Betsy Horvath

Category: The Quest

  • Obsessia

    obsessia1Previously on Betsy’s Blog…

    Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest, has given her a list of things she will need to learn to be a successful indie author and she has gone off to think about them.  Betsy being Betsy, her thoughts promptly swirled into a burgeoning tornado of confusion, indecision and doubt.  But, wait – does it seem that Betsy is being prodded just a little a bit?  Could there be something – or someone – helping to stir her up?  Let’s see…

    You don’t know how to format.

    I don’t know how to format.

    You need to learn to format.

    I need to learn.  I need to learn to format.

    You don’t know how design a book cover.

    I don’t know how to design a book cover.

    You need to learn how to do everything now.  You need to read more self-publishing blogs.

    I need to learn…wait.  I need to write.  I have to finish the book.

    No.  You have to learn the things you don’t know before you get the book finished.  You need to search the internet for more tips.  You need to subscribe to more email lists.

    But if I don’t get the book finished, I won’t have anything to publish…

    You don’t have time to write.  You need to read blogs on writing and publishing and you need to learn how to format and you need to make a cover and you need to learn how to market and you need to do all of this now.

    I should read those blogs about writing so I can learn to how to launch a book.  I should watch authors talk about writing on YouTube.  I should do that now.

    Yes.  Then you need to check Facebook.  You need to check for the fifteenth time to see if somebody “liked” that link you shared.

    I should.

    *Muse pokes head into cavern of brain*  Betsy?  Where the heck are you?

    *Betsy blinks*  *Appears to come out of trance*  What?  Muse is that you?  *rubs face*  What are you doing here?

    *Muse walks over to where Betsy sits huddled on floor of brain clutching her laptop*  Well, I’m here because we’re supposed to be writing, but we’re not getting very far. 

    You’re right.  You’re right.  *Betsy shakes self and starts to put laptop aside*  We need to write.

    No.  You need to read more blogs about self-publishing.  You need to surf the Internet for more tips about writing.  You need to check Facebook and Google Plus and Twitter.

    *Muse looks around*  Who is….?  Oh.  Great.  It’s you.

    *Betsy appears confused*  Of course it’s me.

    Not you.  *Muse points*  Her.

    *Betsy swivels to look behind her*  *sees a dark fog hovering at her shoulder* *As she watches the fog coalesces into the shape of a girl*  Wow.  Goth.

    *girl drifts forward*  I am Obsessia.

    *Betsy looks around*  Obsessia?  Oh, wait.  Harry mentioned you once.  How the heck did you get in my brain, Obsessia?

    Oh, I’ve been here for a while. *Obsessia waves that away*  You just don’t know I’m here whispering to you.

    *Betsy frowns*  I don’t like that much.  How come I can see you now?

    Because she mentioned me. *Obsessia points at Muse*  Once she noticed me, you were bound to see me too.

    *Betsy gathers up laptop computer* *crawls to her feet*  I’m not sure that I like you, Obsessia.

    *Obsessia swirls long black dress around ankles*  You like me fine when I’m whispering to you.

    I don’t like you.  *Muse steps up next to Betsy* *Glares at Obsessia*  You try to keep Betsy away from me.  When you’re whispering to her, she can’t hear me sing.

    Oh.  Too bad.  *Obsessia holds up thumb and forefinger* *saws forefinger over thumb* *nails are painted black*  Here’s a little violin playing a song just for you.  Boo hoo hoo.

    *Muse turns to Betsy*  See when she whispers to you, then you get all caught up on things that don’t matter or that are bad for you.  And your thinking just gets narrowed down to one track and you can’t think of other things.

    *Betsy stares at Muse*  Really?  I’m really like that?

    Yes!  *Muse throws up hands in disgust*  Why do you think you’ve wasted so much time flipping back and forth between Facebook and Google Plus and Twitter instead of writing?   Why do you buy so many books on writing instead of working on the book you ARE writing?  Why are you worrying so much about launch strategies and marketing algorithms when the book isn’t even freaking finished yet? 

    *Betsy thinks*  Because I’m obsessed?

