On not wasting time

My husband and I own and run a retail footwear business. At this stage we don’t have any staff, and we are open seven days a week. I update our website and do the bookwork, my husband does the ordering. We both see sales representatives with samples and both work in the shop.

All of this means we don’t get a ton of time off together, as the shop would have to be closed. We are happy with it this way for now and, believe it or not we do still have balance in our life. We very rarely take work home with us and we have days off during the week which I actually prefer. They aren’t with each other, but we do spend time together at work (we have fun as well as work, we ‘rub along nicely’ as you would say).

A day off during the week mostly means a day at home for me (my absolute favourite place to be) or if I have some errands (rare, as decluttering cures the urge to shop, especially with our tiny house) it’s so good to go shopping when most other people are at work.

If on the rare occasion I have to go to a mall, there are often lots of retired couples walking around, along with mums and preschoolers. I often think how nice it would be to be retired. Having an orderly, stress-free life. Spending all day doing the things you want to do, preparing for a meal, going out and gathering ingredients, browsing the library shelves, tending things at home.

I know I’m too young to think about retirement at 39, but when I’m out walking I go past a big new retirement complex nearby (which is more 'apartments to buy' than a rest home) and on the street-side is a big bay window looking into their communal living room. It is decorated with sofas that look like the Something’s Gotta Give house, in fact the whole property is very chic and stylish and new but looks classic.

There are retired people in there who, no matter when I walk past are always talking and laughing and socialising. It’s not far from our shop and I have often wondered what the minimum age is to move in. My husband is keen too! I sometimes wonder if we don't have more in common with these people than friends our own age.

We have no children, we like a tipple before dinner, we don’t hold rowdy parties, a soft jazz CD is the loudest thing we would play, we like our own space, we watch English soap Coronation Street and we rarely eat out. I think we actually already live like we’re retired (except that we go to work, a minor consideration).

I also really like the couples they use in retirement advertising. They are walking along a beach, the wife has jeans rolled up with a white shirt. She is slender and chic with a silver bob. Her husband is handsome and lean with salt and pepper hair (perhaps more pepper) and has jeans on also with a v-neck navy jersey. Very classic and I can definitely relate to their style!

Paris is a goal. We did not have a honeymoon when we married just over two years ago, and our next (first) overseas holiday will be our Paris honeymoon. I don’t care when that is, it could be ten years away. If this trip includes NYC so much the better. But I also think about retirement as a goal. It’s roughly twenty-five years away for me and my husband as here in New Zealand 65 is the retirement age.

I don’t want to fritter away time and money on mindless living. I did that in my twenties and thirties. Now that I am approaching my forties I have realised we don’t have endless years on this earth. I plan to enjoy my time and plan wisely for the future.

All of this may sound really selfish, me, me, me, my enjoyment. But I have served others in the past, by volunteering at the SPCA for about four years before we had our own business. I had to quit because I couldn’t be in two places at once. I donate money to favourite causes. It used to be Automatic Payments from my bank account, now I donate as and when I want to.

I also am in the process of using up my wool odds and ends and practicing my crochet by making rugs for needy babies. At my rate of crochet it could be a slow output but I’m doing something!

I also downloaded a knitting pattern from the SPCA for puppy sweaters. Apparently little abandoned puppies get dreadfully cold without their mother to warm them. So this is another plan for my wool scraps and tv time (I can’t watch tv or a movie without knitting, crocheting, filing my nails etc. I get too fiddly and would likely go looking for something to eat).

So my goal for the next twenty-five years (and beyond) is to continue as I have started out documenting on this blog:

Being healthy, strong and slender
Enjoying good, nutritious food cooked at home for the most part
Simplifying my life
Decluttering my home and paring down
Being a good steward of my money
Making the most of simple luxuries
Buying less but better quality, in food, clothing, furniture
Letting go of stressful notions that I can control the behaviour of others
Going with the flow
Nurturing my relationship with my husband – he comes before all other people in my life
Learn how to worry less, meditate. Anxiety is terribly aging
Learning not to worry about things I can’t change
Appreciate all that I have – ‘the less you want, the more you have’.

Do readings without having anything to sell

Dear readers,

If any of you are in or around London on Wednesday 25th August, I’ll be performing a live show based on this blog at the Homework literary cabaret night in Bethnal Green. I’ll be reading a few blog posts, dispensing advice on becoming a better bad writer and generally lowering the tone. It’s at The Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, 44-46 Pollard Row, London E2 6NB and it only costs £3 to get in. If you like the sound of that, please do come along.

All the best,

Joel

PS. I do not regard “living on a different continent” as a valid excuse.

Starting a Law Firm | Nolo.com and Yodle Follow Up

If you haven't started your law firm yet, one thing you can be sure of the minute you put your website up is that you will start getting marketing calls. People will be calling you and promising you things like "I can get you on the first page of Google," and "we have x number of leads come here each day that we want to send to you." It's going to sound really great, and most of it is going to be crap.

You ever hear of the saying if it sounds too good to be true it probably is? It's not a saying, it's a fact.

With that being said, however, if you are starting a law firm you are going to have to find a way to get clients. Most of the really good ways you do yourself. But there are some supplemental means of marketing your law firm, and two that I tried were Yodle, which specializes in Google adwords ads (the ads you see at the top and right hand side of your web browser when you search for things) and Nolo.com, a legal website (you can visit their site and see exactly what it is). I've posted Yodle reviews before (you can find Yodle review 1, Yodle review 2, Yodle review 3, and Yodle review 4 by clicking on the links) and a nolo.com review before, but I wanted to update them to reflect my recent experience. Here we go.

Nolo.com Review Update

One of the cool things about this blog is that when I write something about a company, particularly one that cares about it's image, I almost always get a follow up call from someone at the company. If it's a good post, I get a thank you call. If it's a bad post (or less than flattering) I get a call to discuss. My last review of nolo.com as it relates to starting a law firm wasn't great but wasn't terrible. The gist of it was that I don't think any of those sites send me good, qualified leads. Period.

I went on to point out that I bought the nolo.com subscription because of the links they could give me, but that I wasn't thoroughly impressed with the traffic they were sending.

And then, right on cue, I got the call.

And I must apologize, because the nolo.com rep that called was very nice and I promised to write about our conversation on here at least 3 weeks ago. And I'm finally doing it.

What she told me was what I expected to hear. They get x number of people to their site a month from Washington searching "x" keywords, x number of people went to your site and stayed around for a bit. In the end, I think 32 people found me from that site in about 9 weeks, or about 4 a week. That's not bad.

But here's the thing I'm curious about. How many of them were shopping for an attorney in Seattle and how many were just out looking around for information? The reason why I think it was the latter is this - here are the keywords used to get to my information:

Dealing with a DUI

What to do if you are pulled over

Revoked drivers license

Search and seizure

Getting out of jail

I know from experience that people are calling me when they search for a few specific keywords - namely Seattle DUI attorney and all of its variations (Seattle DUI lawyer, etc.), and Seattle criminal attorney and all of its variations. But people aren't calling me when they search for "search and seizure." They're either curious or bored or trying to solve their boyfriend or girlfriend's case on their own.

I think the bottom line is this: I was happy they called. I was happy they stand by their product. And I don't mind their product (I think I pay $167 a month). I just don't think it's as effective as what they claim. Will I keep it? I probably will. But if I were just starting a law firm would I buy this service and then just wait for the phone to start ringing? No.

