Today saw me at a self-publishing workshop run by the wonderful Julie Postance of Iinspire Media, and facilitated by Catherine Deveny. We learned how we can break into this potentially lucrative market and get on with things with all things regarding getting your book out there.
And inspire she does.
My brain has gone berserk! It was
Walking into the session I told Dev that I was there because I wanted to shove a rocket up my bum and get something published, because I am worth it.
Then Julie was saying about book lengths and what goes into them, and how a non-fiction book could be around 50,000 words, and how you could write that in three months if you put in a bit of commitment, you could have your book.
All you have to do is write your passion.
Hmm.
Well, as a novelist, I have two unfinished manuscripts sitting on this computer. One is a fictionalised memoir, the other, a dystopian literary novel. One's sitting at about 80,000 words, the other at 60,000 words. And I've done next to nothing on them.
Then somehow, for some reason, as I was sitting there in this bar on Lygon Street, the inspiration came.
Write non-fiction, you fool.
Write what you know.
Fill that market.
What do I want to write about?
Menopause. A New User's Guide.
Why? Well, I had a shocking perimenopausal experience. I've run the gamut of hormones and emotions and the general crap that comes with the change - and its life-change effects. I've discovered HRT. And I have a hell of a lot to say. I'm also watching my friends being flabbergasted at this change of life.
So why not?
Talking to my mate, Tandoori (not her real name), we've got each other as accountability monitors. We're going to set up a weekly 20-minute catch up to see how we are going. (She's writing something too) Writing is such a solitary business, you need your allies.
15 minutes a day. I can dictate into the computer if I must - but I do think that letting the words turn over as you type is a better way of doing things
A lot of this is me being bloody-minded and spending that 15-minute every day writing and getting on with things.
Coming out from the session today, I got home, fed the cat and mind-mapped some chapter headings.
And I'm excited!
I can do this.
It is my time.
Watch me.
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