I received one more Publishing Agreement in the mail last Saturday.
I saw a friend and contributor in church on Sunday and she handed me hers.
And then I got one by FAX on Monday!
You know what that means? I think I can see the light at the end of this tunnel!!! I'm starting to get excited. We're getting close--really, really close.
Total Contributors: 40
Publishing Agreements received from: 36
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 4
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Made Contact with the Last Organization Needed
Last Thursday I made contact with the last place I needed to make contact with. I was working with the writer to see if we could get permission from the place her story involves, but she hadn't contacted them yet. Why? Turns out her work hours prevented her from calling them. Ohhh! Duh. Sometimes what's happening with another person is so simple, possibly obvious, and yet we just don't realize...
Well it was easy enough for me to make the call. And the lady at the other end seemed quite excited about having a story about their organization in the book!
What a relief. I've often been met with skepticism and mistrust, which has cause me to become somewhat gun-shy. I'm always so grateful for those who see my vision for this book and become excited about it. What an encouragement!
So...of course she needs to run it by whoever she needs to run it by to see if they will grant permission for the story to be in the book. BUT, at least it's in the works. And that is the last place I needed to make contact with. Another milestone!
Have a little ways to go yet, but we're getting there.
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 7
Well it was easy enough for me to make the call. And the lady at the other end seemed quite excited about having a story about their organization in the book!
What a relief. I've often been met with skepticism and mistrust, which has cause me to become somewhat gun-shy. I'm always so grateful for those who see my vision for this book and become excited about it. What an encouragement!
So...of course she needs to run it by whoever she needs to run it by to see if they will grant permission for the story to be in the book. BUT, at least it's in the works. And that is the last place I needed to make contact with. Another milestone!
Have a little ways to go yet, but we're getting there.
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 7
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Just Lost Some Stories
I've been working with one person who was responsible for several stories to get the permissions and agreements needed and on Friday received her final answer: no, I may not use the stories.
That's okay. All along I have prayed that God would get me the stories He wants in this book, so I am trusting He is doing just that.
I'm not as disappointed as you might think. In the past few days I had begun to think about what I might do if the answer was no (I was sure even at the time it was the Lord's prompting to do so), so when this answer came I was already in a mind to make the book work without these stories. Not having these stories means some of my current chapters will no longer work (too short or whatever). But I could combine some chapters. Or I might rearrange and revise what chapters I currently have the remaining stories placed in. I'll definitely find a way to make the book work, it's just a matter of how to do it.
In the mean time, in the last two days I've had two people asking if I could use more stories! God is providing. I'm praying He will provide me with even better stories to replace these that I loved but cannot use.
On the flip side, this means that I now have only SEVEN writers that I need Publishing Agreements from! I don't want to count my chicks before they hatch, but now having this one case resolved, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to get all of those that remain. Another whoo-hoo!
And the count continues...
Total Contributors (one deleted at her request): 40
Publishing Agreements received from: 33
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 7
That's okay. All along I have prayed that God would get me the stories He wants in this book, so I am trusting He is doing just that.
I'm not as disappointed as you might think. In the past few days I had begun to think about what I might do if the answer was no (I was sure even at the time it was the Lord's prompting to do so), so when this answer came I was already in a mind to make the book work without these stories. Not having these stories means some of my current chapters will no longer work (too short or whatever). But I could combine some chapters. Or I might rearrange and revise what chapters I currently have the remaining stories placed in. I'll definitely find a way to make the book work, it's just a matter of how to do it.
In the mean time, in the last two days I've had two people asking if I could use more stories! God is providing. I'm praying He will provide me with even better stories to replace these that I loved but cannot use.
On the flip side, this means that I now have only SEVEN writers that I need Publishing Agreements from! I don't want to count my chicks before they hatch, but now having this one case resolved, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to get all of those that remain. Another whoo-hoo!
And the count continues...
Total Contributors (one deleted at her request): 40
Publishing Agreements received from: 33
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 7
Friday, August 20, 2010
Another Publication Agreement received - Another chapter completed
Yesterday I received another Publishing Agreement in the mail. Hooray! This one completes the second chapter in the book to be completed.
It's chapter 5: "For, By, and About Men"
Would you like a glimpse his story? Read about Scotty Vaughn here. You can see his photo here. Read more about Scotty here. And don't miss the scroll-down bar on the left -- there's more than just what you see on the screen.
I'm very pleased to have Pastor Scotty's story in my book. Can't wait for you to read it!
Here's today's updated count:
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 33
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 8
It's chapter 5: "For, By, and About Men"
Would you like a glimpse his story? Read about Scotty Vaughn here. You can see his photo here. Read more about Scotty here. And don't miss the scroll-down bar on the left -- there's more than just what you see on the screen.
