I've Been Busy as a Bug

Share |

I have waist long locks, which, I might add, are now "  growing" knots in odd places Whew! Has it been busy or what? This week saw the publication of my Bedbug book, Dec. 8th, 2009, and I have been up to the wee hours attending to details related to The Bedbug Who Wouldn't Bite. 

I've been so busy, in fact, I haven't had time to brush my hair! Now, this poses problems because I have waist long locks, which, I might add, are now "growing" knots in odd places

One would think that once a book has been published, the work is done. WRONG! 

I've spent the last few days doing all that writer stuff that leaves other folks scratching their heads and wondering at the strange hours I keep. It's about so much MORE than writing, as anyone who writes (and especially online) knows.

These days there are templates and blogs and . . . sandwiched in between HTML, I created a book dummy for Bedbug and the Mouse in the House, the second story in the Bedbug Children's Book Series. I'm getting a feel for how I want the verses to appear across pages--and I must say, a book dummy makes a world of difference.

I basically folded sheets of paper for the pages and then printed off the verses and cut the text into movable blocks. I'm wishing I had a pad of sticky notes because this would make moving verses around pages so much easier. 

I like how Ann Whitford Paul mentions book dummies, in her book Writing Picture Books, "For years I tried to get away with not doing them . . . Today, I would never send out a manuscript without first making a dummy." 

I'm really enjoying this book. Now, you may be wondering why I'm reading a book about creating books for children, when I've just had a children's book published. My credo: never stop learning. Become a lifelong student and you continue to strengthen your gifts and open greater doors of opportunity.

Anne mentions something that I also encountered while working on Bedbug. FRONT MATTER. And, as she rightly shares, the ordering of these pages is not written in stone. Thank goodness!

Anne discusses factors to consider, while working on a dummy:

• The first three pages (after front matter) should let your readers know what the story is about
• Page turns--what makes the reader want to continue?
• Where does the story climax?

So much goes into planning a book, even a seemingly simple picture book.

I have to say, though, that working on a series is exciting--but I'm beginning to feel like a "sandwich person."  Everything is "sandwiched"around the writing. Housework?--a mere trifle. Cooking?--a thing of the past (nibbling and foraging would be more accurate). Friends . . . Outside interests . . . 

You get the picture . . .  

Bedbug Links
The Bedbug Books
Bedbug Products 
The Bedbug Who Wouldn't Bite