Yodle Review Update

I've written about Yodle on here a bunch of times. And I'm now fairly convinced that as each day passes the ads placed all over the place are becoming less and less relevant. Think about it this way, when you search, do you ever click on those ads? I don't. In fact, I don't even see them. I automatically go to the search results. I think every day more and more people are getting that way, particularly with the advent of the Google places placement at the top of the results.

So, as of this month, I'm no longer using Yodle. I was putting about $1,000 a month toward it, and I figured I could better use it in other places (like marketing to referral sources, which are a huge boon to business). So, you can thank me later, but this will be my last post about Yodle.

General Update

Since this post isn't long enough already (insert sarcasm here), I'll give you a little bit of an update about where my practice is at. This money has by far been the best month for the firm. I pulled in somewhere between 13 and 14K, which is awesome. And there isn't much sign of is slowing down.

I think I'm going to give it another month or two, and if business stays steady, I'm going to hire on some help. I've been looking at getting a law clerk, but at this time of year, pickings are slim. And I need someone that's available to answer the phones and do administrative stuff so I can spend more time doing this and working on my cases. I'll keep you updated on how that process goes.

As always, if you want any specific information, let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to address it.

Use your prose to showcase your poetry

‘What are you working on, Pen?’ He leaned over her shoulder to look. Penelope put her hand over the page.

‘It’s nothing. It’s just...’ She paused, too shy to reveal what she had been writing. ‘It’s kind of a poem.’

‘Let me see.’ He picked up the paper and started to read. ‘My God,’ he gasped, after a few seconds. ‘This is amazing.’

‘No,’ she mumbled. She could already feel her face flushing.

‘I mean it,’ he said. ‘You’re an amazing poet. The best I’ve ever read, and I’m the poetry critic for a national newspaper. This is nothing short of genius.’

‘Honestly, I didn’t think anyone would be interested,’ she said, modestly.

‘You must read it to me,’ said David. ‘I could never do it justice. I need to hear it from you. Out loud. In full.’

‘Well...’ said Penelope, blushing. ‘Okay. Here goes...’ As she read the poem, the whole world seemed to fall silent as new layers of consciousness were opened by her words:

O! My aching soul aches for the refreshing touch,

Of crystalline water my soul too refresh,

Like a dry frog jumping in a pond after sunshine to much,

Our thought’s and feeling’s and live’s now must mesh.

The silver moon high up above us in the dark, black, night, sky,

Is like a silver light in the sky so black,

It hangs up above so very, very, very, very high,

It rises in the night and in the daytime it goes back.

Equate physical beauty with virtue

Dash Gallant stood over the cowering traitor, his dark eyes twinkling with disappointment. He ran a muscular hand through his thick, luscious hair.

‘I never thought it could happen,’ he said. ‘A double agent for the Mhal-Evol’Unt high command in my own engineering team. I trusted you, Sleezely.’

‘You don’t understand,’ mumbled Sleezely, spit dribbling from his cleft lip. ‘I didn’t know...’

‘You didn’t know what?’ snapped Dash, his perfectly chiseled jaw suddenly taut with anger. ‘You didn’t know you were broadcasting my shield frequency matrix? You didn’t know you were leaking classified information? Seems there’s a lot you don’t know.’

Sleezely wiped the sweat from his pimply brow and tugged at his lank moustache with one malformed hand. He was squirming with discomfort, his withered leg shaking uncontrollably beneath him. Dash shook his perfectly-proportioned head in pity.

‘I should have known never to trust someone so ugly,’ he said, placing one slender yet powerful finger on the airlock release switch.

‘No, pl– pl– please!’ stuttered the lopsided midget pathetically.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Dash, with a compassion that shone through in his rueful, heart-melting smile. As the hatch slammed shut and the airlock spat its physically repulsive contents into the emptiness of space, the moderately attractive engineers who had gathered to witness the confrontation breathed sighs of relief.

Investing in your face / 2 colour-rule

Inspired by the comments on my last post about massage (many of you have regular facials), I booked myself in for a facial with a French beauty therapist. I last had one with the same woman about eight months ago and before that, I have no clue. In my mind they are extravagant and unnecessary, but the one I had in December proved me wrong. Shame it's taken me this long to realise it.

A French woman would not skimp on care of the skin and body (and hair, but that's for another day) and then spend that same money on crappy snacks, fattening drinks and takeaways. The new and improving Francais me invests in self-care and forgoes anything Sabine, the ideal French girl would say non to.

I found out about my current beauty therapist in a way I'm too embarrassed to talk about (I especially didn't tell her). I was searching for images of 'French beauty therapy salons' and came across a Paris-trained French beauty therapist here in the city where I live.

Of course I had to take a look at her website and found that her prices were very reasonable (about half of what salons in town cost). She does work from a salon at her home, but I also know at least two others who do this, and they seem to benchmark their prices against city salons.

Does how I found about her sound too stalker-ish? I feel a bit like it does, but I'm really not one. What would she say if she knew about my French obsession though?

My second facial was just as good as the first one with her, even better maybe, as I knew what to expect. An organic French skincare range called Centella is used, and every single product smells divine - herbal, floral, fresh. The scents are very concentrated, but in a way that you think there are lots of active ingredients, not in the highly perfumed way.

What I like most about these facials, which is different to any other facial I have had is the massage. She spends quite a bit of time massaging the neck, shoulders, upper-arms and decolletage in big, sweeping, side to side movements.

Then she moves to the face for another lovely long episode of massage. Some of the movements are actually quite aggressive, she slaps and taps along the jaw-line with very quick strokes and then slows to an irregular tap. Part of the massage was fingertips all over my face which felt like falling rain. Amazing.

This time, as last time, my skin looks very poreless, yes, pinkish and shiny as I had no makeup on and I'd just had massage and exfoliation and a mask and steaming, but very fine textured.

I studied her skin as I paid and asked questions. You can tell she's not 20, and isn't trying to be. She definitely looks her age, but the texture of her skin is very fine, no pores anywhere, and plumped up (with hydration rather than dermal fillers). She is a good advertisement for her services and her products.

And, I could listen to her French accented feminine voice all day.

Now, I did something as a service for myself, and for you, dear reader. I possibly made a fool of myself, but I would have been annoyed if I hadn't taken the chance. Normally I don't talk at all during a massage or facial, just rest and relax with my eyes closed.

The therapist picks up on that and it's lovely and quiet. But when she was washing off my floral mask I plucked up the courage to ask her about the two-colour rule, since she is a French woman (I know, not generalising at all).

Do you want to know what she said? She had never heard of it and laughed a little tinkly laugh. She did know what the person being interviewed was getting at though. She said 'people here, they are so...' and then threw her hands up in the air and shook them all around. Basically we wear everything at once. I asked her how it was different in France. 'People are more... classy, classic'.

I felt like a bit of a dill asking her, but now I know not everyone French knows this two-colour rule secret they're not telling us about. If you hear anything, please let me know!

End with an unexpected moral

Digory Dog closed the door of his tumble-down house behind him and sat down in his favourite chair.

‘Thank goodness that’s all over,’ he sighed.

‘It was quite an adventure,’ squeaked Mousemouse. ‘Let’s do it again!’

‘Oh, Mousemouse,’ Digory Dog laughed. ‘You always want more excitement, don’t you?’

‘More more more!’ said Mousemouse, waving his little paws in the air. ‘More adventures! More mysteries! More fun! I’ve got to have more! More!’ He was shaking now, his little eyes wide and slightly bloodshot.

‘Mousemouse!’ Digory Dog said sharply. ‘Stop it!’ There was an awkward silence. ‘Look,’ said Digory. ‘I think it’s time you admitted you have a problem. This is getting out of hand.’

‘I just love adventure,’ said Mousemouse quietly.

