Elizabeth Gilbert on Creativity

I need to figure out how to embed video, but be that as it may, here is a link to Elizabeth Gilbert talking about creativity.

Filed under: creativity, writing , creative, creative process, creativity, Elizabeth Gilbert, video, write, writer, writing

The Story Behind Prairie Dog Cowboy

Vivian Gilbert Zabel is the author of Prairie Dog Cowboy, a juvenile historical fiction book that incorporates Oklahoma history into its telling.

Prairie Dog Cowboy
By V. Gilbert Zabel
ISBN: 978-0-9797513-7-0
Publisher: 4RV Publishing
Genre: juvenile/ historical/ fiction

Recently, Vivian answered some questions about the writing of the book and is here today to answer your comments/questions.

Creatif: What inspired you to write Prairie Dog Cowboy?

Vivian Gilbert Zabel: My husband had shared his experiences as a cowboy, farmer, and horse breaker. I always wanted to work some of those into a story or book.

Since I didn’t want the book to be nonfiction, I invented families and characters that would live in the part of the country where Robert was born and lived. Then I set the time of the book  about 45 years before Robert was born.

I did some research to be sure I had the historical facts correct, and used some marvelous research provided by the current family members who own the ranch that is the setting for the Hyman Ranch. I can’t thank Dallas Mayer and the others who gave her information enough.

Creatif: Did the character of Buddy come to you all at once or did he evolve, even for you, as the book progressed?

VGZ: Buddy’s character existed almost complete from the beginning. However, the other characters evolved as the plot did.

Creatif: Other than writing a good story, did you have any other goals for the book while you were writing it?

VGZ: I wanted to provide a taste of frontier life and knowledge that dysfunctional families, as well as loving ones, have always existed. Many times an adult other than a parent or parents can make the difference between a child surviving or being corrupted for life.

Creatif: Once the rough draft is written, what is your process for editing/revising or does it differ depending on the project?

VGZ: I’m one of those writers who edits as she goes. However after the first draft, I do at least four edits and revisions (waiting at least a day or more between each edit) before I allow anyone else read and proof. I have six people who read, proof, and/or edit my manuscript. I revise after each one and then send to the next person.

After those revisions, I let the manuscript season a few days or even weeks. I then do another read through and edit and revision. My six “editors” then have another go at the manuscript. After that go-round and revisions and after I’ve made another edit and revision myself, two editors go through it again.

The editing and revision process takes longer by far than the writing and self-editing does.

Creatif: Is this a stand-alone book or will there be more around some of the same characters/setting?

VGZ: The sequel to Prairie Dog Cowboy, Prairie Winds, has been started.

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At the end of the tour, a drawing will be held for four canvas bags from 4RV Publishing. Each person who comments on a blog in the tour will be entered in the drawing (one entry per person per blog stop).

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Links:

Prairie Dog Cowboy web site
4RV Publishing
Vivian’s blog

The book can be purchased through any book store, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble. com, and through the 4RV bookstore.

Prairie Dog Cowboy cover art

Filed under: editing, revisions, writing , Prairie Dog, Prairie Dog Cowboy, virtual book tour, Vivian Zabel, write, writer, writing

Coming Up….

Tomorrow, join us when Vivian Zabel and her virtual book tour for Prairie Dog Cowboy visits Creatif.

Prairie Dog Cowboy cover art

Filed under: writing , Prairie Dog Cowboy, virtual book tour, Viviaz Zabel

An Experiment in Residual Income

I have heard — and read — a lot about how residual income is oh-so-very-good for writers. I’ve been skeptical. Truthfully, I still am. Be that as it may, I decided I would start an experiment.

I thought about letting it go only through January and February. But I’ve decided it’ll run all year. That way when someone has an evangelical slant on residual income, I can say with certainty whether or not it works for me. Here are my results from January:

Bukisa – $4.60
eHow – $0.93
Today.com – $7.03

Total for January – $12.56

I realize the Today.com blog probably doesn’t qualify as residual income, but I’m including it in this anyway.

Even though I’m inclined to say one is better than the other at this point, it’s truly to early to do so with any degree of accuracy, so I will refrain from making preliminary assumptions. I’ll post results of this experiment as it continues each month.

Filed under: writing , Bukisa, eHow, experiment, Jen Nipps, jennipps, residual income, today.com, write, writing

January Writing Wrap-Up

It amazes me that it’s already February. (Quick forecast: In 11 monhts, I’ll be saying this year has gone by so fast.)

I set some goals for January, so here is the wrap-up for that:

Query $80/day with NO carry-overs.

I did the $80/day 5 days/week with no carry overs with the exception of one day when I had the massive earache, one day when I realized the earache was a toothache, and one day when I was sick with a cold. Doing that for 18 of 21 business days (going M-F now) is pretty good IMO.

Send 3 book-related submissions to agents/publishers.

I sent 5 book-length projects out (two were to a contest and not to actual agents/publishers, so I’m still in the goal of 3): KIERNAN’S CURSE, DEVON’S WISH, BENEN’S BURDEN, CONFESSIONS OF A FAT CHICK, and NAVAJO ROSE.

Update all blogs at least 3x a week.

I did not update all blogs 3x a week. Since I started Refilling the Well on the Today.com network on January 6, I’ve only missed one day on it.

2 Bukisa articles a week

I have a total of 17 items up at Bukisa. However, most of those were put up during November and December, so I did not meet this goal.

2 eHow articles a week

I have a total of 11 articles up on eHow right now, which averages out to a little over 2 articles a week.

Complete & send OWFI contest entries

For the contest entries, I submitted a total of 14 entries. This is for the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc., contest.

And now I am on to February goals, which will be posted on the Just Hit Send page here.

Filed under: writing , Benen's Burden, Confessions of a Fat Chick, contests, Devon's Wish, historical romance, Jen Nipps, jennipps, Kiernan's Curse, Navajo Rose, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Writers' Federation, OWFI