Blog Archives

Thanksgiving

11/28/2024

Thanksgiving is set apart for experiencing gratitude, but even more for giving thanks for the blessings for which we are grateful and for remembering from Whose hand they ultimately come. To God be the glory and the praise, and may He forever receive our humble thanks for His salvation and His sustaining of our lives,

To those of you who have bought my books; provided feedback on my website and columns; and participated in the process that brings a book from a draft manuscript to a published product---thank you. Your appreciation and encouragement mean a great deal to me.

May all of you enjoy the blessings of the day. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Waiting on the Next Project

11/14/2024

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As this week's post title intimates, I'm still in a holding pattern and waiting for some feedback from my acquisitions editor as to what would be the best topic for my next book, given my own interests and the needs of the publishing house. While I'm waiting, this seems like a good time to address what to do when you're between projects.

For some people, getting a book completed and published is a one-and-done, and I can understand that. No matter how much of a labor of love it is, the whole project can be exhausting. Nevertheless, unless you've closed the door on writing further books, you don't want to get out of the habits of writing and of exploring new ideas. You do need space for rest and relaxation, but you don't want to slide over into the mental equivalent of twiddling your thumbs while waiting for something external to happen or for some fresh blaze of inspiration to strike.

Fortunately, you have a lot of options regarding writing, and some may even lead to new areas worth further exploration. If you don't want to commit to getting started on another book, consider blogging, journaling, writing articles, or developing content for a website. If you're a nonfiction writer, this might be a great time to try your hand at writing fiction or poetry---not necessarily for publication, but for the exercise of continuing to develop your writing skills while trying to stretch yourself a bit. (Poetry, by the way---at least good poetry---is a magnificent exercise in learning to pack the most meaning into as few words as possible, as well as developing your inner ear for the flow and cadence of your writing.) If fiction is your thing, perhaps researching and writing out a bit of history or tackling a different genre than your preferred type will keep the creative juices going and perhaps even throw fresh fuel on the fire. Breaks in your writing schedule are also good times for workshops or classes aimed at honing your skills. In addition, if advance readers or editors have pointed out problem areas with your writing---perhaps your grammar is a little weak or your imagery is too abstract---then a pause between major projects is an ideal time to work on your weaknesses.

The times in between major writing projects are also excellent times for catching up on your reading and for getting involved socially with other writers. If there's a literary group or writers' association in your area, consider joining in! If a local cafe hosts a monthly poetry slam, why not go? There are also opportunities in mentoring kids and young want-to-be writers, not least the fact that having to explain something to someone else on their level reveals how solid your own grasp is on the matter in question in a hurry. The important thing isn't precisely what you do when you've got what used to be your writing time on your hands; the important thing is that you don't let yourself stagnate.

Happy writing!

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... And Back Home Again

11/7/2024

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If there's one thing that proves more than another that I'm not getting any younger, it's the time it takes me to recover from a road trip. That being said, I want to give a shout-out to Kentucky Humanities, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, and the entire company of volunteers, fellow authors, publishers, and book lovers that made this year's Kentucky Book Festival a blast to attend.

As far as I'm concerned, the highlight of my trip was the "Hoofbeats and Heartbeats" panel that I served on with Roda Ferraro, Director of the Keeneland Library, and Jessica Whitehead, Curator of Collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Two more engaging ladies would be difficult to find, and it would be equally hard to find two other scholars with the deep grasp of the connection between horses and human history and the way in which Kentucky---including its racial and cultural landscapes---has been shaped by the men and women who have been involved in the Thoroughbred industry. It was an honor to work with them in making this event happen.

Right now, I'm in a holding pattern until the topic of my next book is determined. In the meantime, I'm going to take a deep breath, catch up on myself, and work on some more updates to the American Classic Pedigrees website. As always, suggestions and comments are welcome!

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Thanksgiving

Waiting on the Next Project

... And Back Home Again

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