‘It’s an addiction and you need to seek help,’ said Digory Dog. ‘You’re not just hurting yourself, you’re hurting those around you.’

‘I know,’ whispered Mousemouse, covering his face with his paws. ‘I know.’ He was crying now, tiny mouse tears of remorse splashing onto the floor beneath him.

‘Come here,’ said Digory, hugging Mousemouse to him. ‘It’s going to be okay. You’ve taken an important first step.’

Better than botox

Several years ago, when botox was first becoming popular, I thought I would try it to ensure the fine lines did not become more deepset. My sister wisely told me I would be better to spend the same amount of money on a monthly therapeutic massage, which would relax me and therefore my face. It would also be a more pleasurable way to spend my money than pointy injections. I thought this was a very good idea and found someone nearby.

I enjoyed the massages but the person doing them wasn’t exactly to my taste. She was very sterile and practical and didn’t have the ‘bedside manner’ I required. If she got too warm she would say ‘gosh it’s getting hot in here and turn the heating off’. She did not ask me, the customer, lying there in knickers and a towel (I was the one paying and I was lying there cold). And I didn’t like the way I was in and out within the hour, including changing and paying. Wasn’t an hour long massage an hour long?

I never spoke up though, I simply didn’t go back. I left it a few years without going for my monthly massage, and then on chatting with a customer in our store, discovered she was an aromatherapy masseuse just across the road from us. I booked in with her and haven’t looked back.

I have just had a massage this afternoon and feel so blissed out. She is the polar opposite from my first masseuse. When I arrive the room is warm and dimmed, with soft carpet underfoot. The whole time I am there is a real sensory experience.

She often has a candle, incense or scented oils going, and everything is immaculately clean while still being welcoming and homely. She starts by getting me to take my shoes off and soaks my feet in a foot spa-bath for a few moments and massages in an exfoliating scrub. This is rinsed off and my feet are dried.

She then leaves the room and I change and hop up onto the table. The oil column heater in the corner is heaped with clean towels for her to use, and the towel on the table to cover myself with is toasty warm. As she massages my back, my legs etc, towels are replaced with hot ones, and once she has done with each foot they are wrapped in a warm hand-towel for the remainder of the massage. Can you imagine how wonderful this feels?

She uses a different mix of oils each time. Today I had patchouli, geranium and ylang ylang, and the hour is finished off with a rose oil facial massage.

All the while relaxing meditative music is playing softly.

I've not tried botox yet, and I'm so glad I took the good advice to indulge in regular massage instead. And if you think it's indulgent, just flick through all the other things you spend money on - as I've discovered, some things sneak into your budget uninvited, whereas others, like a regular massage are well worth the investment.

Your Book Starts Here--Online Class *or* The Surprising Benefits of Online Learning While You're Writing Your Book

When my novel, Qualities of Light, was published last fall, I celebrated as anyone would, enjoying the readings, book signings, and kudos fully. The book did well, got some good reviews. I even had my brief moment in the sun, being interviewed on WNPR.

Then the furor died down. I unpacked my suitcases, went back to my writing desk, and faced my next book-in-progress.

Post-publication is a bit like the aftermath of a great party.
Fun and hard work are done, cheerful noise has subsided. Even the party balloons lie spent on the floor. An author might glory briefly as another fan letter arrives, as another interview is scheduled, but that solitary life of the everyday writer is back again.

Some writers fall into a creative slump. What just happened? we wonder. Where was I?

I felt disoriented for many weeks. No inspiration, no creative juice. My writing was stale, and I worried how I would get back my groove, if there ever was one.

Browsing the Internet one afternoon, avoiding my novel-in-progress, I came upon a listing for online writing classes. Understand that I’m far from high-tech, that I even delayed long past reason in getting my first email account. Online classes weren’t on my radar. I appreciated that distance learners enjoyed them, that they easily fit busy schedules. But they were not for me.

As a writing teacher at the Loft and other schools, I pride myself in creating a strong, supportive learning environment. I enjoy helping writers practice new skills that transform their work. I love the unique creativity of a writing community gathered in a classroom. Miracles happen regularly and I’m privileged to be part of them.

Sunk in my own stuckness, I needed such a miracle. But my schedule allowed no possibility of attending a class in person. To avoid the looming post-partum depression, I took a deep breath and signed up for my first online class.

Attending My First Online Writing Class
We were a small group, twelve writers from the U.S., Canada, and U.K. with assorted skills, writing in different genres, all in search of inspiration. Each week we logged on to the “classroom’s” main page where, in cheerful colors, was our lesson, suggested readings, and three writing assignments. We took the week to read the new lesson, test out the theories on our own work, experiment with the exercises.

Everyone was asked to post their best results by Friday evening, their writing-in-progress. Be brave, the instructor encouraged. We’re all kind here.

Only five posted that first week. I was one. I kind of liked what I’d written from the first exercise, which was a short series of movies about character. I enjoyed reading the other writers’ work. Some was raw, some revised, all interesting. We were kind; we each commented gently on each other’s writing, asked questions, suggested ideas. I read the feedback on my piece and thought about it. It was fun to have time to think, not have to rush your answers. Online classes are slower for those, like me, who need that time to process material. There’s none of the classroom pressure, where the boldest talk and the quietest don’t. Everyone gets a chance in virtual classrooms. Ah, I thought, an unexpected benefit.

I eagerly awaited the instructor’s feedback. She was accurate, thoughtful, and encouraging. Her comments were generous. This was great!

By the third week, I was really enjoying the course. Certain writers became my favorites; I logged on as soon as they posted. I looked forward to the instructor’s responses to my work, full of exciting ideas and suggestions. Each time I visited the classroom, I felt inspired. It was truly a creative space, a fun, enlivening, and easy way to learn.

Surprising Benefits
Over the weeks, my novel-in-progress opened up surprisingly from the class exercises. Several new scenes came through for one of my difficult characters. I was back to writing every day, the course giving me good reason to create new material.

Online learning became a big YES! in my book.

Then I Was Asked to Teach One!
I love the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, one of the most creative places on the planet.  You can visit the Loft's website at www.loft.org.  I've been teaching "How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book" at the Loft three weekends each year for about eight years.  This two-day intensive creates a toolbox for writers who want to take their book to publication.

This fall, I'll be teaching "Your Book Starts Here," an online class for the Loft.  It runs for 12 weeks, starting September 13.  Each week we'll cover a step of the book planning, writing, and developing process.     

Having been a student, I now know what matters in an online class: a supportive community, ease of use of the virtual classroom with plenty of support as needed, great material and writing exercises, open discussion and sharing of work, and continual feedback from the instructor.

We’ll have all of that and more in "Your Book Starts Here."

The twelve-week class is based on chapters from my forthcoming book by the same title. By the end of the class, you’ll have completed a thorough plan for your book-in-progress, including visual maps, three-act structure, chapter drafts, and analysis of your readership and market. Each week’s writing exercises explore both the process of writing a book as well as the product of creating pages, chapters, and a full manuscript. My goal is to, as always, help you become a stronger writer with more inspiration, a well-stocked toolbox of skills, increased stamina for the sheer work of writing, and more knowledge of the publishing industry today.
We’re limiting the online class to the first twenty students that register. This way I can make sure you get plenty of attention and feedback on your book-in-progress.

So if this fits your writing needs and schedule, please join me. Registration information is below—call the Loft soon or click the link below to find out more and register: classhttp://www.loft.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypageLoft.tpl&product_id=705&category_id=12&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=203.

Hope to “see” you there!