I'm very pleased to have Pastor Scotty's story in my book. Can't wait for you to read it!
Here's today's updated count:
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 33
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 8
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A Complete Chapter!
You know how it always is when you're trying to build something and it has several different separate parts and it always happens that you're missing one thing for each part so you just can't complete anything? Well that's how this book has been. I've gotten a lot of the Publishing Agreements back. The majority, as a matter of fact. And yet I didn't have one complete chapter yet. In every single chapter I had at least one missing Publishing Agreement.
That is, until Friday! I just realized that the Publishing Agreement that came in on Friday was the final one I needed to complete Chapter 9! Hooray! Hey, it's a milestone. I'm celebrating every milestone that I can find.
If you're wondering, there are nine chapters in the book.
Unfortunately, I didn't find any Publishing Agreements in my mailbox today. But yesterday I did work with a writer on her story until she was satisfied with it, and so that P.A. should be coming soon!
That is, until Friday! I just realized that the Publishing Agreement that came in on Friday was the final one I needed to complete Chapter 9! Hooray! Hey, it's a milestone. I'm celebrating every milestone that I can find.
If you're wondering, there are nine chapters in the book.
Unfortunately, I didn't find any Publishing Agreements in my mailbox today. But yesterday I did work with a writer on her story until she was satisfied with it, and so that P.A. should be coming soon!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
One More In!
Yesterday I received another Publishing Agreement in the mail. This means that the "still needed" number is now in the single digits! Whoo-hoo!
Here's today's updated count:
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 32
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 9
Here's today's updated count:
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 32
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 9
Monday, August 16, 2010
Bad News / Good News
I heard from one writer today. She said she wouldn't be signing the Publishing Agreement. Makes me sad, but I have removed her story from my manuscript.
That's the bad news. The good news? I guess that's one fewer Publishing Agreement I need to collect.
So here is today's count:
Total Contributors (Today, one asked to be deleted.): 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 31
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 10
That's the bad news. The good news? I guess that's one fewer Publishing Agreement I need to collect.
So here is today's count:
Total Contributors (Today, one asked to be deleted.): 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 31
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 10
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Another Contributor...Another Pub Agreement in
I had the privilege yesterday morning of talking with a lady whose story I wanted to include in the book and I'm getting her story! Hooray!
Because I didn't yet have her story, I wasn't counting her as a contributor. So now that I officially have her story (although we're still writing and revising it), I've now added her as a contributor. So if you've been following the countdown, that's why the total contributors has increased by one and also why the number of contributors I still need Publishing Agreements from didn't go down even though I received another one yesterday.
And by the way...I'm grateful that I did receive another Publishing Agreement yesterday!
So here is today's count:
Total Contributors (Just added one more!): 42
Publishing Agreements received from (Got one more yesterday!): 31
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 11
Because I didn't yet have her story, I wasn't counting her as a contributor. So now that I officially have her story (although we're still writing and revising it), I've now added her as a contributor. So if you've been following the countdown, that's why the total contributors has increased by one and also why the number of contributors I still need Publishing Agreements from didn't go down even though I received another one yesterday.
And by the way...I'm grateful that I did receive another Publishing Agreement yesterday!
So here is today's count:
Total Contributors (Just added one more!): 42
Publishing Agreements received from (Got one more yesterday!): 31
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 11
Friday, August 13, 2010
Another Publishing Agreement came in!
If you're new to this blog, I'm working hard to self-publish my new book of true stories of unplanned pregnancy. The title (unless I change my mind!) is Deliver Me: Hope, Help, and Options when You're Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy.
I've been working on this book for a very long time, collecting stories, working out details... Now it's time to wrap it up and finish it off! And I'm working hard toward that end.
One thing I need is for everyone who has contributed a story to give me permission to use it in writing. That's what the Publishing Agreement is. I've been working hard to get a Publishing Agreement signed by all the writers who contributed stories. Some have been more challenging than others--for a variety of reasons. But I'm getting close! This is the big countdown to getting the final Publishing Agreements in.
I had another Publishing Agreement arrive in my mailbox yesterday, so here is where we stand today:
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 30
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 11
This blog is also about publishing and self-publishing. I've been a published writer for about twenty years now, so I've learned a thing or two that I want to share with other wannabe authors. For instance, if you're writing a book that has other people contributing material, I highly recommend that you put some kind of agreement on paper and ask them to sign it. I'm no attorney, but I think it should include any compensation the writer will be getting (are you paying them? how much? will they get a copy of the book when it comes out?) and state that they are granting you permission to use their story.
Speaking of attorney's, because the nature of my book is very sensitive with many stories having concerns for privacy, I had my attorney help me create my Publishing Agreement in order to make sure I'm covered. You may not need to hire an attorney, but if your topic is sensitive with potential to have privacy issues like mine, you might want to consider it.