    Well, duh! *Muse waves hands in the air*  *Er…brain*  Yes!  Yes, yes, YES!

    *Betsy stands straighter*  I believe that I want you to leave my brain, Obsessia.  I believe that I am happier listening to the Muse and to Harry than I am listening to you.

    *Obsessia shrugs*  Too bad.

    Too…. hey!  *Betsy clenches fists around laptop*  This is MY brain.

    Is it?  *Obsessia smiles*  I don’t think so.

    I think it is!  *Betsy tries to appear confident*

    Hmmm.  *Obsessia taps her lips with a long, black fingernail*  I think I should call my boyfriend.

    Boyfriend?  *Betsy exchanges a look with the Muse*  Who’s that?

    Compulsion.  *Obsessia’s smile widens*  

    Hello, my sweet.

    *Betsy gasps*  It’s the Voice!  The Dark Voice!

    Betsy, we’re trapped inside walls of ice!  *Muse grasps Betsy’s arm*  We can’t get out!

    *Betsy puts down laptop*  *grabs Muse*  I can’t believe it.  I really am Obsessive / Compulsive?

    *Muse looks at her in disgust*  Really?  REALLY?  You didn’t know that?  I think I’m going to have to buy you a clue for your birthday.

    Well, I always thought I was Manic / Depressive. *Betsy sounds defensive*

    Could we possibly have this conversation later?  *Muse yells*

    I think I should have some say in my own brain.  *Betsy frowns petulantly*

    This is not your brain.  It is ours.  *The Voice laughs*  Obsessia, my dear.  Perhaps we need to prove our point.

    *Obsessia giggles*  Oh, yes.  Let’s.

     

    To be continued…

     

    skull

     

     

  • Things To Learn, Decisions To Make


    walking into computerPreviously on Betsy’s Blog…    Betsy meets with Harry, her Quest Guide, to discuss progress on her Quest.  She tells him she has finally finished the first draft of her book, but she doesn’t seem excited about it.  Turns out she’s scared because now this whole thing is getting real.  Harry talks her down off the ledge and they end up doing a happy dance around Betsy’s brain.It turns out Harry hasn’t been idle as he waited for Betsy and her Muse to finish writing – he’s come up with a whole lot of things Betsy will need to learn and other things she will need to consider.  What are they?  Let’s listen in and find out…. 

    *Betsy collapses back down onto the sofa in Harry’s office in her brain* *Wheezes from exertion of happy dancing* Okay, I’m feeling much better now.  Thanks Harry!

    *Harry settles onto coffee table* *Breathes normally*  No problem, babe.  You done good.  *He looks pained* Just tell me you’re typing the damned thing into Scrivener now.

    I am.  *Betsy scrunches face apologetically* It took a little bit for me to get started, but I’m working on it now.

    Just remember you aren’t really finished. *Harry waggles finger of paw at her*  I know if feels like you are because the first draft is written, but the book isn’t finished until it’s in the hands of the consumers.

    *Betsy draws in breath*  I know.

    Speaking of which, I have a few things we need to talk about.  *Harry jumps off coffee table* *scampers up tower of gerbil habitat* *grabs gPad* *scampers back down and jumps back up on coffee table*

    Yeah?  *Betsy eyes gPad nervously*

    Okay.  *Harry taps away on screen of gPad*  While you’ve been writing, I’ve been looking at the other things you’ll need to consider to bring this book to market.  Do you want me to give you a list?

    Um, sure?  *Betsy sinks further into sofa*

    Right.  I’ll make sure you have a printout later.  *Harry studies screen*  Some of this are things you need to learn.  Some items are things we’ll need to consider as we move forward.

    What do I need to learn?

    *Harry looks up from his notes*  Well, first of all, you’ll need to learn how to use Scrivener better so you can compile ebook files quickly and easily.  You’ll have to learn about formatting the file to make sure the files are formatted properly for the vendors. You’ll need to learn how to download files at the vendors.  And that brings up the first decision we need to make.  How do you want to distribute the book?

    Well, I don’t know.  *Betsy frowns*  Based on everything I’ve heard, it’s best to go directly to the biggest markets like Amazon, Kobo, Nook and iBooks instead of using an aggregator like BookBaby.  But I do want to go to Smashwords too.