This Week's Writing Exercise
Does fall (still far away--don't worry!) inspire learning in you?  Do you get kind of excited at the array of new notebooks and school supplies on sale?

This week's writing exercise is to find a next step for yourself and to consider online learning, if you haven't already.

Some great sites to visit include:
Gotham Writers' Workshop www.writingclasses.com
The Loft Literary Center www.loft.org
   
Online class description:
Your Book Starts Here--How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book (online class)
In this online class, you'll get to know your book—what it is about, how to structure it, how to plan to finish it! You’ll learn a step-by-step plan, including flexible timelines, chapter grids, storyboarding, and other techniques. You’ll look at ways to flow chapters, find holes in your material that need filling, organize research and concepts, construct plots, and bring your book into manifestation. You’ll also learn what editors and agents look for and gain essential tips on editing and evaluating your book in all its stages. Designed for writers who have a book concept or a work in progress--be it a memoir, nonfiction book, or novel--and for any writers who feel stuck and need a fresh look at their material.
Date: September 13 - December 6, 12 weeks
Registration fee: $420.00
For more information:  Call the Loft at 6120-379-8999 or visit the link above.

Make it hard to distinguish between characters

Christopher, head of molecular biology at ICSBS, was just coming to the end of a long day in the lab. He was about to hang up his goggles and go home when he heard a knock on the door. He looked up. It was his friend and colleague Chris – who, as the head of biological sciences with a particular interest in molecular research, was his immediate superior.

‘Hi Chris,’ said Christopher. ‘I was just leaving.’

‘Me too,’ said Chris. ‘As soon as I’ve found Christine. Have you seen her?’

‘Christine? She was here earlier.’ Christine, a molecular chemist with a head for biology, was one of Christopher’s closest colleagues. ‘Have you asked Christof?’

‘Christof?’ asked Chris. ‘Is he the new guy?’

‘Yes,’ said Christopher. ‘He’s heading up the biochemical molecular engineering division, which means Krissy might be heading for chemical bioengineering.’

‘Doesn’t she have more of a biomolecular chemistry background?’

‘No,’ said Christopher. ‘I think you’re thinking of Krystal.’

Rest, and Yoga

At the moment I’m feeling a bit like a rest. And rather than try and make myself snap out of it, I’m just going with the flow. I realise now there are times when I enjoy going hard and decluttering/cleaning/organising/crafting/cooking at home, and times when the exact right thing to do is read the new Tori Spelling book I have out of the library for an hour (or two). I can’t tell you how much I love Tori and her books and DVDs.

I don’t know what it is, she’s supremely tacky and such a self-promoter, but she’s just so funny and enjoyable to watch/read. I have terrible, really trashy taste in tv and books sometimes. Where else except our house would you find Keeping Up With The Kardashians sitting next to Two Days in Paris and various French arthouse movies.

So I’m enjoying the quiet time right now. On my last day off work (Wednesday, since I work Saturdays) I wasn’t much in the mood for being productive, so I did what I have to do - make the bed, wash the clothes and towels and hang them out, empty the dishwasher, prep dinner and then... I put some chocolate brownies in to bake (from scratch) and watched a couple of Kardashians episodes while filing my nails.

Being slothful and trashy is blissful sometimes.

I actually don’t know what the point of this post is except to say that it’s OK not to be ‘on’ all the time. Part of being human (and being female) is having restful time too. And be gentle on yourself.

My arms and shoulders feel deliciously worked out from yoga yesterday – we had to attempt (everyone else – all four of them - ‘did’, I ‘attempted’) a handstand or half-handstand. The half-handstand involved doing a downward facing dog pose (pictured above) with your feet against the wall, and then walk your feet backwards up the wall until they are quite high up. Yes really. It was so hard. But apparently it will get easier and I will be quite proficient at walking backwards up the wall one day. Yay.

In spite of the description of this exercise I am still really enjoying yoga, and even though it is strenuous, I always look forward to it (unlike the gym). The room has no music, it is peaceful and serene with a gas heater going (it’s winter here) and sometimes incense. Everyone is very friendly and normal and it’s a pleasure to attend.

Fail to see the funny side

The Doctor sat down and removed his glasses.

‘I’m afraid the situation is very serious,’ he said. I scanned his face for clues.

‘Is it...’

‘I could’t be sure until we had the test results.’ He pinched the bridge of his nose, then replaced his glasses and picked up the sheet of paper in front of him. ‘Mr Baumgale, I’m afraid I have bad news. You suffer from a rare condition affecting the gastric system and lower digestive tract.’

‘What does that mean?’ I asked, quietly.

‘One of the main characteristics of the disorder is chronic, uncontrollable flatulence which, combined with the associated diarrheic hyperactivity, could cause you quite intense discomfort.’ He put the paper down and sighed. ‘There’s really nothing we can do.’

‘But...’ This was the news I had been dreading. ‘But... My ski-jumping career...’

‘I’m afraid not, Mr Baumgale.’

I blinked to hold back the tears. I knew what this meant. The lycra bodysuits, the pristine white snow, the lucrative promotional deal advertising Bran Flakes – all of it was gone. I could feel the bottom falling out of my world.

‘Oh, I... You’ll have to excuse me,’ I said.

How to Start a Law Firm | Trust Account Management

If you've been reading any of my posts you'll quickly see there is a lot of information on here about starting a law firm. That makes sense, because that's what this blog is about. But, if you dig a little bit deeper, you might notice that there is some critical information missing. I talk a lot about the business of a law firm and the things you should do to get started. I talk a lot about marketing and putting yourself out there. But I've really failed to talk a lot about one thing - what to do with your money when you sign someone up, particularly in civil cases.



And there's a reason I haven't talked about trust account management for your law firm - I don't know much about it.



Well, today is your lucky day, because a friend of mine has just created a video series dedicated to trust account management. His name is Rjon Robins. I would refer to him as a starting a law firm guru. He worked for the Florida bar association law office management program for several years and has taken his knowledge international. When I first started my law firm I purchased a program of his on doubling your revenue, and I was blown away with all of the content. Click here to see my Rjon Robins review.



Before I get too far, though, I do want to make one piece of information known - Rjon asked me to write about his new program on my site. The links you click will let him know that you came from my site. The reason for this is simple. Rjon wants to know where you've come from and how you got there. And we have set up an agreement for Rjon to thank me if you ever decide to take advantage of some of the paid programs he has to offer.



If you've been reading this blog, you know that I don't normally put affiliate type of information up here. In fact, I never have. But I wanted to this time for two reasons. First, I don't know about IOLTA account management. Second, I know Rjon knows what he's talking about and I trust that you will learn as much if not more from him than you do from me. The goal of this site is not to make money, but to chronicle my experiences and help those that want to start their own journey. I wouldn't put this information on here if I didn't know it was going to help you when you start really planning how to start your law firm.



If you go back to my original review of his revenue doubler system, you'll see I participated in that about a year ago. In that time I've sent him countless emails asking him questions. He has helped me with issues like out of the box law firm marketing, law firm website design, and phone systems, among other things.



The great thing about Rjon is that he always gives you a bunch of information for free. Great information. And I've actually looked at this video just to make sure it keeps up with all of the other free information of his that I've viewed (it does). So go check out this video on law firm trust accounts, learn about some of the pitfalls of not managing it correctly, and thank me when everything I promised you here is true!

Chic Habits

My last Chic Habits post was quite beneficial. Although I wasn't perfect at it, I noticed I did stop and think more about speaking in a positive, rather than a negative way, whether it was self-talk, speaking of others etc. A couple of times I spoke ill of others, but I think it was well-deserved. Is that a justification? Not perfect, but making the effort. This will be ongoing for me.

