.....or How I didn't do it, or how I am doing it, or How it's not working, all trials and celebrations covered here in my Book Publisher's Diary/Blog as I approach "Going to Press" with a proper ISBN.(This actually costs real money to do - should I or shouldn't I? Maybe you have some advice?)

Come along with me on my journey of discovery and share in my ups and downs, see what it's like for yourselves, and maybe make a decision or two about "that book" of your own, when you have learned from my mistakes!

[b]The Story So Far.....[/b]

Last year I put together some of my semi-autobiographical Short Stories and Poems under the title of the first story "Dead Nun's Shoes." Among other things they reflect the themes "Growing up Irish in England" and the joys (and pains) and privileges! of a convent-school education. (Sample on my Short Stories Site

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Dead Nun's Shoes - Short Stories Publication Blog 11/14/2007

OK - I think I'll think I'll start with exploring all the possibilities here on Bella!

1. Life-coaching
We seem to have lots of comraderie and moral support right here in our own community.
I will investigate the Business Coaching site and subscribe!
I notice they have a Shameless Self-promotion day today - I will get over and take a look and maybe just investigate with a view to taking part next week (watch this space!)

2. BeMused (here on Bella)
It's about time I researched this (I have been busy in training) so I might take a looksee and report back here.
I will submit a Short Story as soon as it is up and running.

3. ISBN
Decision - I will do this, but the pages in the shorter self-published books do not always seem like real book paper, same goes for covers, so I need to add more stories to qualify for the next grade up in Book Sample. I will concentrate on this before parting with any (non-existent at the moment!) money.
I might take some Life-coaching too, from Destiny's Door.

4. Starting a new story for the DNS collection. It's about the curious generation gap in the way husbands and wives communicate ... a little old couple set off for church ..... That's as far as I've got, progress report soon .....

Til next time,
Best,

Siobhain
Short Stories

Hi Siobhain,

I like the title of your thread. It sets the intention that you ARE GOING TO DO THIS!

I'm just curious, have you considered what you would see as the absolute best possible outcome for submitting your book?

Are you wanting something that produces income quickly or are you willing to go for bigger potential, even if it takes more time?

Sometimes, we need more specifics on what we REALLY want before we can decide the best path to take.

hi tami - yes - i was going to contact you tomorrow - as you saw I have decided to go for long-term quality with my book esp as its a bit niche market

however theres nothing like a slow trickle of modest earnings to increase motivation - it cheers my family too and shows them the potential

next we need a website,but which one? I also sell lovely collectable books on amazon so maybe i shoulg pull everything together and go with them.

discussing tomorrow!

thanks for input

Hi, Ed! The title of thread certainly catches the reader's attention.

Good luck with everything that you're doing with your writing. I've recently gotten back into freelance writing again after taking a few years off, and BellaOnline is one the places where I'm working at developing my "brand," if you will.

And thank you for posting at the Anime forum.

Hi Tami - i have been giving this some serious thought - motivation-wise,and family-wise, i think its great to see a few cents trickle in so i will go for sooner rather than later on this one. i somtimes say a little saying.....
some writers want recognition, i just want income! (joke)

i have done loads of website research which i will post here this week. (Yahoo vs Amazon)

And thank You Lesley! for posting on mine!

I wonder if anime illustrations would look good in my book? lol

I started a new story on Sunday afternoon - it just popped into my head unbidden when I was supposed to be cooking the roast! Everything went to pieces and I felt bad, but once i started writing, I couldnt stop!!

Does this happen with illustrating I wonder? or writing anime?

Great!

So, if we honour your intelligence and look at ALL your options... what do you see as the quickest way that will produce income in the near future?

What kind of website research are you doing?

Well, I have realised that I have 6 irons in the fire (talk about multi-tasking!!) I am asking myself if i have the kind of mind that fires on all cylinders at once (which i love, but is slowing down the actual realisation of income - if they all come together at once - it could start trickling in faster this time next year)

So.... I have decided to Focus! - on one iron at a time (so hard for a writer who has 4 books on the go)

Dead Nuns Shoes needs finishing, filling up and polishing before I would be happy to promote it any further. This is my priority. Also, this blog has lots of readers, so that is positive.

My "My Life With Teens - How We Got Through Joyfully" book is writing itself, luckily, on another site, and will be ready to publish at Easter. I am enjoying writing its anecdotes of Goths, Ear Piercings,Hanging Out, Facebook issues etc. I find it quite funny!

My Rainbow-Swept Moorland Wildlife Photo Journal has gone on hold. (apart from weekly nature note scribbles)

"Bruisers" (my pet project)sadly has been put on the back-burner! Although I cant wait to get my hands on it! I know I must finish what i start first.

I will be giving away a copy of Dead Nun's Shoes as a competition prize soon!

Bye for now, and thanks for hanging in with me!

Siobhain

Wednesday 21st November "A Big Thank-you to billiecat!"

OK - I have a great new idea for a story for this collection!

We were discussing on the Stranger Things Happen thread, the book of short stories by talked-about author Michel Faber (not everyone's cup of tea - bit steamy for my liking!)

However there is a great new trend in publishing, particularly among young authors, to write in the style of period writers (ie the sequel to Jane Eyre etc) Fabers writing is a bit like this and he does it very cleverly.

Billiecat has given me this as a great new idea for a story ...... all I need now is a plot!

I will post as an experiment in expanding writing repertoire - watch out for the article ... I will be open to readers taking my story apart and taking on board your comments!

Will post about this story again when I have the plot.

Til then,
Smiles,
Siobhain