    Um huh.  *Harry types*  I agree, but that means we’ll need to find out how to upload files on each of those vendors.  We’ll also have to figure out how to put vendor-specific buy links in the backmatter once you have more books uploaded.

    Buy links…? Back matter….?

    *Harry looks seriously over reading glasses he is suddenly wearing*  You’ll need to learn more about metadata and search engine optimization too, as well as Amazon categories.

    *Betsy’s face takes on dazed expression* Metadata?  Search engine…?

    Hmmm.  *Harry continues typing*  Now, regarding the cover.  You have a good base as far as I’m concerned.  Are you going to want to hire a professional cover designer?

    *Betsy shakes head* *Tries to catch up with the conversation*  I know everyone says that you need to hire a professional cover designer, but I think the one I did is fine.

    I agree.  *Harry nods*  I think you might want to look into a less common font, though.  And while you’re at it, you should look at making the font of your name on your website stand out a little more.

    Are you kidding?  You want me to buy a FONT?  *Betsy stares at him*

    Only for the book covers.  Now.  *Harry swipes to a new page*  I’m assuming you do want professional editing.

    Yes, I think so.  *Betsy frowns*  I have beta readers lined up and they’ll provide some editing, but I think I should invest in a professional.

    Good, good.  I agree.  *Harry types* I’ll do some research on that.  Now, let’s talk about launch strategy.

    Launch… *Betsy stares at him*  Harry, the damn book isn’t even finished yet!

    And well I know it.  *Harry sets gPad aside to look at Betsy intently*  I would like to propose that you finish at least three books before you release this one.

    Three!  *Betsy gapes*  Harry, you know how long it took me to get this one this far finished!  I might be dead before I get two more done!

    No.  *Harry rests his paws on Betsy’s clenched hands*  Because things are different now, remember?  You don’t have to be afraid anymore.  And you’ve got a goal, a Quest, and a schedule.

    Ookayy… *Betsy sounds uncertain*

    There are a lot of advantages to releasing three at once, or three fairly close together. *Harry’s paws tighten on Betsy’s hands*  You can start a funnel to drive readers to the next book in the series and there will be a next book for them to read.

    Funnel…

    You can have more than one book edited at the same time and maybe get a discount.

    *Betsy brightens* I like discounts.

    Maybe.  *Harry holds up a cautionary finger* We’ll have to see.

    Okay.

    *Harry peers at her*  Okay, like you understand?  Or okay like you agree?

    Okay, I agree.  I think.  But it sounds like I’ll have a lot to learn while I’m trying to write these next books.  I’m kind of nervous about that.

    And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  *Harry sits back*  I won’t deny there’s a big learning curve.  But you knew that before we started.

    *Betsy chews her lip*  I guess I did.

    We’ll take things one step at a time.  First step is getting this book in Scrivener and finished.  *Harry picks up gPad* *Swipes to new page*  And you’ve already signed up for a Scrivener training course.  You’ll need to watch those videos soon, not old episodes of “The Big Bang Theory”.

    Awww.  *Betsy pouts*

    Deal with it.  *Harry reads his screen*  You’ve also signed up for lynda.com.  Use them to get some training in Photoshop and maybe some graphic design.  If you want to do your own covers, you’ll need to know more about that stuff.  Oh, and you should find images for the next few covers.  And you need a font.

    I’m starting to hyperventilate.  *Betsy puts hand on her heaving bosom*

    Relax, babe.  It will be fine.  *Harry absently pats Betsy’s leg*  There’s a lot to learn, but I’m with you all the way.

    *Betsy gazes at Harry with big, liquid eyes*  Promise?

    Sure.  

     

    To be continued…

    Harry1

  • First Drafts and Fears

    ClimbEveryMountainPreviously on Betsy’s Blog…

    Betsy is on a Quest to become an Indie Author/Publisher/Entrepreneur.  Harry, a white gerbil, is her Guide.  When last we met, Betsy and her Muse were hopped up on writing good times and heading towards finishing the first draft of the second half of the redraft of the book Betsy is writing.  While they got down to the creative business, Harry went off to find out what else Betsy is going to need to know if she wants to make this Quest a reality.

