Guest Post: Author Laurie Buchanan on writing

Please welcome my online friend and fellow author Laurie Buchanan.  I've been following Laurie's blog for over a year and I'm delighted she's here...

When Leanne invited me to post about the current phase of my up-and-coming nonfiction book, “Discovering the Seven Selves: Your Key to Offloading Baggage and Increasing Joy - Now!” I was tickled pink! Where to begin...

Earlier this year my literary agent took my manuscript to BookExpo America (BEA) in New York where it caught the interest of three different publishers. She is currently in the process of determining which of them is the best to represent my work.

In the meantime, as a nonfiction writer it’s my job to “prime the pump” and “set the stage” for a launch:

RADIO APPEARANCE

As a result of that exposure, I was invited by radio host Roi Solberg to be interviewed on “Authentic You Radio” for a 15-minute guest appearance.  

PRINT

I’ve enlisted the help of MOO to do the print promotional pieces: business card-sized handouts, bookmarks, and postcards. Here’s a link: http://www.moo.com/share/bmwbt6. At MOO you have full control of the presentation (size, graphics, color, etc). 

So what am I doing in the meantime?

I’m working on my next book. A publisher wants to know you’re not a one-shot deal. An enthusiastic writer with another work in progress (or more) is precisely what they’re looking for.

Write on!

Laurie Buchanan

Blue Pencil Critique (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Inspired by...
Conquer Your Writing Weaknesses
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.ca/2012/09/conquer-your-writing-weaknesses.html?showComment=1348761161464#c8466110190768853176
I wrote...

Blue Pencil Critique

I eagerly signed up for my first blue pencil critique. We were instructed to email our short story to our critique partner a few weeks before the writing workshop. And I dreamed about an actual author reading my words.

On the day of the writing workshop, I arrived early at the library and was directed to room 202-A. The room was empty—just me and mystery author Lou Allin. She'd been published more than once. 

“Do you have two copies of your submission?” 

I handed her the pages, and my excitement was gone—replaced by a red face and hand-trembling nerves. I waited for her to belt me in and flip the switch.

I'm not a writer. I don't know how to write. Why am I here? Why am I wasting her time?

I felt her eyes on my words, and my stomach flipped.

“I know my writing needs a lot of help.” 

“Really? Actually, I thought it was—."

“I have dyslexia,” I blurted.

“Rather good.” She grinned. "Oh, that explains the creative spelling.”

She placed the pages on the desk. “This is good. In fact, it’s one of the best submissions I’ve received.”

All I saw was a trail of red ink snaking down the page.

“It’s best to avoid… This piece could be a lot stronger if you… I think it would help if you…,” she said, dancing through the pages. Then she hit on something tender.

“Actually,” I began tentatively. “There was… That is to say…” I gulped. “May I do more than listen? I mean, can I explain?”

Her eyes lifted from the paper and rested softly on my face. “Of course, Leanne." She smiled. "These are your words. You know the story better than I do. You know why you wrote it the way you did. Hold on to your vision. I’m only here to help.”

***