Category Archives: the business of writing

A Writer’s greatest tonic: SLEEP!

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Ha!  I know, you thought I would say that the writer’s greatest tonic is  …. perhaps, some scotch (straight up, of course) or a glass of Pinot Noir!  Well, I jest you not … a good night’s sleep does indeed stimulate the creative juices.  Waking up in the morning and feeling refreshed and alert (until you catch a glimpse of your puffy-eyed reflection in the mirror!) will go a long way to helping you finish that oh-so-wordy chapter 6 (the chapter that keeps on giving ….. me heartburn).  All right, enough of my writing woes.  Here are some interesting tidbits and links on the physical and psychological benefits of sleep — not just for neurotic writers, but for everyone:

Many of us think that we can get by on very little sleep.  When deadlines loom near, we pull a few all-nighters. And this is okay …. once in a while.  The startling news is that far too many of us follow a daily sleep regimen of less than 6 hours per night. This, according to researchers at Harvard Medical School, falls under the category of chronic sleep loss and may contribute to a number of health problems, such as  a compromised immune system, weight gain, and high blood pressure.  The Harvard Women’s Health Watch reports that there are at least 6 good reasons to get enough sleep:

  1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
  2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
  3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
  4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
  5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
  6. Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.

And, here are some sleep guidelines from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:

Sleep Requirements by Age

Newborns (0-2 months old) 12-18 hours
Infants (3-11 months old) 14-15 Hours
Toddlers (1-3 years old)l 12-14 Hours
Pre-schoolers (3-5 years old) 11-13 Hours
School-aged Children (5-10 years old) 10-11 Hours
Teens (11-17 years old) 8-9 Hours
Adults 7-9 Hours

And, for those of you who complain incessantly that your mattress is the reason why you don’t sleep well at night — please do some research and then invest in a new mattress!

Sweet dreams …

Sleep – the most beautiful experience in life – except drink.
W. C. Fields

I couldn’t resist.

Cheers,  h.f.t.g.

Image via kiwimagonline.com.

eBooks versus Print: do I have to take sides?

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I cannot begin to tell you how many heated discussions I’ve had (with fellow writers, academics, and business clients) on the subject of  “eBooks versus Print.”  

There are many eBook naysayers who will insist that eBooks are not “real” books, that the quality control for eBooks is minimal – if at all, and that you cannot really claim to have written a book if the book is not in print form.  I concur – to a certain degree – with the second point.  Quality control is an issue. Anyone can put out an eBook, however, if it’s not well-written and interesting …. well, who will buy it?  I should point out that many published print books could also use a little QC!

Where do I stand?  Look, I’ve been a bookworm all of my life.  As a child, my friends would knock on the door and ask my mother whether I could come out to play.  My response (to my mother’s questioning look) usually went something like this: “I’m in the middle of a really good chapter. When I’m finished, I’ll come out.  Won’t be too long.”  Then, about five chapters later, I’d remember that I’d promised to go out and join my friends.

I’ve always loved libraries. I feel at home there. The musty smell of books, the hushed silence, the volumes neatly arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System,  the sheer opulence of printed matter –  bring me a quiet joy and sense of peace.  I love the feel of a book in my hand and am a voracious reader. That will never change.  My study is my sanctuary and my books are my friends. I cherish and value them more than any other possessions I own. I prefer books to diamonds — kid you not!

That being said, I look at eBooks as an opportunity to read more – wherever I may be.  It’s not always practical to carry around a heavy, bulky hardcover.  A Kindle (for example) is compact and light.

So, I embrace change because, in doing so, it offers me more accessibility to the written word. But – and this is a big But (no pun intended!) – I will still always prefer curling up with a good hardcover book.

Not surprisingly, I still have all of my old record albums and tape cassettes – from back in the day.  Yet, I also own an iPod. You see where I’m going with this?

Now, there’s probably lots more that should be said about the advantages of eBooks (from a writer’s perspective) – such as no distribution or printing costs.  I’ll leave that discussion for another day.  Right now I have to get back to reading this fabulous book I just picked up at Barnes and Noble.  I’m in the middle of a really good chapter …..

Later,

h.f.t.g.

Image via bethrevis.blogspot.com.

A Writer’s Dilemma: traditional publishing or self-publishing?

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Until recent years, I always believed the traditional publishing route was the only way to go.  I knew that it would entail sending out query letter after query letter and, inevitably, would be followed by rejection letter after rejection letter.  I knew that it would most likely take some time – perhaps years – before a positive response would be forthcoming. I would need to hire a literary agent, if I ever had a hope in hell of having my manuscript read by a publisher. Nevertheless, I envisaged a day when one of New York’s finest publishing houses would give me the thumbs-up.  I imagined the process, the kind of advance I would get, and what the contract would entail.  Would they want a one-book deal or a three- or five-book deal?  Most importantly, I would be published!

Times have changed.  Writers are increasingly favoring the self-publishing route. There used to be a stigma attached to what was once referred to as “vanity press.”  Not so much, anymore (although there are a few publishing purists who still curl their lips in disdain at the mere thought of  a self-published book or – gasp! – an Ebook!). But, with the advent of social media and publishing vehicles like Kindle Amazon and lulu.com – many writers are opting to eliminate the “middle man” and take control of their own publishing destiny.  Not convinced?  Frankly, I’m still in a quandary, myself.

Here are a few of the pros and cons in the traditional publishing versus self-publishing debate:

SELF-PUBLISHING

The author becomes the publisher (no middle man) and, as such,  she/he has to do all the work (proofread and edit the final text, provide camera-ready artwork, marketing and distribute the book – and provide all the funds to publish the book).  Yes, companies like lulu.com (for example) can market and distribute but you will inevitably have to pay the tab.  A hefty tab, at that.

Pros:

  • Control. You control the process and have full rights to your manuscript.
  • Time. You could easily have a book released in the space of six months.

Cons:

  • Money. You have to pay for everything and will only recoup your costs if the book sells – well.
  • Contacts. You don’t have the benefit of a publishing house’s experience, contacts and networking capabilities.
  • Time. Ahhh, there’s that Time issue again!  You will be spending a lot of your time marketing, distributing, filling orders, and so on.
  • Market  Saturation.  The market is saturated with low-quality books because so many people (who are not really writers) are publishing their own books or Ebooks. The end result:  self-publishing still gets a bad rap – like it or not.

TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING

Most larger publishing houses will not even look at a manuscript unless it is represented by a literary agent. Smaller or independent houses may possibly accept unrepresented work, but don’t hold your breath.  Expect to get rejection letters.  Don’t let rejection letters fill you with self-doubt. Keep trying.

Pros:

  • Money.  You will get an advance (ranging from a meager amount to as much as seven figures).  You will get a percentage of sales.
  • Effort. The publishing house will handle the whole process.  They have the resources to promote your book – well.
  • Credibility. To be published by a major publishing house is a good thing – really. Whether you like it or not, perception is important.

Cons:

  • Money.  You will have to pay the literary agent a percentage (usually 15%) of  your advance, as well as a percentage of the sales.
  • Control.  You are at the mercy of the publishing house.  You lose some or all control over your manuscript, including title, cover, content  – depending on the fine print in your contract.
  • Time.  It will likely take a publishing house anywhere from 12 – 18 months to publish your book.

Clearly, it is extremely important to research your publishing options further and think very carefully about which route you want to take.

As a writer, this is one of the most important decisions that you will make.

Personally, I am still torn between the two but am leaning towards the self-publishing option.  My main issue is Time.  The time is NOW!

Here’s wishing all of you the best of luck!

Cheers,

h.f.t.g.

Image via   Llamatastic.com.