing and I want to give you a short list of the do’s and dont ‘s for a new Indie Author:

1. Don’t sign up for an author event without the book in your hand! This may cause you sleepless nights and induce panic to lead you to purchase your book from a speedy and very expensive printer. But you will have a book at last.
2. If your entire book publication is occurring via the Internet, write details and print out contracts with receipts. Document and keep track of all of your money spending as well as earning.
3. Get contact numbers and actual names for the entire team of professionals who are helping you bring your dream to fruition. Make sure you are in contact with your formatter, on the off chance your handler has quit her job and your messages are going into the black hole of noanswerbackland! Know each company’s business process.
4. Any great cover artist will give you 3 or 4 potential images. If you want a color changed or a different font, ask your artist. They are collaborating with you for your project.
5. Edit! Edit! Edit! Proof! Proof! Proof! Because wonder of wonders or perhaps horror of horrors-you have omitted the number 11 in your number sequence after the book has been formatted!
6. Write more than a dedication in the form of a thank you page because it takes so very many people to complete a book. As an Indie writer, there are so many people who have been instrumental in your creation and they deserve acknowledgement.
7. When you have finally produced that book, give yourself a pat on the back for accomplishing the task!
8. And lastly, be thankful you have the talent and skill set to tell your wonderful story!

 

Life is short and art is long.-Seneca

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will have both copies available for my readers. But my question is which do you prefer and why? Tell me your preference.