My other chic habit from last time was picking up and tidying as I go. I have been doing this more too. Not perfect again, but noticing and doing, more. As with all of my chic habits so far (perhaps with the exception of the early face-wash, I still can't get into that habit), I hope to keep them up as time goes on.

My next chic habit I want to focus on is:

Talking less, and being a better listener. I come from a family where the women are well-known for their talking prowess, and I am not joking. I'm really scared I will become like that too and I have asked my husband to tell me honestly if this starts being the case.

So in the meantime, I am trying to babble less, talk when I actually have something intelligent to say and not just fill a gap.

Also to consider what the other person is doing. I have spouted out a long-winded, one-sided conversation to my husband in the car and at the end of it when I get no response he snaps back into it and says 'sorry, I was just listening to that radio interview'.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this, was he too polite to say? Did I not notice him leaning into the radio speakers to hear over me? Should I have tested the water with a sample question? Was I just sitting there in the car going blah, blah, blah with every thought that ever came into my head spewing out of my mouth?

The listening better side of it should go hand-in-hand with talking less. I have a terrible habit of interrupting people when they're talking, it is to do with what they're talking about and adding to the conversation but I still do it, recognise it and then feel bad.

I got the shock of my life once when the person I was talking to stopped abruptly every time I spoke. And because I interject things, this was often. It was quite disconcerting and I haven't forgotten it. It felt like she was trying to show me up, but really she was just being polite by letting me speak. I still cringe when I think about that conversation.

I think it comes from growing up in a talking family (the female side, my dad talks about once every three months) - you have to get your words in where you can. If you didn't interject you'd never get your point across. So now when I'm talking with 'normal' people, I try to modify this.

I have also noticed this with others (people I'm not related to this time). There are some folk who simply like the sound of their own voice. They can happily speak monologue for thirty minutes plus (it feels like hour) and you literally will not have said one word. When you do, or ask a question, it's ridden over and ignored.

These people may wonder why they are often avoided by others, it's because the other person doesn't want to get 'caught' and 'trapped'! Please dear God shoot me if I ever become like this. The starting point is in my genes and I have to manage it.

So, in summary, I am attempting to undo 39 years of talking and listening behaviour. Wish me luck. Forgive me if I sound like a drama queen today.

If you'd care to join me, please let us know what chic habits you would like to bring into your life, either on your own blog or in the comments here.

Make light of tragedy

By the time the family had gathered their possessions, it was close to lunchtime.

‘I’m hungry,’ said Becky. ‘When are we eating?’

‘Certainly not any time soon,’ joked her father, jerking his thumb at the soldiers. ‘Unless they want to share their rations with you!’ The family laughed.

‘Not likely,’ said Ethan. ‘Besides, I hate German food.’

‘Hey, I heard that,’ said the nearest soldier, smiling. ‘Right, no bratwurst for you!’

‘No thanks!’ laughed Ethan.

‘Right, that’s enough chat,’ said the soldier, patting Ethan on the head. ‘It’s off to the holocaust for all of you. And hurry it up, you crazy kids. I’ve got a busy day’s genocide ahead of me.’

Emotional Truth--What You're After in Your Book, After All

Each book we write, each essay or story idea we decide to commit to the page, signals a kind of journey for the writer that is very personal and unique.  It's a journey of emotional truth, and because of this it has everything to do with the writer, very personally.

It's simplistic--even foolish--to think we're just scribing stories.  If our books contain any emotional truth, it's because we've learned about ourselves in the process of writing.

A reader from another country recently wrote me a beautiful letter about my novel, Qualities of Light, which was published last fall.  These communications always arrive when I'm discouraged about my writing life.  They are the real reason I write books.  I love the miracle of a topic I'm deeply concerned about also touching another soul.


This reader "got" my book at its most complex level, the emotional truth.   He wrote a lot about how much the book meant to him, in its basic story, but also how it changed him inside.  Changed his view of the world and the people in it. 

That signaled to me that I'd succeeded, at least for this reader, in presenting something more than good plot, interesting characters, and a believable setting.  Yes, these ingredients make up the craft of emotional truth.  We must have a good situation to keep our interest, we must be involved with the people in the story and where the story happens.  But these don't deliver emotional truth by themselves.  They create a good read, but they may not make a book that stays with the reader for days.

Writing emotional truth requires both craft and art.

I find the craft aspect essential--don't get me wrong.  The writer must learn to clearly place the reader in situation, character, and setting.  These are discussed at length in other posts on this blog; there are also many good books on writing that deal with them.  They are teachable writing tools, shaped through revision.  They manifest almost mechanically if the writer is skilled enough and works hard at her craft.

The art of emotional truth is a bit less predictable.  It comes out when the writer is willing to face the edge of her own life.

I'll try to explain how it worked for me in Qualities of Light.

Writing Emotional Truth Begins with Exploration
Qualities of Light began as a personal exploration of a topic.  I wanted to look at love in a new way, at the idea that love affects more than just the lover.  That it can bring spiritual change to others.  Not a new idea, I know, but one that I needed to dive into.  I began writing the novel when I was in a very settled period of my life, far from the edge that my characters were exploring.

First I built the foundation via the three elements of craft mentioned above:  I made sure the plot was strong--that something big happened regularly.  I used a three-act structure to double check this.  I worked hard on the characters, developing even the difficult-to-know characters.  I visited the setting frequently and wrote a lot about the sensory details I experienced there.  This took years and lots of persistence.  Books aren't quick, as you know. 

Under all of this craft work, the art of emotional truth rumbled like an underground river.  I could tell it was happening because I was besieged by questions. At first I didn't have words for these questions, believe it or not.  Only images surfaced, every now and then. During these months and years, I found it very helpful to create collages and image-based representations of these questions, this topic I was chewing inside.  After I did this often enough, the words finally came to define the questions.

Here are a few that formed:

How would it feel, to be fully received by another, fully known?
How could that "receiving" lead to an unexpected blossoming inside?
Would it be possible that this blossoming could result in others around the person also being rescued from themselves?

I began a "questions" notebook.  This helped me stay available to writing the art of emotional truth.  I found that unanswered questions actually prompted deeper thinking.  I became a beginner with my topic, even though I think I know a lot about love.  This beginner attitude opened me to all sorts of new information about love.  I took notes, I made more collages, I asked for ideas in my dreams each night.  Slowly the emotional truth came forward in my story.

I know this all seems very vague.  This is why some writing teachers say that writing can't be taught.  I believe it can--at least the craft part can be taught.  The art is like any art.  It's a matter of receptivity.   

Writing emotional truth is a sort of dance, between what you know and what you are open to not knowing.  In your consciousness as a writer, you may not keep your images/questions in front of you.  The story just comes out its own way, in its bits and pieces, and you write it down.  But under all of it, if you are open to the questions, you'll get something deeper.

Rainier Maria Rilke once said something about loving the questions themselves because they will let you live your way to the answers.

That's what it's like to write emotional truth in your book.

This Week's Writing Exercise
1.  Go back to a collage you've created for your book.  If you haven't yet done a collage, tear five images from a magazine and arrange them in a way that's pleasing to you.
2.  Write about what you see.  What could be the underlying questions you're asking yourself, that the book might be addressing?

The Great Wardrobe Declutter

Today I started. And it wasn't as hard as I thought. I didn't need to try anything on as I already knew what I didn't want to keep. I found myself waking up last night thinking 'I'm going to get rid of that denim jacket', so really, I was decluttering in my sleep.