    Now Betsy and Harry are meeting to discuss progress, but something appears to be amiss.  Betsy is not bouncing around with excitement and middle-aged glee.  In fact, she seems rather subdued.  What’s happened?  Does Betsy have to make yet another feeble excuse for not getting her work done?  Let’s see…

     

    *Betsy enters office Harry has set up in her brain*  *Walks over to sofa*  *Drops down onto it with a sigh*

    *Harry looks up from his gPad*  *Frowns*  *Hops to edge of gerbil habitat tower*  Betsy?

    Yeah.  *Betsy stretches out to lay on sofa*  *Puts arm over her eyes*

    What’s wrong?  *Harry puts down gPad*  *runs down tower tube*  *runs over to sofa and jumps onto arm near Betsy’s head*  *pokes at her with a little paw*  I thought you were going to have good news for me today.

    I do.  *Betsy’s voice is muffled by her arm*

    *Harry waits for a moment, but she says nothing else*  Come on.  You’re killing me here.  Did you finish the first draft?

    I did.

    Hey, that’s great! *Harry starts jumping around*  You finished the first draft!  That’s awesome.

    Sure.  *Betsy lets her hand fall to her side*  *stares at ceiling of the brain*

    *Harry stops jumping*  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m sensing a lack of enthusiasm here.  Care to tell me why?

    Well, I’m just really scared now.

    Scared?  *Harry jumps onto Betsy’s chest so he can look her in the eye*  Why, for Pete’s sake?  This is a big accomplishment.

    I know, I know, I know.  *Betsy sits up*  *Dislodges Harry*  It’s just that now it’s, well, real.  There’s so much left to do, but now I have to really step up and do it.

    *Harry scratches his head with his back paw*  I don’t understand.  You always had to do it.

    No.  *Betsy stands*  *Begins to pace*  When I was writing the first draft, I didn’t know the whole story.  It was easy to write and rewrite because the story didn’t completely exist yet.  But now I’ve forced myself to power through and the whole story is formed.  It’s not fully formed – it’s kind of like it’s covered in mud – but it’s there just waiting for me to firm it up and finish it.

    Okay.  Still don’t see the problem.

    *Betsy twirls around to glare at Harry*  And then once I firm it up and finish it, I’m going to have to put it out there, aren’t I?

    *Harry shrugs*  Only if you want to actually be an author, babe.  Which you do.

    And then it will be done and I won’t be working on it anymore and then people will read it and maybe review it, or OH!  maybe they WON’T review it and I won’t sell any books and what if I finish this book and it SUCKS or what if I CAN’T finish this book because I’m a total loser and I can’t succeed at anything and what if I read the first draft I wrote and it takes me another TWENTY years to finish the book and I– *Betsy sucks in breath*–die?  Huh?

    Okay.  Wow.  *Harry holds out paws in a placating manner*  Hold on there little trouper.  Why don’t you come back and sit down.  *pats sofa cushion*

    *Betsy sniffles*  Okay.  *walks back to sofa*  *sits* *sniffles*  Sorry.

    Yeah, well, there’s a lot going on in that noggin of yours, isn’t there?

    *sniffle*  Uh huh.

    It sounds like you’re thinking of writing this book as some huge event.

    *Betsy stares at Harry*  Because it is.

    *Harry shrugs*  Not so much.  I mean, yeah, it’s a great accomplishment and all, but it’s not really an event.  It’s just your job now.  It’s just what you do.  This is the second book of many.  You’ve got a ton of others trapped in here.  *Harry climbs Betsy’s chest and taps a paw on her forehead*

    *Betsy frowns* Why were you so excited then?*

    *Harry rolls eyes*  I was excited because you are finally, FINALLY, taking a step onto your own path.

    Oh.  *Betsy thinks*  Okay.