Whoo-hoo! One more P.A. in! Eleven to go.
I've been working on this book for a very long time, collecting stories, working out details... Now it's time to wrap it up and finish it off! And I'm working hard toward that end.
One thing I need is for everyone who has contributed a story to give me permission to use it in writing. That's what the Publishing Agreement is. I've been working hard to get a Publishing Agreement signed by all the writers who contributed stories. Some have been more challenging than others--for a variety of reasons. But I'm getting close! This is the big countdown to getting the final Publishing Agreements in.
I had another Publishing Agreement arrive in my mailbox yesterday, so here is where we stand today:
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 30
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 11
This blog is also about publishing and self-publishing. I've been a published writer for about twenty years now, so I've learned a thing or two that I want to share with other wannabe authors. For instance, if you're writing a book that has other people contributing material, I highly recommend that you put some kind of agreement on paper and ask them to sign it. I'm no attorney, but I think it should include any compensation the writer will be getting (are you paying them? how much? will they get a copy of the book when it comes out?) and state that they are granting you permission to use their story.
Speaking of attorney's, because the nature of my book is very sensitive with many stories having concerns for privacy, I had my attorney help me create my Publishing Agreement in order to make sure I'm covered. You may not need to hire an attorney, but if your topic is sensitive with potential to have privacy issues like mine, you might want to consider it.
Whoo-hoo! One more P.A. in! Eleven to go.
Latest article #8 posted in "God on the Spot" series
The latest article in my series posted August 6th in the "Faith" column at TheChristianPulse.com.
This article, "God on the Spot – Part 8: Protecting the Bloodline, Preserving His Word," finishes our recap of the story of the Old Testament.
I'd love it if you'd stop by and leave a comment or rate the article. Thanks!
This article, "God on the Spot – Part 8: Protecting the Bloodline, Preserving His Word," finishes our recap of the story of the Old Testament.
I'd love it if you'd stop by and leave a comment or rate the article. Thanks!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Three more Publishing Agreements in!
Whoo-hoo! I got three more Publishing Agreements in today! Here's the new numbers as we count down to the book's completion:
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 29
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 12
A dozen more to go. Do you think we'll get them all? Every story I hand-picked for this book. I feel each one is so good and powerful, I'm hoping YES!, that I'll get to use them all.
Total Contributors: 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 29
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 12
A dozen more to go. Do you think we'll get them all? Every story I hand-picked for this book. I feel each one is so good and powerful, I'm hoping YES!, that I'll get to use them all.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Back to the Book: The Big Push!
Well now that I'm home from Act One, and now that I've unburied my writing desk (sort of) from all the work that piled up while I was gone and that had absolutely must-do deadlines, it's time to push to finish this book, Deliver Me.
If you want to draw a connection between pushing and the book being about unplanned pregnancy, I can say pun intended!
All last week I spent working with, contacting, and trying to contact writers who have contributed stories to the book who I haven't received Publishing Agreements from. Since last week, I've already received two more signed agreements. Whoo-hoo!
I'm pleased that several others promised to send their agreements soon.
I've had to delete two contributors from the book. One because so much time has elapsed I couldn't get the permission to use the story anymore because the person has moved on with no way to contact her. The other, I've tried everything I know to contact her and I can't get a hold of her. So here are the new numbers:
Total Contributors that I need Publishing Agreements from (originally 43 less the two deleted): 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 26
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 15
Still have a ways to go, but we're getting there!
I'm aware that the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference is beginning today. My editor, Margie Vawter, who will be editing my manuscript for me is there. So is at least one of my contributors to the book: Emily Parke Chase. Hope they're having a great time!
If you want to draw a connection between pushing and the book being about unplanned pregnancy, I can say pun intended!
All last week I spent working with, contacting, and trying to contact writers who have contributed stories to the book who I haven't received Publishing Agreements from. Since last week, I've already received two more signed agreements. Whoo-hoo!
I'm pleased that several others promised to send their agreements soon.
I've had to delete two contributors from the book. One because so much time has elapsed I couldn't get the permission to use the story anymore because the person has moved on with no way to contact her. The other, I've tried everything I know to contact her and I can't get a hold of her. So here are the new numbers:
Total Contributors that I need Publishing Agreements from (originally 43 less the two deleted): 41
Publishing Agreements received from: 26
Still need Publishing Agreements from: 15
Still have a ways to go, but we're getting there!
I'm aware that the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference is beginning today. My editor, Margie Vawter, who will be editing my manuscript for me is there. So is at least one of my contributors to the book: Emily Parke Chase. Hope they're having a great time!
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