Let me count the ways....

Submitting a manuscript requires lots of preparation. With formatting, headers, fonts and word count, I’m so confused…but then, that’s not totally unexpected, right?

I’ve just finished – well, several months ago actually- a contemporary manuscript complete at 63,494 words using the word counter in my word program.
But the manuscript is 305 pages, double spaced, courier 12 pt. And by the old standard calculations, 300 pages were considered to be 75,000 words.

• this chart was copied from the website of www.charlottedillon/ManuscriptPreparation.html

Word Count by Page

Please note: this word count only works if you use the standard MS formatting of a courier 12, 25 lines per page, about 10 words per line. If you are using some other format, or font, then you’ll need to figure your word count with another formula or use the word count from your computer, which is the count many, if not most publisher request now days.

160 pages = 40,000 words 340 pages = 85,000 words
180 pages = 45,000 words 360 pages = 90,000 words
200 pages = 50,000 words 380 pages = 95,000 words
220 pages = 55,000 words 400 pages = 100, 000 words
240 pages = 60,000 words 420 pages = 105,000 words
260 pages = 65,000 words 440 pages = 110,000 words
280 pages = 70,000 words 460 pages = 120,000 words
300 pages = 75,000 words 480 pages = 120,000 words
320 pages = 80,000 words 500 pages = 125,000 words





Personally, I would rather use the old standard chart because most single titles start around 70,000 words. Of course 63,494 words would be too short, right? It’s not the required length traditional publishers are looking for. If I were to use the old standard calculation, 300 pages x 250 words = 75,000 I’d be perfectly within the specifications.
But then…traditional publishing has gone haywire amid all the electronic books being sold these days. I’m told they actually like shorter, faster reads and that novella’s (like Night Bird, which is coming in May) are easier to sell.

So, what to do? Out with the old and in with the new?



How do you count the words in your manuscript?

What's in your cupboard?

Remember running to the cupboard and grabbing your favorite glass before anyone else had a chance to get it? In my case, my brother and I always struggled in front of the sink, making Mom nervous as we sloshed whatever kool-aid concoction we had. He usually managed to get Tom leaving me with the Jerry jelly glass. But I didn't mind too much.

Little did I know I would lose those jelly glasses years later to a slicker, more smooth talking kind of guy. My grandson carried them off once he became enaromed with cartoons. Still, it's reassuring to know kids really haven't changed much.

Remember when MacDonalds gave away these cool mugs? The year was 1993. Wow, seems like only yesterday.

And for the more serious occassions, like watching television, my hubby and I grab for these glasses. He claims the textured flowers on the side prevents slipping. Me, however, I just love the flowers and wonderful colors.

I will turn the entire kitchen upside down searching for the one cup I must have to enjoy my coffee in the morning. The white Diner style cup has OHIO written on the bottom and most likely did serve many a truck driver or weary traveler before I rescued it. It holds about 6oz. just enough to keep the coffee piping hot (a must for me.) Of course I can use the beige one...gee, I'm not a stickler, you know. : ) But I prefer the other. Last weekend I accidently dropped it on ceramic tile and it didn't even break. No fooling. It sounded like a tree falling, coffee went everywhere, but the cup was still in one peice.

What can say? They don't make 'em like that anymore.

Do you have a favorite, must have cup or plate you love to use?

Choosing a TBR, Keeper or Donate?

I was reorganizing my bookshelves yesterday trying to make room for the ever growing pile of TBR (to be read) books. Seriously, I have them double lined now on four separate bookselves. Since there's no room to add another book shelf, I've got some thinning out to do. I'll give the ones that I've read or for whatever reason, books I know I won't be reading, to my fantastic sister-in-law in an effort to make room on the shelves for more. And with our chapter retreat (Mid-Michigan RWA writers retreat) in April, I know I'll end up with several bags, baskets and arms full of juicy stories to cart home.