    You’re gonna be fine, babe.  You WILL be able to finish it and it WILL be great.  And then another story will come right along if you let it and you’ll be all about the new story.  Treat this like the be-all and end-all and you’re going to spend the rest of your life rewriting it until it’s perfect and it never will be because that’s the way life goes.  You need to finish this one and you need to get it out there and you need to let people read it.  *Harry hops back onto sofa*

    *Betsy digs out tissue*  *blows nose*  I want people to read it.

    Of course you do.  *Harry pats Betsy’s arm*  You can’t worry about reviews or any of that stuff.  You can’t control what people are going to say, or not say.  You have to focus on the things you CAN control.  And that means, you need to finish your book and you need to ship it.  Then you need to do it all over again.  Each book is just one of many.  There will be another one coming along after this one is finished.

    I should have that tattooed on my arm.  *Betsy gives Harry a watery smile* Thanks.  I feel better now.  *Betsy thinks*  And excited!

    Great.  And you finished your first draft!  *Harry gives a fist pump*

    I did!  *Betsy claps her hands*

    Hooray!  

    *Betsy and Harry dance around her brain*

     

     To be continued…

    dancing-clip-art-1

     

  • What’s Next?

    woman thinkingPreviously on Betsy’s blog…

    Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest to be an indie author/publisher, has discovered that Betsy and her Muse are almost finished the first draft of her book.  This is a good thing.  What Harry finds a little disturbing is the fact that Betsy wrote much of the second half of the first draft of the book in longhand.  Like on paper.  With a pen.  And now it will have to be typed in.

    This gave Harry a little pause (as opposed to little paws – he already has those), but he’s gotten over it.  Mostly.  Now he wants to find out where Betsy and her Muse are planning on taking her writing in the future.  Is this first draft going to be it?  Do they have any further plans?  Has Betsy thought ahead at all?  Does Betsy even have a clue?

    Let us rejoin the conversation between Betsy, Harry, and the Muse, in the lushly appointed office Harry has set up for himself in Betsy’s brain to find out…. 

     

    Okay.  *Harry nods*  Let’s talk about plans for the next steps after the book is finished.

    Aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves?  *Betsy looks skeptical*

    Nah.  We need to think about these things.  *Harry flaps paw*  I mean, yeah, you need to concentrate on getting this book all the way finished.  But where do we go next?  Do you have any plans?

    Well. *Betsy exchanges look with Muse*  I’m planning to live my life my own way and show my body some respect?

    With your WRITING. *Harry sits on the edge of the coffee table*  What’s next for your WRITING?

    Oh.  Writing.  *Betsy looks eager*  Well, Muse and I HAVE been making plans for the writing.

    Awesome.  *Harry swings foot* Talk to me.

    Oh! *Muse leans forward* It’s so exciting.  See, this book we’re finishing now is supposed to be the first book of a series.

    Yes!  *Betsy leans forward too*  And not only because I wanted to write a series, but because people love to read a series, especially in romance.  They love getting to know the characters and seeing them in future books.

    So we decided this would be the first of at least seven, right?  *Muse looks to Betsy*

    *Betsy nods* At least seven.  But I’d like it if we could stay in this world for a lot longer than that.  We even have titles for the next two books and we’re doing world building, and–

    *Muse jumps in*  And I’m coming up with the plot for the next book.  Actually, I have the basics for the next couple of books and–

    *Betsy interrupts*  And I’m charting out characters and the town this book is set in so we can tie in some short stories, and–

    *Muse claps her hands* Oh, and I’m working on the story arcs that are going to go through the series.  There’s one major arc, but I think we’ll have several, don’t you? *Looks at Betsy*

    *Betsy nods*  Yes, based on what I see in the first book there will be several.  But you know, we have to consider–

    Okay, okay.  *Harry waves paws to stop them*  That’s great.  Just the kind of planning I like to see.  *Looks sternly at Betsy*  You know the problems you ran into before when you tried to write a series.

    Yeah, but I’ve learned.  *Betsy perches on edge of sofa*  See, with Hold Me, I had like a vague idea about what I wanted to do in a series, but I never thought about details.  Then I took out some characters who would have been important in the future and I didn’t know where to go after that.  But this time I know that you need to plan for a series in the first book.  So I’m building that in.  I know I have to do all of this planning now and really chart out the first couple of books or I’ll get stuck again

    We still have a lot of work to do. *Muse tugs at her chin*  It’s not finished by any means.