I started with clothing I had previously removed from the wardrobe in my bedroom. I cleared everything out of the office/sewing room wardrobe which was put there to 'think about' months ago when I first read La Bella Figura. I kept a handful of items, the rest went into a (decent-sized) suitcase for donation.

There were pieces I was tempted to keep but then remembered I never wore and didn't want to. A denim jacket which wasn't big enough in the shoulders so always sat funny, another jacket where the sleeves were too short. Tops that were scratchy, not comfortable. Out, out, out. It was so easy and unemotional I thought I mustn't be doing it right.

I also made a decision to declutter all skirts. None have escaped so far. I love how feminine skirts are, but in them I just feel frumpy. Dresses are different for some reason. I love the few dresses I have which I wear on special occasions. But in skirts, perhaps it's my body shape, I'm either too corporate or just plain dumpy.

It was very freeing to skip past the skirts without even a thought. Janet from The Gardener's Cottage made me think about this with her comment a few days ago noting 'right now hanging in my closet are 3 summer skirts that i never wear. why is it that i keep them?'. Thanks Janet for the nudge.

What kept me on track was thinking of my tiny Paris apartment (the one of my dreams, you know it, the breezy, sparse apartment with filmy curtains at the windows). Would Sabine, my ideal French girl have all of this unworn clothing clogging up her home?

And it's not like I'm wasting it, someone else will wear it if it's at their house, not mine. It's easier to live with it hidden away than to declutter it, but like most things in life, the easy way is not the best way.

I thought I would start out with the 'satellite' wardrobes before tackling the main one, work into it if you like. Stephanie from C'est Si Bon wisely began with cosmetics (starting with clothing is quite a tall order). But really, the main wardrobe I don't think will be so hard either. I've run out of time today (late afternoon is the start of relaxing, reading and dinner time) but I didn't think I would get it all done in one day. I'm not that good.

I did get quite a lot done today though, here is my list of Sunday Accomplishments:

Made chicken stock
Vacuumed the house
Changed the sheets on our bed
Did two loads of washing and hung on the line
Washed and ironed cloth dinner napkins
Tidied and picked up the house
Decluttered wardrobes in guest bedroom and sewing room/office
Washed makeup brushes
Renovated a pair of yoga pants that had a really annoying bunchy waistband

The next parts of The Great Wardrobe Declutter are:

Main wardrobe in our bedroom
Shoes
Makeup
Scarves
Jewellery

Week 8 Update

I feel like a bit of a fraud this week. My blog should be called 'how to be chic - not' or 'how to not be chic' or 'how to be unchic'. I've been backsliding into potato chips and gained a kilo since my first post. And the past few days I've had a horrid headache that even painkillers can't budge. I try and fix it with food (sensible, I know) and eat stuff I think will make it go away. Hot chips with aioli doesn't help and neither do fruit jelly sweets apparently.

Beating myself up about it isn't going to do much good but I hope to be more successful with a chic diet so I have something more upbeat to report next week. If I can't do a better job I may have to knock my weekly updates on the head for the time being. Feeble excuses week after week are not that inspirational.

My exterior decor is chic though. I feel well-dressed today in black fitted shirt with lilac singlet top underneath, my new flare-dy jeans and black leather heeled boots, french twist hair, pearls and pink lip gloss.

I attended my third yoga class and while I felt good afterwards, it wasn't as enjoyable during. It was hard! At one point I felt like my shoulders and arms were going to snap off, like the vampire fight scene in Eclipse. All for a good cause though, and I'm looking forward to becoming more flexible and stronger week by week.

Tomorrow I plan to start The Great Wardrobe Declutter of 2010. Perhaps a good bout of decluttering can distract me from junque food consumption.

Risk the narrator’s life

As I dangled from the precipice, I felt absolutely certain that I would die. My fingers were slipping slowly but inevitably from the ledge and with no one else for a hundred miles in every direction, I knew for a fact that there was no hope of rescue. In fact – and I don’t mind telling you this now, in the warmth and comfort of my own home – I had fully accepted the fact of my own death even before I lost my grip and went hurtling into the abyss below.

As dictated by cliché, the entirety of my life unfolded in my mind’s eye, from birth through childhood to early adulthood and finally to this, my final, fatal misadventure. As I tumbled through the air towards absolutely certain death with no hope of a reprieve, I found a strange kind of peace. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that my days were at an end (to the extent that if by some highly unlikely miracle I was to survive, it would be so unfeasible as to to be virtually an insult to any hypothetical audience who might be observing me). I was a goner and I knew it.

Before I continue my story, may I refresh your glass? Are you quite comfortable enough? Excellent. Now, on with the tale...

French style inspiration

One of the things I love about Bastille Day is the focus on French themes in media around the world. One such article I came across was an interview with expat Marie about her 'uniquely French sense of style and how she incorporates it into her everyday life'. Yay!

What I love about this interview and the way Marie speaks, is that she isn't a fashion plate. She's an everyday French woman. Here are some of my favourite parts of the interview.

French women are celebrated for their sense of style; why do you think this is?
Seduction and beauty awareness are an important part of the puzzle of French society. You learn this as a child. A sense of style is maybe a matter of being aware that someone is looking at you and maybe judging you. So it is just an awareness that you must please whoever looks at you.

What's the one thing everyone should have in their wardrobe?
A nice simple jacket, well-cut, that can be casual or dressed-up according to what you are wearing under it.

What is your beauty routine?
I am addicted to Dr Hauschka products. So, cleansing milk every evening and morning, and day cream. I use only organic products for my skin and my hair. And masks once a week. I try to keep it simple.

The one rule you always dress by?
The two-colours rule. Except for July 14, where I wear blue, white and red!

You feel best wearing?
Stretchy, comfortable light clothes.

How would you describe your style?
Simple, plain, classic.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
It depends on what you call getting ready. For me, physical beauty comes from how you feel, so I start my day at 6am with 45 minutes of yoga. After taking my daughter to the bus stop I go for a walk on the beach in the rising sun. That's what I call getting ready for a beautiful day. It helps me feel at my best to wear whatever will please my mood of the day.

I love that she calls her style simple, plain and classic. The two colour rule has me thinking about what I wear. I am torn though, as one of my favourite combos is denim with a grey marle top and tan accessories. Is this three colours, or do accessories not count? Help!

Also, yet another serene and sensible person (of course I don't know her, but she comes across that way in the interview) who does yoga. I really have been ignoring the signs for too long.

And so it begins...

I'm in the mood for a rest. I think I have a big decluttering episode coming up and I want to be in top shape for it. You know how you can feel it coming on? When Stephanie at C'est Si Bon was madly decluttering I loved reading the posts and revelations, but I knew it wasn't my time yet. Now it's my time.

I want to start with my wardrobe as it's really been bothering me. In a comment in my last post I said I was waiting until I was skinnier to do this, but really, that day may never come. I might decide to be the weight I am and eat as healthy as I can and do my yoga and walking to tone up.

Because of 'waiting until I'm skinnier', I feel like things are on hold. And if I have decided not to diet, the decluttering will never commence. I have decluttered my wardrobe and drawers before, but 'stuff' creeps back in, and then there is the clothing I have kept, undecided about. So I'm back to square one.

I have a suitcase under the guest bed with out of season clothing and 'undecideds'. My goal is to have all my clothing, for every day of the year in my main wardrobe and drawers. So that suitcase will be empty and possibly even donated. We have more suitcases than we need. A few special occasion pieces and jackets I will keep in another wardrobe.

Where I live definitely has four seasons, but they are not as pronounced as other places. We don't get snow, and it doesn't get ridiculously hot. I live in a temperate sub-tropical climate, so I can really wear most of my clothing year-round. So having every piece of clothing I own will be useful, as I layer lighter pieces when it's colder.