Back at the shelf. So far I have a nice, tidy pile. Small, and well...embarassing. I mean, come on. There's got to several hundred books up there! And the pitiful few books on the floor won't even fill one bag. I sigh heavily and pull down a couple more, then add to the stack without reading the backcover blurb, because if I did that....

I am not stingy. Honest. But somewhere in the back of my mind is a vision. Call it a premonition, but I catch myself dreaming of the day when I've got nothing to do except put my feet up, select a glossy dark chocolate from the box nearby and read uninterrupted for hours. My housekeeper will vacum around me and dear hubby will come home after working overtime with a stack of movies he plans to watch all evening while I read. Oh, and there'll also be chinese take out for dinner.

Hoo-Ra!!

Double-Bubble! Did you hear the pop? As in wishfully dreaming. Those days aren't here yet. But there's always the chance I mght fall and break a leg or something. Suppose I were forced to convalesce on the sofa for days? I'd need all those books to get me though it, right?

Oh, boy! That would never happen. The laid up part. There's no way DH would hear of it. Handy Andy would be out in the garage so fast I'd get whiplash, rigging up some kind of splint or automatic prop. Hopefully using the endless amount of foam rubber he aquired from his bro's trailer factory days. : )

But that's a different blog story. So...back to the books.

How to do decide what to give away and what to keep?

Knock me over with a feather!

In my opinion writers are a very special kind of people. We feel things...literally with all of the senses. Writers are always thinking of others (we refer to them as characters) and deeply appreciate the kind gestures, encouragment and help we recieve from other writer friends.

I've been so lucky to have met and critiqued with Christine Warner, a super sweet lady who fast became a supporter and cheerleader to me. Yesterday she presented me with the Liebster Blog Award to proudly display on my blog.
Thank you so much Christine!

All that's required to accept this award is:
Thank the person who gave it to them and link back to that person's blog.
Copy and paste the award to your blog.
Choose 5 blogs to award in kind and break the news by commenting on those blogs.
Hope those people pay it forward in turn by accepting and awarding "The Liebster Blog Award" to blogs they'd like to honor.

Pretty easy to do, pretty amazing to award.

My chosen five are:
Diane Burton
Margo Hoornstra
Dawn Brown
Patrica Kiyono
Loralee Lilabridge

music or time machine?

Music is like having your own time machine.

Seriously, think about it.
Songs trigger memories from the past. Music and words we listened to have a tendencancy to mark every period of our life. I know certain lyrics are capable of shifting my mood. Many can make me laugh or cry. I've even experienced shoulder dancing...yes, while driving the car. Just let the right song come on the radio and it literally moves me till I'm singing my heart out, bouncing and dancing to the music with the speakers blasting. Who cares what the other drivers are thinking? Not me. Because for a few wonderful minutes I'm a teenager again, and they take nothing serious! Who-oo! Whether it's Tom Jones belting out ‘She’s a Lady’ or the Bee Gee's singing 'Staying Alive,' I crank it up and cruise!

Admit it, just the title conjures up the image of John Trovolta rocking in his white leisure suit, right?

No doubt about it, the music and lyrics often sends me tumbling backwards and feeling like a kid again. Back when I could do anything, be anything. Because I believed. I was invincible. That's powerful stuff.

But on the other end, what’s it like to know that your music has touched someone so deeply? That the thoughts and feelings poured into the words of a song has reached inside and connected with a total stranger. Writing of any kind is like griping your heart and wringing it out like a rag, squeezing out every emotion for the world to see.


Singer/songwriter Skip Ewing recently shared a video link in which he talked about the rush of performing live and looking out into an audience, listening to them singing the words to songs that he wrote. Like any arist, whether it's painting or what, he claims that you "reach the hearts of others by opening your own."

Listen to the interview here

So this afternoon I'll go about my ordinary chores with the radio on. And maybe take a trip on 'The last train to Clarksville' or listen to Billy Paul sing about what's going on with him and 'Mrs. Jones,' Who knows? I might even take a 'Magical Mystery Tour.' The possiblities are endless. And all because of songs. And the authors who wrote them.