    *Betsy holds up finger to stop her*  But we’ll have time after the first draft is finished to work on some of this.

    Good, good.  *Harry stands*  I like it that you’re thinking ahead.

    Well, because I have to.  And now that I know it’s a series, I have the hero and heroine for the second book being introduced in the first book.  And the leads for future books are there too.  I didn’t do that kind of stuff with Hold Me.

    *Muse pats Betsy’s hand*  Newbie mistake.

    *Betsy grimaces*  Yeah.  Just one of many.  But knowing I need to think about these things now is helping me plant the seeds for future books.

    *Muse chair dances*  Yay!  Future books! 

    *Harry begins to pace*  I really like this new can-do attitude, I must say.

    *Betsy blushes*  Thanks.

    I’ll tell you what.  *Harry turns to her*  You guys keep up with the writing.  I’m going to go out and surf around, talk to my fellow Guides, and come up with a list of other things we need to consider as we move forward.

    *Betsy looks at Muse*  *Looks back at Harry*  Other things?

    You want to be an indie author.  There are a ton of other things you’re going to need to know and plan for.  We need to figure out what they are so you can work them into your writing schedule.

    O-okay.  *Betsy looks a little intimidated*

    Don’t worry about it.  *Harry waves away her concern*  You guys finish that darn book.  I’ll go see what I can see.  Then we’ll get back together and discuss.  Now, get going!  *Harry strides back to gerbil habitat*

    Who does he think he is? *Muse whispers in Betsy’s ear*

    I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s Patton.  *Betsy sighs*  *stands*  Okay, Muse.  Let’s get writing.

    Yay!  *Muse dances out of post*

    Yay.  *Betsy follows*

     

    To be continued…

     

    Thinking Man

     

  • Longhand?

    Writing ClipartPreviously on Betsy’s Blog…

    To sum things up as quickly as possible:  there’s a Quest, there’s a Guide, he’s a gerbil (yeah, a gerbil), his name is Harry.  The Quest is to indie publish, Betsy’s supposed to be writing and finishing her first draft, and the Muse is cranky about schedules.  Betsy’s also managed to put together a “Quest” page collecting all of the related blog posts in one place.  Although she never figured out how to put the first post first instead of last, she’s pretty impressed that she even figured out how to collect them together.

    Anyway, Harry has called a meeting with Betsy and the Muse to discuss progress.  Let’s listen in, shall we?  

    Yes, let’s.

     

    *Betsy and the Muse walk into Harry’s office*  *see Harry lounging on top of his habitat tower watching television*

    Hey, I’m glad you two could spare a minute. *Harry sips from a snifter of brandy* *turns off ESPN*

    Sure. *Betsy sits on sofa*

    Sure. *Muse perches uncertainly beside Betsy* *glances at Betsy for reassurance*

    *Betsy pats Muse’s hand* So, what’s up?

    *Harry puts down snifter*  *runs down the habitat tower, then jumps to perch on the coffee table in front of them* I wanted to touch base with you guys to see how we’re doing on our product.

    Great! *Betsy smiles at Muse* We’re at the end of the first draft for Handing It.  I think we’re at the last scene, don’t you, Muse?

    Oh, yes! *Muse sits forward* *Trembles with creative enthusiasm* We’re definitely at the climactic scene.  A little bit more work and it will be finished!

    Hey, that’s great. *Harry settles down on the coffee table* *Crosses one hind leg over the other* *adjusts his fur to lay smoothly over knee* What’s next after that?

    *Betsy looks at Muse* Well, we kinda figured we’d keep writing.

    Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Of course you’re going to keep writing.  *Harry flicks that away* But I need to plan.  So after you finish this first draft, what’s the next step?

    Oh.  *Betsy frowns in thought* I guess the first thing we’ll have to do is to type the first draft into Scrivener and–

    Whoa! *Harry holds up forepaws, pads out* Whoa, whoa, whoa!  What do you mean, “type it into Scrivener”? How the heck did you write this first draft anyway?  Telepathy?

