Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Back and swamped. Okay, I'm not going to get overwhelmed...I'm not going to get overwhelmed....inhale, exhale.

I keep saying I'm going to recruit an assistant, yet I don't have the time to do so. I know of an author who took on a college assistant (intern) who was interested in writing. The benefits for both were great. The author received much needed assistance in projects and promotions, while the assistant, who was an aspiring author, received first hand knowledge about the publishing industry, plus one on one contact with an author. The intern has since completed her own manuscript and has struck out on her own. I'd like to do that. If I can find the time to solicit for one.

Anyway, just got back and I need to prepare a discussion on Plot Tension for my session at the Pen to Paper Symposium in Dayton, OH this weekend. I also need to send out flyers and invitations to my upcoming local signings, make and deliver store flyers, begin discussions with my new host of my Memphis signing, make arrangements for a 3rd local signing that I've been invited to join, make and send out my October newsletter, and submit a contract for a book tour that I want to participate in. And that's just the prep and planning stuff. We haven't even gotten to the errands I need to run yet, unpacking and repacking the suitcase for one.

Okay, I got three days to do all of this and this is quite a bit of woman-hours. And I got a message from my editor that she expects to send my edits for First Fridays tomorrow. Wow! I thought I'd have at least a month before edits came back! So, I need to get the bulk of this out of the way before edits come back. I'm imagining that edits during the first months of the book release is going to be a little tough. But I'll get it done! :-) The good thing is that she says she LOVES it!

7 comments:

quincee Tue Sep 27, 10:04:00 AM EDT  

Hey Cherlyn,

You are very busy! I'm sure you could use an assistant about now. Too bad I'm in Florida because that's just the kind of gig I was looking for earlier this summer but of course I haven't been able to find any up and coming writers in my small town. Good luck in your search. I'm sure you'll find someone eager to learn everything you have to teach.
~Q

princessdominique Tue Sep 27, 11:03:00 AM EDT  

Breathe. You've got it. Keep making your "to do" list and work from there. Seems like that's worked for you in the past. Stick with what you know and congrats on your editor loving your next novel. That's a HUGE deal.

TJ Brown Tue Sep 27, 11:51:00 AM EDT  

Hope you had a productive weekend. I don't need help with my work, I need a wife to help with everything else:)

Cept maybe dh would liek that too much;-)

Still trying to get to your book!
Teri

LadyLee Tue Sep 27, 01:02:00 PM EDT  

You are Superwoman... Yes indeed!

Frederick Smith Wed Sep 28, 12:37:00 PM EDT  

I took on two college student interns to help me with my novel's launch, and it was the best thing in the world for them and for me!

We can talk off line if you want about the experience.
fs

Stacy-Deanne Wed Sep 28, 04:57:00 PM EDT  

Cherlyn it seems every writer I know is busy these days. I know I am very busy but I have been allowed some time to rest because I am searching for an agent for my fiction work and my current publisher has issued me an extension on the latest biography I'm doing so...I'm relaxing which is something I need. Once I get this agent thing out of the way I can truly be content.

Cherlyn Michaels Thu Sep 29, 09:17:00 AM EDT  

Hey Q,
Yeah, if you were here, I'd take you up on that! :-) But, you do what you gotta do and it all works out in the end.

Dom,
I'm breathing! And yes, I'm anxious to get the story back. The main thing is that she likes it. But, of course, there are changes that she's recommending. So, I want to see what they are.

TJ,
Don't worry. I know how it is with getting the opportunity to read. I've been working on a small book for more than a few weeks now. It should have taken me about 3 days to read it. And needing a wife...hmmm...that sounds familiar. One of the female characters in Counting Raindrops said that! LOL

LadyLee,
If only! LOL (btw, thanks for posting a review on Amazon! I really appreciate it!)

Frederick,
Yeah, I will try to drop you a line next week. Because especially with edits starting up, I definitely need assistance. I want to find out how you solicitied for one.

Stacy-Deanne,
Best wishes on your search for an agent! I hope everything works out well in your favor. Keep me posted.