RW Makeover #3 Continued…
I have been hard at work on my makeover with my “book coach†(I like saying that) Katey Coffing. We met for 30 minutes on the phone on Thursday, and she has been a fantastic resource. I need all the help focusing that I can get, and Katey knows just how to help me.
After our last phone meeting two weeks ago, I headed to the bookstore to browse books on proposal writing. I picked up Bulletproof Book Proposals
We will meet by phone again in two weeks, by which time I am going to have my proposal “hook†written – the blurb that succinctly explains what my book is about. I’m going to carry on reading the two books I picked up and work on the exercises in each and aim to have an outline of my proposal done, as well as do more research into resources for parents experiencing stillbirth – finding my audience and figuring out how to reach them. [Ginny Williams]
If you liked that post, you might also like:
May 25, 2007 RW Makeover
I love that Nora Roberts’ quote, Ginny. I’ve had that one posted on my bulletin board for a few years. (Nora Roberts, if you don’t keep up with the bestsellers’ lists, is a prolific writer of romances, suspense, and even sci-fi. She’s amazing!)
Those are good books. You might find Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction–and Get It Published
by Susan Rabiner & Alfred Fortunato really helpful putting together a proposal for a memoir. I know it helped me when I was putting something similar together.
Dear Ms. Burrell:
I am a 49-y.o. divorced mother of three grown boys and grandmother to one 3-y.o. As of last Saturday, I am finally a college graduate (communications) and will be starting grad school in the fall for American Studies (ismply because I can), which I see in your profile, you have a degree in also. Last year I lost my job due to health issues, so I decided to take a chance and do the past year as a full-time student (was p/t for three years) so I could graduate this semester…and I did. Now I’m at the fork in the road–everyone wants me to go to the right and get a practical 9-5 job; however, I want to go to the left and try free-lance writing and comms work. I have a bit of savings that I can use to supplement any income I make, but the problem is…I’m terribly afraid. I’ve have taken quite a few “risks” since my divorce, and most have paid off (I’m not talking about money). Therefore, I am puzzled why I am scared of the left fork.
I am buying your book, as well as I couple others from Amazon, plus I have tons of writing and stylebooks. I’ve spent my whole adult life as a dime-a-dozen secretary, when really all I wanted to do is write. Write anything–stories, newsletters, essays, etc. (I’m one of those weird people who loves writing academic papers.) I’ve never been published, so I am really taking a chance. Oh, and my other love is antiques, or material culture if you want to use the American Studies lingo.
By the way, I would love a make-over, but I haven’t done anything yet to warrant one! So…basically I want to pick your mind and see what words of wisdom you can throw my way, other than what is already in your book that I am purchasing. Any thoughts on how I can combine writing with Amer. Stud. on the fast-track?
Thanks for the book recommendation, Diana. I will check it out this week – now can we manage to get me 5 more hours in my day to do all this reading?