    *Betsy looks uncomfortable*  I, um, wrote it, um, longhand.

    Longhand! *Harry jumps to his feet* Longhand!  You mean like on PAPER?  With a PEN? Are you freaking kidding me?

    No. *Betsy tries to soothe him* See with longhand, it all just flowed–

    Flowed! Flowed! *Harry begins to pace, paws clasped behind his back*

    Yeah! It was so cool. *Muse leans forward eagerly* See, she was all blocked up and I was talking and talking, but I could never get her to buckle down and listen but then we figured out it was because she was sitting at a computer, see?  And sitting at the desk was restrictive kinda, and reminded her of her day job.  So we thought she should just write it down and it really worked! It was like I was there, like, molded to her hand or something.

    Yes! *Betsy beams at Muse* That’s exactly what it’s like. She talks and it just comes out and I don’t even know how long I’ve been writing because it’s like it’s me and her and the writing and it’s wonderful until my tendinitis flares up!

    Yeah, well that’s freaking great but…but LONGHAND! *Harry snorts in disgust* What century do you live in? Do you think you’re Jane Austen?  Did you use a freaking quill?

    *Betsy straightens* I thought you were all about the writing? Why are you getting upset?

    Because I thought YOU wanted to be an indie author.  That means you need to get books out there sometime within the next freaking century.  Writing in longhand is about as efficient as chipping the thing in a rock.

    No, no, listen! *Muse clasps her hands* See, it’s great. We’ll have kind of a second draft when we type in the stuff Betsy wrote in her  notebooks because we’ll be reviewing it all.  And we’ll also see things that need to be added and deleted as we go.  It’s actually going to save time.

    *Harry crosses his arms* Oh, come on. Save time?

    Yeah, you know why? *Muse looks rebellious* It’s going to freaking save time because this way she’s freaking writing the thing, okay?

    Hmmmm.  *Harry considers* Good point. *settles back onto coffee table*  Sorry. Okay, so the first draft is finished. You’ll type it in and clean it up. Will the book be finished then?

    I think it will be pretty much there. *Betsy looks to Muse for confirmation*

    I see a couple of scenes we might need to add.  *Muse muses* And things will need to be smoothed out and pulled together, especially since the first half of the book has been finished for a while.  *Muse taps chin*  So at least one more draft after it gets typed in and smoothed out.  Maybe two.  But they won’t take nearly this long.

    Okay.  *Harry nods*  Let’s talk about plans for the next steps after the book is finished.

     

    To be continued…

     

    Harry-3
     

  • The Muse Balks

    the musePreviously on Betsy’s Blog…

    Betsy has set out on her Quest to become an indie author with the help of her Guide, Harry.  Although in mythology, Guides for a Quest have traditionally been a white stag or rabbit, Harry is a white gerbil.  Well, that’s just the way things go sometimes.

    Thus far, Harry has proven himself to be quite helpful, not only in assisting Betsy to identify the objective of her Quest, but in pulling her out of the sugar-induced stupor she fell into after suffering a personal loss.  And it was in the dark caverns of Betsy’s temporal lobe that she and Harry encountered a mysterious and threatening Voice.  The Voice says it has been with Betsy all of her life, that it nudges her, encourages her to take inappropriate actions with inappropriate foods.  Betsy and Harry chased the Voice away, but are left to wonder if it will be back.  Will it be even more powerful next time?  Will Betsy be able to withstand its song?

    But those are questions for another day.  Now it is well past time for Betsy to buckle down and start churning out the words.  She has a schedule to meet!  How sad that her Muse does not work well under pressure and is starting to get obstreperous. (<–look!  big word!)

    Let’s join Betsy now in the spacious, well-appointed family room of her brain while she meets with her Muse and tries to figure out how to get this train moving along.  Just a little girl talk between friends.  Or something.

     

    Hello, Muse.

    Yeah.  Hi.

    *Betsy clears throat uncomfortably* *looks briefly at Muse sitting on sofa, then around the family room of her brain*  Wow.  Um.  Harry really spruced up the place.

