WORDY WEDNESDAY: Drafts & Revisions

Working, working, working to meet my editor's September 20 deadline.  These are not the big-picture revisions of the first pass, but finer corrections (word choices, some cuts, etc.).  Still, being the plodder that I am, I read through the ms again and again, making sure that each change feels organic--that the characters are still true to themselves on every page.  Gotta say, while the first revision was bigger, this pass is harder going sometimes.  Maybe it's because this one feels more final. I start thinking to myself, "This is what my novel is going to say," and then I kind of (well, totally) panic.

One outcome of this panic's concurrency with the time crunch of back-to-school is that I have stopped drafting all of my blog posts in Word, revising them, and the copying them into Blogger.  Yup, I've started winging it. I mean, naturally I proofread before hitting "publish" but I do just start at the "new post" box and let it rip.  I'm wondering if this will affect the tone of what I write.  Or even the topics I choose.  Regardless, with one book nearing the revision finish-line and my fingers itching to get back to revising my NEXT novel, I just can't handle any more drafting in my life.  (Okay, truth, I've already written the next two HONORARIUM posts (Mondays) in Word but OTHERWISE...)

Do you draft and revise your posts?  Pre-write them?  Plan ahead?  Or are we winging it together?

Back-to-Business Monday: THE HONORARIUM QUESTION PART II

First, a quick note: SEPTEMBER 12-18, 2010, is NATIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK.   Arts education embraces disciplines from dance, drama, and design to music, media and literature. Does your novel feature an artistic element?  Might be worth visiting the NEA website to learn more.

Now, on to the question of DISCOUNTING honorarium fees.  In general, I think consistency is very important in setting prices for appearances.  That, said, there are certain situations in which a lower honorarium fee or other accommodation may be warranted.

WHEN...

• It's local.  A lower fee (or waiver of travel/expense costs) can be offered to local or in-state schools and libraries as this is your "home turf" and requires less time on your part.  Some authors even consider offering single-presentations or part-day visits
• You have a new book out.  To launch a new book into the world and maximize appearances without seeming cheap, consider offering a lower-priced, new-title focused program for a brief, specific duration around your pub date.
• You're willing to go virtual.  To promote your book, consider Skype visits, online chats or other virtual type appearances which you can offer at a lower price.

HOW...do you present your fees to schools and libraries?  With budgets tighter than ever, it always helps to be flexible. So, whatever you decide to quote, you might finish with a phrase like "please let me know how this works with your budget" so that you leave the door open for them to give you feedback versus just never replying if the number seems too high to them. This is also gives you the opportunity to discuss their needs and suggest some of your lower-priced options if available.

IF...you really want to get exposure for your first (or a new) book and/or experience with presentations, you may want to discount for some period of time.  Just remember there's a notable cost to you in terms of time (aka foregone writing or work time), preparation, travel, and logistics (babysitter for kids, sub for your classroom, etc.), so think it through carefully.  Do the math to make sure you're not actually incurring costs to do appearances.

All of these honorarium posts are meant to help you give thoughtful, thorough consideration to what it means to charge for appearances, just like you do to other elements of your marketing plans.  Taking the time to do this in advance makes answering questions along the way much easier.

NEXT WEEK: Promotions & Incentives

Fiction Friday: ADIOS, NIRVANA and Chicken Nuggets

Drawing my Random Acts of Publicity Week to a close, check out this great write-up of my critique group buddy Conrad Wesselhoeft's October debut novel ADIOS, NIRVANA.  Conrad is an absolutely wonderful writer.  He crafts every sentence, every paragraph, with such power and care.  It is a joy to hear him read during our critique group meetings.  I learn something every time.  Do make sure to add his terrific book to your to-read list.

I've got a September 20 deadline from my editor right now so I'm plugging through some line edits and trying to tighten up a few things in the ms.  Honestly, the pressure is starting to get to me, thus my children ate chicken nuggets tonight and it's Rice Krispies for breakfast. Wishing you a tastier weekend than we'll have at my house!

Wordy Wednesday: OF CABBAGES & TURTLES

Continuing my week of Random Acts of Publicity with a shout-out for the delightful David Elliott's Jeremy Cabbage and the Living Museum of Human Oddballs and Quadruped Delights--a wonderful middle-grade Orphan-Annie-meets-A-Series-of-Unfortunate-Events adventure that I discovered at my very favorite NH indie bookstore Main Street Bookends.  Now, in all honesty, I've never met David but have heard such wonderful things about his work in the writing community--especially his involvement creating the Warner NH Historical Society's Tory Hill Reader Series.  Which brings me to a NH author I have met several times (and one of my fourth-graders great idol's), the inimitable MacArthur Fellow and National Book Award Nominee David Carroll whose Self-Portrait with Turtles is a gorgeously illustrated must-read for nature-loving, art-inclined children of all ages.  A trip to his art studio is an absolute must when my family visits New Hampshire and, if we're lucky enough to catch David there, we leave serene and inspired.