I can only declutter my own clothing. My husband has some clothes he never wears but doesn't want to get rid of. Perhaps I will inspire him with my actions. But really, the bulk of it is mine.

I also want to declutter my makeup and be honest with myself and decide what makeup types (cream blush) and colours (green or blue eyeshadow) I don't wear. Anything that I will definitely use will be staying, I can't be quite as ruthless as Stephanie who decluttered all but one lipstick and all but one fragrance but I can be inspired by her to pare down.

I am getting down in fragrance numbers and it will be a happy day when I do only have a few to choose from, not a dozen. I love having a couple of fragrance choices, but it becomes stressful to muse 'I should wear this one, it's older' because they don't last forever. Do you think my ideal French girl Sabine thinks that thought as she spritzes herself with No. 5?

Other personal care items I will group like together. I visited three different skincare factory shops when my mum was here. I bought items I need (a body brush), items we use every night (candles), and items I use every day (honey-vanilla soaps and lovely scented body lotions). I will be storing the soap and body lotions with my other soaps and body lotions.

Yes, I know it sounds like I have a few, and I have. I don't mind so much though, as they are used up. It's things that don't get used up that stress me out (I have to decide what to do with them, where to store them...). My Nana used to ask for consumable gifts as she said she had enough 'stuff', and I have been too. I'm hoping to discourage knick-knacks and ornaments.

I always enjoy going 'shopping' in my bathroom cupboard when I have used the last of something. And because I buy them here and there on special I've never paid full-price (and they are nicer quality than supermarket ones).

The trick is to only buy things you will use (the lavender talcum powder I bought on a previous factory shop trip is still languishing) and keep an eye on your 'stock levels'.

I must admit, my soap levels are quite high now, but (I know I sound like I'm trying to justify myself here!) while I love using soap, I don't love supermarket soap which strips your skin. So if I can purchase soap made with good ingredients (and that smells divine) for not much more than supermarket prices by buying irregularly and in bulk, I will.

Part of my decluttering will involve tidying and organising also, which I am really looking forward to. I have been throwing things in any old place lately.

Sabine would never do this. Her Paris apartment is breezy, sparse, feminine, fragrant, carefully edited, welcoming, calm and a true haven to come home to.

Assume prior knowledge

He lifted the object and examined it. It was the same as it had been that time before, just after the event which had changed his life. Just thinking about it sent a chill down his spine, for obvious reasons.

‘So,’ he said, ‘what do you think?’

‘Same as always,’ she replied with a shrug. He nodded. The things they had experienced together in the past shaped their current relationship in exactly the ways you would expect. He placed the object back where it had been before he picked it up.

‘Some things never change,’ he said.

‘Everything changes,’ she said, just as she had on that one occasion before. He felt the same way about it now as he had back then. Would the same thing happen this time? He already knew the answer.

What's a Successful Book Launch?

After you spend hours, months, years on your book, after it's ready for publishing, after you get that amazing phone call that says, "We'd like to publish your manuscript," or you successfully travel through the land of self-publishing, the fun begins.  It's called a book launch.

Mary, a former student who's been through my book-structuring workshops, recently got her memoir accepted for publishing.  This is great news for her and for her future readers, since it's a good story that needs to be out in the world. 

She's going through all the normal flurry that precedes a book launch and sent me a good question:  What exactly is a successful book launch?  The publisher has their ideas, and you have yours.  Will the two ever meet?  And how can an author tell if she's done everything she possibly can to get her book into the hands of readers?

How Publishing Has Changed--Now It's Up to You
I first began publishing books in the 1980s.  Life in publishing was very different then, a luxury adventure for authors compared to the working one now. 


My publicists were hired by the publishers.  A publicist is a specialist in public relations, getting your book seen and talked about by media and other buzz-makers.  The publicity budget (again, from the publishing houses) gave my books funds for radio, television, and other promotion.  I was sent on small book tours for each title.  It was just like you hear about--the exciting times of authors in movies.

I was lucky to have good publicists who cared about my books.  One was so good, she got me booked on over 100 radio and TV shows.  I hired a media consultant who helped me learn how to be on TV (what to wear, what to say, even how to sit in the chair--all quite surprisingly important).  I went through a troublesome and embarrassing trial-and-error period where I messed up several good shows during the learning curve, practicing my author interviews.  But I got better.  With each book, I learned more about what makes a launch successful. 

One big surprise was bookstore appearances.  I learned that, unless they are very well publicized by radio and TV, they are often are iffy propositions.  It sounds great to appear at ten bookstores, but the reality of a tour is that many writers (these are good midlist writers with good books) can tell you horror stories of an hour or two sitting alone behind a table in a bookstore.  Nobody coming to get a book signed.  It's very depressing and I didn't want to be depressed about my books.

So I decided to be a little creative.  It was better to offer a free workshop on the topic of my book, or even a writing event.  People will come out for that.  And they did.  I remember one at Barnes & Noble where I drew a crowd of 55 or 60 people for a writing workshop--and many of them had never heard of me.  They just wanted to learn to write and hear about how I'd written and successfully published.  It worked.  They bought my book along the way. 

More Isn't Necessarily Better--Go for Quality, Not Quantity
Some authors would no doubt disagree, but I've learned with twelve books that more isn't better.  I go for quality, not quantity. Visiting a dozen venues that draw only a few people doesn't sell as many books as three well-chosen bookstores with fifty attendees each.  Better have a few very well attended events than many poorly attended ones.

I didn't start out this way.  I just try to make my own learning curve as short as possible, so I talked with lots of other authors and got the insider scoop.  When I asked, Did more books sell when you did a ten-city tour versus focused on two cities, the answer was Not always.  It depended on the media support.  If each of the ten cities included three radio interviews and a couple of newspaper features, yes.  If the media didn't support the event, even the big-name bookstores couldn't bring people.

Friends always helped.  I grew a bit shameless about emailing everyone in the area ahead of a tour, asking them to come and be a warm body, support me and bring their friends.  They often did, gladly, and it was great to know that at least a few people I knew would be there that night. 

Media Loves a Hook--and a Local One
I was a newspaper columnist for twelve years, and I got to know a bit of the media mind.  The newspapers in a town serve that town's readers.  They want a local hook.  What can you connect to their locality, that makes them interested in your book and your event?  This takes some research, getting to know the area ahead of time, asking questions (friends, again,who live there are great resources).  The big dailies are very useful and have a short turnaround time, so you can email a press release close to your date and still have a chance of getting a mention--and hopefully a feature interview with photo (the very best).  Weeklies and monthlies take a lot more lead time and planning.

My best attendance has come from feature articles on me and my book and the event in newspapers.  But close seconds are radio and TV interviews.  A brand-new author is usually put on the drive-time shows (morning radio) or news shows, which means a very brief spot.  Think four to five minutes.  You have to have your "talking points" very honed.  You're on and off the air in no time.  But enough of these, and you get people at your event.  The media has a frequency rule of seven--hear it or see it seven times, and it begins to make an impact. 

For me, this is why focusing on a few key venues makes sense.  It's very hard to scatter shot your media work and cover enough places in many cities. 

What Publishers Do for You Now
Most publishers no longer have a budget for publicity unless you are a top-of-the-list author or go with a small press that wants to make a splash with your book.  My experience of the 80s and 90s in publishing is a fairytale to authors coming out with books these days.  Authors are expected to coordinate--and pay for--their own media efforts.  Publishers will most times supply the ARCs (advance review copies) for free to an author, even send them out for you if you give them the media contacts you are targeting.  But some publishers don't even do this nowadays and the author must buy, at wholesale, and send the ARCs herself. 

