Lay it on me, stringbean
Last week was my three month anniversary as a news writer. It has felt like three years. And not in the oh-my-god-I-feel-weathered-and-aged-ten-years-in-ten-days type of supposed time v real time situation. My writing life now is so much different to what it was three months ago. It’s barely recognisable even as a past life.
Three months ago I was run off my feet organising book tours (with no time to write the advertisement for a much needed PA/Events Co-ord Junior) and attempting to write the latest novel. Now, I am doing a handstand, throwing a knife, and reading court transcripts. Without a lunch break. It certainly feels that way with my present role. The need to switch off is quite pressing, and the aid for that is unfortunately not thinking about more writing but which X-box game to play.
Real laments
My previous post lamented that I was always asked, “How is the new book coming along?” [CF "It's a fine line between pleasure and pain".] And now this post shall lament that I am always asked, “Any more book tours? How are the book tours going?” [I also do realise that all this lamenting, complaining and blogging takes up precious time in which I could be book writing/organising book tours. Using this time doing just that would be the smart thing to do. I’m usually really good at doing the smart thing. Not this time. Maybe because it’s a Sunday.]
My friend, Kylie, asked me these exact questions a fortnight ago, but had a great follow up question to my answer of: “Meh. I’m too busy with the news writer role now.”
Usually with this nonchalant response people fully accept that I am done and dusted with the whole book tour shenanigan, and I’ve added my Adventure Book Tour along with my drum kit, mosaic tiles, karate outfit and unicycle to the ever-piling Too Hard Basket of Miscellaneous and Passing Activities in Keira’s Life. But having her ask me this question really proved that this was not the case at all.
Real-ity
Did you get what you wanted out of it?
Overall, yes, I did.
Initially, the book tour was born when I had a bit of spare time in my day job and a bit of writing space vacant in said day job. Actually, there was a huge and highly demanded space for rent for creativity generally in my life. I picked up my book idea from two years ago and nutted out a chapter-by-chapter plot breakdown, character analysis and three chapters. I was in the middle of researching for my new book when I thought I should re-market my author name to make my book pitch more viable to the publisher.
The book tour took on a whole new meaning – I really took joy in encouraging kids to read and write. I took joy in exciting them and facilitating their enthusiasm. I also took extreme joy in giving these hyped up kids back to their teachers. So what I gave in screaming kids and hopefully to their motivation and love for the written word, I received in tenfold with kids recognising my books and knowing I hopefully inspired some of the lil’ tykes. And this will ensure I will continue to give.
- As an aside as I add in my previous blog links, I also sense a pattern emerging and should take note of the common denominator of all my laments: Me – I like lamenting and I have not gotten this new book into gear. I’ve lamented previously that book tour fever grabbed hold of me, thus distracting me from writing the new novel [CF "Down the Garden Path".] And, I’m perfectly aware, I am now claiming the news writer role is distracting me from the book tours. I think it is proven that Keira can only concentrate on a few activities at a time as shown by the elicit mix of drumming, mosaics and handstands. -
But I digress.
My news writer job certainly is the driver [it's a big 4WD that is called Pay Your Bills], and unfortunately book writing has to take a back seat. Possibly locked in the boot and forgotten about until I go on that next “What should I do right this moment” trip.
But with Kylie’s question, I realise the book tours are not on the shelf quite yet. I certainly got a lot from my book tours. And there is so much more to receive. And give. I promote my books, my name, and I feel I am giving back to the students and curriculum that encouraged me to write in the first place. The book tours also have certainly set me up to carry on promotion in the countries my books are sold (notably Canada and the UK, which I now plan to implement in less than a year’s time when the opportunity presents itself this year and in 2011). I think I received a much better bonus than I ever expected to get with my book tours. And I am not letting go.
It's all about GIVE...
...and TAKE! [Of course.
