I’ve been involved with our local civic theater for about six years.  The theater has contributed the gift of live entertainment to our community for over 43 years.  I’ve had a variety of jobs from props, to running the light board, to running sound affects and being a stagehand.  In the past four years I’ve concentrated on serving as show producer.  I have collaborated with a director that is a friend of mine and we’re currently on our 5th show working together.

Both the director and my wife (mostly my wife) have encouraged me to go on stage.  I have fought off this suggestion for years.  However, fortune dealt me a trick hand when an actor in the current production of Wait Until Dark had to drop out due to illness.   The director asked me to fill and I said yes, to help him out.

It is a very small role at the close of the 2 hour play.  My role is so small that my character doesn’t have a name – just Patrolman #2.  Working with the actors, rehearsing, I’ve learned how the theater is like acting.

First, actors love words – as much as writers.  They love the sound of words and how words along with action and produce emotion and convince an audience to suspend disbelief.  In writing action and words should be interwoven – we call it showing not telling.

Everyone involved in a theater production develops a strong comradery while working on the play.  The degree to which they support each other, make suggestions for improvement and support the crew is incredible.  To be honest, writers, at least in my experience, could learn something from actors in supporting each other.

I invite other authors to post about their theater experience.

Writers are often advised to read.  Read voraciously.  Read all genres.  Read.  I have always been a reader for as far back as I can remember.  Reading on your own is fine but another dimension and depth is added if you participate in an organized reading group.  Our group resumes meeting next week and I can’t wait.

For about 10 years I have been a member of the Tuesday Book Talk group.  The class is made available through the UW Madison Department of Continuing Education.  The class meets in 6-10 week sessions in the winter and fall.  A recent six part series is only $60.00.  Most of the classes are lead by Dr. Emily Auerbach a full professor at the University of Wisconsin English Department and a recognized Jane Austen scholar.  Some classes are led by her colleague Marshall Cook, a retired Journalism instructor with over 30 published books to his credit both fiction and non-fiction.

Each session has a theme, this winter it’s ‘Unhappily Ever After” and we’re reading Henry James, Portrait of a Lady; Dorothy West, the Living is Easy; and, John Updike, Rabbit Run.    The theme of the next session is ‘200 Years of Pride and Prejudice’ and we’re reading Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice; and P.D. James, Death Comes to Pemberley.

As you might imagine I am an enthusiastic and frequent contributor to class discussion.  I find that I learn a great deal at each class.  I am always amazed at the insight and perspective others in our group share.  It is a joy.

2-13-13 First Steps on a New Path

My retired journalism professor and volunteer editor thought it would be a good idea to return to the first manuscript I submitted and was originally accepted by my former publisher.  That rang true with me, so the search began.  I thought I had saved the manuscript on a flash drive and put it safely in our lock box.  I confidently went to the bank, searched the box and found – nothing.

Next I searched through the four flash drives I use regularly.  My practice is not to store any manuscript on the hard drive of my laptop in case something happens to the laptop.  I found seven versions of my manuscript, but not the one dating to 2010.  I didn’t panic.

I plunged into reviewing the galley version of the manuscript sent to my former publisher in August 2012.  My reasoning was that an anonymous editor reviewed the galley and did make suggestions that I thought strengthened the work, like adding more senses (taste, smell etc.).

I’m reading the galley version now and will pass it along to my editor next week.  I learned from that reading that I’m too close to the work.  I don’t seem the have the ability to determine if the plot moves as it should, if anyone would care about my protagonist, Ian Murphy and if the detail is sufficient and I’ve harnessed my tendency to tell vs. show.  That’s why there are editors and this time mine resides only a few miles away and I’ll be able to work with him eyeball to eyeball.

I’ve also met once with my volunteer cover designer.  The previous book cover, which I had no say in developing, had bright, dramatic colors.  My volunteer designer takes a darker approach and has found a wonderful gaelic font to use (my former publisher rejected my suggestion to use a gaelic font on the book cover).

I queried the 10 groups I follow on Linkedin to learn their experience with the two primary self-publishers Amazon’s Create Space and Ingram.  Next week I’ll share what I’ve learned. 

 

I have not posted a blog since early November 2012 because I was waiting to hear from my publisher when Murphy’s Troubles would be launched.  In late November I received an e-mail telling me while originally planned for publication in 2012 it would not be published until early 2013.

The 2rd week of January I wrote my publisher at e-mail asking when my novel would be scheduled for publication since I submitted edits to the galley August 1, 2012.  I received a terse e-mail response that the publisher hadn’t received the galley back from the editor (I was not allowed to have contact with the editor – the publisher claimed it was their policy to retain the independence of the editor).  The publisher refused to offer a publication date stating:  “. . . when a book is ready to be published it tells us.”  The publisher also informed me that more money has been spent on my novel than any other title in their catalog and I needed to be patient.

My journey with the micro publisher in California began in December 2010 and now it was time to end it.  On January 28th I sent the publisher a registered letter terminating the contract.  It is now time to follow a new path.

I would never consider using a vanity press but do want to explore self-publishing with either Create Space or Ingram.  Recently I learned that I can use Create Space for publication, distribution and marketing and still submit the book to Ingram for distribution because I retain the rights of the work.

So, I am embarking on the self-publication journey.  When you take on a task such as this you find out who your friends are right away.  One friend, a retired Journalism professor has agreed to be my editor.  Another friend has agreed to design a new book cover.

When asked how I felt about terminating a contract with a traditional publisher and venturing on the self-publication path my immediate response was – relief.  I am now totally responsible for all aspects of bringing my historical novel to the world, I am up to the task and energized.  My target – a September release of Murphy’s Troubles.

Join me on the journey.  Give me your comments, suggestions, thoughts, what to avoid and what not to avoid.