    Yeah. *Muse shrugs* *curls deeper into sofa* It’s okay.  We have cable now.  And organizers from Ikea.

    Great!  Great.  *Betsy takes a few steps forward*  So, um, do you mind if I sit down?

    Go ahead.  It’s your brain.

    Right.  *Betsy perches on the sofa on the opposite end from the Muse*  *Fiddles with her gray matter*  So, um, I guess you’re wondering why I called this meeting.

    *Muse continues to watch “Honey Boo Boo” on the flat screen*  It’s probably because of the whole writing thing.

    Of course it’s because of the whole writing thing!  It’s just, well, you’re not always there when I sit down to, you know, write.

    *Muse jerks a shoulder*  Whatevs.

    Whatev–

    Hey, suddenly you want to be on a schedule and I’m supposed to just bippity-boppity-boo be there?  *Muse snaps fingers* Suddenly this little white gerbil Quest Guide is prancing all around calling the shots and he wants production?  Maybe I’m not caring about production or your little schedule. *makes air quotes*  Maybe I just want to watch this obnoxious kid on television.

    *Betsy stares*  You really want to watch this?

    *Muse shakes it off*  Okay, okay.  Not really.  I can’t stand the show.  But I don’t want to perform on a schedule either.  I’m not a…a… damn circus elephant or something.

    Oh, Muse.  *Betsy settles back with a sigh*  I’m not asking you to perform on a schedule.  I just need to have some kind of organization.  Like those Ikea shelves.

    I thought we had a good arrangement before.  *Muse looks at Betsy directly for the first time* You know, on-again, off-again.  When we were on-again, I’d show up when I wanted and you’d write and if you weren’t in a place where you could write, I’d just talk anyway and you’d go crazy trying to remember what I said.

    Yeah.  *Betsy frowns*  You still do that.

    And when we were off-again, you’d forget about me and I’d go shopping.  I’d have my days free, you know?  It wasn’t full time.  But now you expect me to be in your head at a certain time every day and that’s just so not me.  I don’t do restrictions.

    But–

    I’ve gotta be free, you know?  Free to fly like an eagle.  Free to be you and me!  Free, free, free!  *Muse flaps arms*

    Muse. *Betsy inches closer*  I want you to be free.  I want you to be able to dance and sing and play.

    Ooooo play!  I like play!  *Muse claps hands*

    I know.  I want you to be able to play and flow.  I don’t want you to be all bottled up until you’re knocking on the inside of my head driving me crazy because I haven’t been listening to you for weeks or months.

    Or years.  *Muse scowls and crosses her arms*  Sometimes it’s been years.

    I know.  *Betsy pats Muse’s shoulder*  And I’m sorry.

    Well, that’s great but what the heck does a schedule have to do with anything?

    See, if I’m going to be an indie author, then I need to write a lot of stuff and get it out there.  I have to be consistent.  I have to be organized.  And I have to hit a schedule.  So, when I need to write, I need to trust that you’re going to show up and talk to me.  Because if you don’t talk to me, Muse, well, I can’t do this.  I need you.

    Hmmph.  *Muse looks unimpressed*  What’s in it for me?

    Well…. *Betsy thinks quickly*  If you start coming around regularly, all of my creative juice is really going to start flowing.

    *Muse sits up straighter*  More juice?

    Yeah.  If I can get where I’m writing consistently every day, well, that juice is going to blow you right out of the water.

    Hmmm.  *Muse looks thoughtful*  I really like juice.

    I know you do.  *Betsy covers Muse’s hand with her own*  We can do this.  If you agree to show up every day when I’m sitting down to write.  Will you?

    Welllll….*Muse considers*  I’ll have a lot less free time.

    But lots of juice.

    *Muse considers some more*  And you won’t be mad at me if I show up and you still don’t hit your production schedule?

    No.  All you have to do is inspire me,

    *Muse watches her* And you promise you’ll keep showing up?

    Yes.

    *Muse thinks for several long moments*  *Nods slowly*  Okay.  As long as you show up, I’ll show up too.

    That’s great!  Thank you.  *Betsy grins*  Let’s go squeeze us some juice.

    After the show.

     

    To be continued…

    juice