Where does your favorite song take you?

A release date for Night Bird

I'm so excitied to announce the release date for my novella, Night Bird. Night Bird will be published by The Wild Rose Press and you'll be able to purchase it on their website www.TheWildRosePress.com. Also through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.


And check out the cover.

Release Date: 2012-05-02 (Please note that this means generally by noon on release day, not at midnight.)

What if you found love in the last moments of your life? Or is death just the beginning....

Blurb: Travis Howland washes up on the shores of Lost Isle and into the arms of an angel. Known as the Night Bird, Emma Samson dedicates her afterlife to a solitary existence on Lost Isle, easing the passage of the dying. When she finds Travis weak and desperate, she gives him the only gift she has—a few more days to settle his affairs before his death. Sorely lacking in faith, Travis lives life with no thought for the future. When his lovely rescuer claims he has died, he can't believe it. He must warn his father that their ship was plundered by a greedy business partner, but only a leap of faith can save him. Together, Emma and Travis use his last few hours to avenge the traitorous deeds that torment him, and along the way discover that love can be found in any stage of life…even after death.

I really like the cover and especially love the deep blue. And goes perfectly with my new name Teresa Blue. What do you think?

An old fashioned Christmas

I love Christmas and even though it's a hectic time, it's a wonderful time as well. An entire month filled with colored lights, cheerful music and wintry scenes that will take your breath away. Not to forget those warm holiday stories on television...channel, after channel, after channel. And so, dragging out the boxes of stuff stored in the basement, I can't help but find myself caught up in the season. And discover a perfect opportunity to reflect on memories of Christmases past.

A favorite of mine is the story of Rudolf. Written in 1939 by Robert L. May who worked in advertising at the time for Montgomery Ward. His creative story idea was about a shiny, red nosed reindeer that helps Santa deliver toys on Christmas Eve. Gene Autry immortalized Rudolf in a song in 1949 and then in 1964, the cheery little reindeer starred in his own television show! Of course we know the rest of the story ...
has gone down in his-tor-y.
An orignal copy of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is valued around eighteen hundred dollars!



And how about all those holiday tins filled with shortbread cookies? Mmm, that buttery tasting biscuit stacked in a tin and glistening with sugar. A container too pretty to throw away becomes a collectable. This tin was created in the 40's by Douglass Crockwell, an artist whose work rivaled the other well known artist of that time. This Tiny Tim tin (say that three times ) has quadrupled in value.

I always pair it up with THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP plate. This plate was produced by the Royal China Co. A popular pattern that resembled the wintery London scene when Bob Cratchit popped the 'blooming topper' with an icy snowball. (The top hat just happened to be sitting on Mr. Scrooge's head!

These lovely note cards I found at a treasure store in town. Called select-a-notes because of the small stickers designed to personalize the invitation to said event or luncheon. From the moment I saw them (I found an entire box) I loved them.




December is a busy month but when I get overwhelmed at all there is yet to do,
I crack a couple of chestnuts or maybe peel an orange. And reflect on the warm fuzzy memories of season's past...in this century and others.

Finally, let me share a very tasty and simple candy recipe for delicious, creamy caramels. I've made these four times already since Thanksgiving. They are wonderfully addictive and so easy to make!

CARAMELS

2 c brown sugar
1 c Karo syrup (light)
1 14oz can sweetened condensensed milk.
1 c butter
1/2 c chopped black walnuts (opt)


Butter dish or cookie sheet. In a med. saucepan add all ingredients and cook over moderate heat. Bring to a gentle rolling boil and begin timing. Boil for 12 minutes -set timer- stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add nuts if desired. Pour into prepared pan. Allow to cool at least several hours. Cut and wrap in wax paper. This candy keeps a very long time in a holiday tin. Enjoy!