Author Reading I love attending author readings. I didn't start going until my adult life, though. I was required to attend a poetry reading for my poetry class a year or so ago, but then I started attending them whenever I could because they were fun! They give me a "vision" of what it might be like when I (someday) become a debut author. Also, there's often Q & A at the end, and I've learned a lot about the writing and publishing process just from hearing those answers and sometimes asking my own questions.
Then, while drafting, she refers to these notebooks that (hopefully) have answers to her questions while she's drafting. If they don't, then she will give herself a note in the draft to look it up later. Later, she'll dive into the researching rabbit hole and record her answers.
But, as she admitted, she's still refining her process and it's difficult to keep organized. Walking among giants Attending this event felt a little different than others. I felt the difference when I first walked in. I showed up, and everyone was hugging and talking and taking pictures. Maybe I had never been this early before, though, so I didn't think much of it. After Amy Loveblood's reading, I stood in line to get my book signed. The bookstore host went around and wrote our names on post-its so we could have them personalized if we wanted. The gal behind me didn't have to tell her name to the bookstore clerk, though. "Oh, it was funny talking to your publisher," the clerk said as she wrote her name. "She wanted to know if I could book you in for a reading, but I had you scheduled months ago. I saw you had a book coming out, so I just put you in." They hugged and laughed. Wow, I thought. What would that be like?... Before I could really imagine having that kind of relationship with one of my all time favorite bookstores, I overheard the clerk talk to the next person in line. She asked for her name, wrote it down, and then looked at her. "You colored your hair," she said. "When's your next book coming out?" Wow, I thought again. I'm walking among giants here. These people are living my dream. I was sandwiched between published authors. Wow! Wow! Wow! I almost expected someone to ask me when my book was coming out and blushed as I thought about my unfinished discovery draft at home. Thankfully, no one asked me. When it was my turn to get my book signed, I handed her the book and Amy Loveblood looked at my name, then at me. She asked if my last name was Lamoreaux. She said it wrong, but that's not her fault. It's Hubby's fault for having a complicated French name. ha ha! She remembered meeting me on Twitter, probably from the #MTMC thing. I told her, yes and something else I don't remember, which made me blush, but smiley at the same time. I quickly got out of line and hid behind a piece of cake... still smiling and thinking, this is awesome!... Dream Big As I was driving home, I practically giggled out loud. I had had such a good time at the reading. I learned about the writing and researching process, I got to hear the author read a part of her book (that I can't wait to start reading!), I was among other published authors, and I got cake. I envisioned myself holding a copy of my work-in-progress, all shiny and published. People waited in line to have me sign their copy, and I saw myself answering questions, talking about my passion for writing and then reading out loud a bit of my book at Changing Hands Bookstore. When I got home, I pulled my keys out of the ignition and I remembered, Oh, yeah. My book isn't finished. I still haven't completed the discovery draft I started a year ago! I haven't revised, edited or had beta readers. I haven't even gotten close to querying. As I walked into our apartment, I felt like I picked up a bag of rocks. The weight of my goal suddenly felt heavy. I told Hubby about the experience, shared some cake and laughed about Amy Loveblood knowing me from the Internet and saying our last name funny. After a while, I sat on the couch and opened my copy of Nothing But Sky and show him my personalized message. I realized, then, that I hadn't even looked at it myself! "Dream big," she told me. I giggled and grabbed my laptop and started working on my WIP.
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