Posts filed under 'Book'
My life has changed a lot since the month began. From July to November, I was burning the candle at both ends, jugging a contract gig with freelance writing deadlines, which I realize is ironic for someone who wrote a book with a hefty work/life balance theme. But sometimes you need to bring home a little extra bacon, so I bit the bullet and toiled a little more than I should. And now I am free. FREE.
First thing I did to decompress was go here, then here. Then I read this, and this, and even took in a bit of this. Along the way, I taught a class, applied for a grant, and turned in a couple short articles. But it still felt like a vacation.
After two weeks of this luxuriating, I realized it was time to face the music. What I haven’t told you is that I have a Very Large Writing Project due in a few months, and while that’s quite exciting, the time management aspect of it is a little scary to me, especially since I’m essentially home in my jammies with zero structure whatsoever for the first time in many months. So I decided to crack open The Anti 9-to-5 Guide and take some of my own medicine. In particular, this tidbit from page 59:
“Use a wall calendar, notebook, or spreadsheet to measure your progress: how much time you spent on your project each session and what you accomplished. This will help you see the bigger picture come into focus.”
I suspected that making a list of all the components of this Very Large Writing Project and their deadlines, target word count, state of done-ness, and final word count would be freeing. So I cribbed a spreadsheet template that my friend Ariel, who completed this Very Large Writing Project a while back, used to help her feel calm about the whole thing. (Thanks, lady!)
I’m excited to move the project management aspect of this beast from my head to my laptop. Not only do I feel more organized, I already feel less stressed about the whole thing. Rather than having to wonder where I am in the project, if I am on schedule, if I’m over or under the desired word count, and how much writing/editing I have left to go, I can just crack open my spreadsheet and feast my eyes upon the data. Of course, I have yet to add in the deadlines as that would move me from a state of denial to one of reality, but I plan to force myself to go there today. Good luck to me.
November 20th, 2007
Contrary to what you may have heard, first-time authors usually do not sip champagne from Fluevogs or travel by Learjet. I set the record straight on the business of bookselling in this dishy Mediabistro Q&A, written by the fabulous Rachel Kramer Bussel. See why I chose Seal Press as my publisher, what kind of money we’re talking about when we talk indie press book advances, and how the heck I financed writing a book in the first place. (Subscription required.)
May 25th, 2007
Any UK residents (or North American expats in the UK) reading and using The Anti 9-to-5 Guide? I’ve been contacted by a journalist who’s looking for guinea pigs — I mean, people who’ve read the book and found it helpful. If so, email me. Thanks so much.
April 16th, 2007
You know how Disney’s always saying, “last chance to get ‘Fantasia’ or ‘Bambi’ or ‘The Little Mermaid’ before we shove it in the vault for the next decade?” While this post isn’t anywhere near as melodramatic, tonight I am doing my last Seattle bookstore event for The Anti 9-to-5 Guide, at least for a little while. The book will of course continue to be available through all the usual retail outlets, and I have some other non-bookstore events (read: not necessarily in bookstores and/or not necessarily free) in the works for summer.
Meanwhile, here are the details for tonight:
Thursday, April 12, 7:00 p.m.
Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park (North Seattle)
(206) 366-3333
If you make it, be sure to say hello. For more events in other cities, lookie here.
April 12th, 2007
I’m back from my week in the Bay Area. The trip was both hectic and lovely. I’d forgotten that there are places in the world where you can go a week without seeing rain. I caught up with old friends, ate a lot of burritos (in Seattle, the choices are limited to Taco Bell and Taco Del Mar), and stared at Mt. Tam a lot, which was in plain view from the Marin cottage I stayed in, courtesy of my friend Marcy, who was out of town herself. Some trip highlights:
Events: People came. Turnouts were good. I managed to elicit a couple chuckles from the crowd. And sell a few books. All in all, things went well. And Habitat Books and Borders sure know how to make a writergirl feel special. For that, I am very grateful.
Media: I did several radio and TV spots while in town, including a location shoot for the ABC afternoon show “View from the Bay” (sandwiched between “GH” and “Oprah”). Also included in the segment is freelance-pal-turned-mompreneur Deirdre Greene, who now runs the publishing company Roaring Forties Press. We did the interview at Deirdre’s house to show off her nifty home office. I’ll letcha know when that spot airs — it should be fun.
Meanwhile, check me out on the Morning Show on KPFA radio, with Elaine Lee, author of Go Girl! The Black Woman’s Book of Travel and Adventure, mentioned in my book. We were interviewed together about alternative career paths, especially self-employment and travel gigs. (Note: The interview’s at 8:30 a.m., though the show starts at 7.) And here’s a morning news spot I did on KRON 4 TV the Saturday before Easter; I think I could have used another cup of coffee — oops. More than anything, I’m sorry they cut out the anchors singing Dolly Parton’s “Nine to Five” at the top of the spot — complete with jazz hands!
Meetups: Met Jill Rothenberg, my book’s fabulous editor who’s no longer at Seal Press, and camped out at the offices of Urban Moto magazine with her (she freelances for them) so I could steal some wireless time. Visited the Seal Press crew, too. Saw my friend Jeff Perlstein, who runs Media Alliance. And spent some time with these fabulous authors/bloggers/webmistresses you should know about:
Biggest lesson learned: Not being wired is a drag. It was crazy (OK, dumb) to think I wouldn’t need high-speed Internet access 24-7 while trying to coordinate interview plans with my publisher and various media producers. Happily, I already checked with the east coast pals I’ll be staying with in May and they all have wireless. Phew.
April 10th, 2007
Hello, San Francisco Bay Area. It’s lovely to be back. (I’ve missed you so!) If you call San Francisco, Marin, or the East Bay your home, please come meet me this week at one of my readings-slash-author-Q&As. The events:
Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m.
Habitat Books
205 Second Street
Sausalito
415.331.3344
Wednesday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
Borders - Union Square
400 Post Street
San Francisco
415.399.1633
More info on my Events page. (And more news, tips, and profiles when I get home this coming weekend.)
April 2nd, 2007
Hey, east siders (of the greater Seattle area): Just a little reminder that I’ll be reading from The Anti 9-to-5 Guide and answering questions on career change, self-employment, flex time, the freelance life, and anything else you want to talk about this Thursday evening (as in, tonight). The scoop:
Thursday, March 29, 7:00 p.m.
Parkplace Books
348 Parkplace Center (at Third Street South)
Kirkland, WA
(425) 828-6546
If you can make it, don’t be shy. Belly up to the booksigning table and say hello.
March 28th, 2007
This was lovely to wake up to: Elliott Bay Book Company’s current bestsellers. (Scroll down, look right, join me in my goofy little happy dance.) Thank you, Seattle! xoxo
March 26th, 2007
Any Bellingham, Washington, residents (or neighbors) browsing here? If so, we could be talking in person — tomorrow! — at my Village Books reading and author Q&A. The details:
Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Village Books
1200 Eleventh Street, Bellingham, WA
(360) 671-2626
If you and/or your friends attend, be sure to say hello. As always, you can play “Where’s Michelle-o” here.
March 19th, 2007
Did I mention that sometimes I really do think I left my heart in San Francisco? I lived there for almost a decade and am wondering if I’m ever going to stop missing it. That’s why I just had to sign on for a second reading down there. This one’s in Marin County, where I lived for a few years. Sighhhhhhh.
Tuesday, April 3, 7 p.m.
Habitat Books
205 Second Street, Sausalito
(415) 331-3344
Co-sponsored by Media Alliance
For the entire world domination tour, see my Events page.
March 19th, 2007
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