It's a changing world.  Don't expect your launch to be fully backed by your publisher.  Expect to do the work yourself and plan to hire a consultant, a publicist, or whomever will give you the information and support you need to make your book a stunning success in the world.

After the Launch--Did I Do Enough?
It's been eight months since my novel, Qualities of Light, was released.  I have another book coming out in winter 2010, so my attention has moved on--as it should.  Having another book cooking helps the small let-down of post-launch, when you're no longer swinging the circuit and meeting readers. 

Publicity gurus say you have a window of six months to get a book noticed, and after that, it's over.  It's never been over for some of my books.  I'm still finding new readers as long as the books are in print and I can share them.  The main media efforts are within that six-month window, but you can promote for many years.  I recently read about an author who kept his nonfiction book promotion going for five years and did very well, with increasing sales.  Keep an ear and eye on the media, notice if something is happening that you can ride on with your topic. 

I never feel I do enough with my books.  I sent a review copy  to a national magazine, using a personal connection.  It looked very promising--the reviewer was enthusiastic.  But month after month, no review of my book.  It's not a magazine I'd normally subscribe to, but I kept a subscription going for an extra year, hopeful.  Finally I stopped it.  What hadn't I done right?  The book was good, it fit the magazine's approach, it had been reviewed in equally prestigious publications, but it never got reviewed in this one. 

I believe that efforts for a book, the love you put into launching it, is never lost in the universe.  You'll work steadily toward one idea for getting your book known, as I did with this magazine, but the efforts don't pay off from that avenue; the results come, unexpectedly, from another direction. 

When I finally stopped my efforts toward this publication, I received a fan letter.  A group of women in Mexico were reading my book.  Someone had heard of it, gotten a copy (not an easy feat in this community) and my book was making the rounds.  It was loved by these readers, changing lives.  What better result is there?

My books have been mentioned in the New York Times, on over 100 radio and television stations, in plenty of magazines and newspapers.  I've worked very hard at launches, and I've had plenty of flat tires in terms of not getting exactly what I hoped for.  But then I think of these readers, my readers, who are happy I spent all those years writing.  That's what it's all about, isn't it?  In the end?

This Week's Writing Exercise
Design three launch events for your book.  List three places you'd like to be seen, and brainstorm all the particulars--what you will offer to get people there, how you might attract the media with a local hook, and anything else you can put on paper.  Let yourself go wild.  Have fun.  Dream!

Exclaim!

Each absorbed in their own silence, they gathered around the coffin! The pale grey light of morning slanted through the window and lay in a distorted square across the dark wooden surface!

‘So!’ said Peter! ‘I’m glad we could all make it!’

‘Of course!’ said Cassie, quietly! ‘You think I’d stay away?!’

For a moment, no one said anything! The air conditioner hummed quietly!! All eyes were on the coffin, long and dark in front of them! Peter seemed to be about to speak, but paused, then just shook his head! Michael took a step back!!

‘It’s time to go!’ he said!

One by one, they turned and walked slowly to the door, each pausing before they left to glance, one final time, at the last home their father would ever know! Peter was the last!! He looked back into the room and nodded once, curtly, before letting the door close behind him with a click!!!

Shopping Chicly

I had the best day yesterday. My mum is in town, and we both met my sister and niece for late lunch and a spot of shopping.

Yes, yes, it was all very nice spending time with my family, blah, blah. What really got me excited though was my clothes shopping. I haven't bought clothes in such a long time from the combined reasons of 'use what I have', 'save money' and 'not skinny enough'.

I bought a pair of jeans, as this is what I wear. I've decided to embrace denim rather than fight it, at a place which makes great, but pricey pairs. They had a sale table with every conceivable style on it. I tried on 75% of the ones in my size. I ended up with a pair reduced from $289 to $69.

I have reconfirmed that skinny leg jeans aren't for me. I have thighs. In skinny leg jeans my legs look like ice cream cones. And of course since I carry extra weight on my top half more, I then look like an ice cream in a cone. I loved the look of them bunched at my ankle above my high heel, but not as my eye travelled further up. And my bum is very round when viewed side on.

I asked for my mum and my sister's honest impressions as I tried on each pair rapid-fire style. I did not once apologise to them for being more curvy than I would like or say things like 'imagine these with five kilos less'.

The style I chose I didn't have on my first try-on pile. They are wide leg flares. As soon as I put them on I knew they were the ones. They fitted my hips and thighs closely, flared out from the knee and all this balanced out the round bum and top half. I'm very happy with them.

Amazingly, they were the same size I've always bought - a 12 here, which is a US size 8. My husband noticed this and said 'see, told you you were still the same size'. He's a doll.

I was going to buy a second pair which were a slightly different flared style in grey denim. My sister looked unsure about them. When I said to her I wanted another pair 'just for work', she replied 'is that really what you want?' as in don't settle for them. Such wise words, I put those ones back.

If I'd bought both it would have been the blue ones I wore most and they grey ones would have languished, not quite right.

I also bought a top from a different store, a soft, slinky t-shirt knit with no sleeves and a scooped hem a bit like a men's business shirt. The shoulder area is slightly shoulder-padded and ruched. But it's the colour I love best: orange-red. The warm red really suits me if I do say so myself. This was also reduced, from $89.90 down to $11.90. And again, I have not gone against what I wear and try to change myself. This top doesn't need to be ironed and it's a bit dressier than a t-shirt.

If I was going against what I wear and tried to change myself, I would have bought a cotton fitted shirt. Then only worn it once a month when I was in an ironing mood. I do want to find a new white cotton fitted shirt as I don't have one at the moment. That is the only exception I am going to make.

I have a hard time trying to think about the purported French way of shopping, by purchasing at full-price and being picky. I do think you can sale-shop and be picky too. And I was incredibly picky yesterday.

Out of at least a dozen pairs of jeans, I took one, and out of the same number of dresses and tops, I bought one top. I also did not buy a pair of earrings, as I wear the same faux diamond plain studs, pearl studs or small gold hoops every day. No other earrings are ever worn, and if they are, I feel uncomfortable in them.

My husband and I own and work in a retail shoe store. When we reduce items, it doesn't mean they are terrible. It simply means the kind of customer that wears them doesn't shop with us, or we bought too many, or it's a seasonal style only and we now have a broken size range. Or sometimes in sale time (twice a year at the end of winter and summer) we reduce just about everything, including classic styles.

Sometimes it's our favourite shoes in the shop that we have to reduce to get them moving, and it's just because the kind of customers we get are different to our own personal style. A French woman purchased a pair of a gorgeous style that we reduced once. I loved the shoes but they hadn't sold, so we reduced them.

She exclaimed over them and bought a pair, couldn't believe they were on special. They looked great on her and she wore them exactly how I would have (I was thrilled!) She was so stylish and chic, and it really brought it home to me that everything that is on sale isn't 'unwanted and picked over'. The French woman was canny in her shopping in that she knew her style, knew a bargain and knew quality.

I hear customers giving helpful advice to their friends like 'don't buy it just because it's on sale' which I would say too, but I think don't be suspicious of items on sale. I wouldn't have bought the jeans or top at full price yesterday, but only because I have clothes I can wear.

But if something comes up that you know is your style on special, I say grab it. When we were leaving the jeans store, my sister told me the jeans I chose were very 'relaxed French chic' in style. I don't think she could have said it better to make me to glad of my purchase.

Worn with high heels and my new red top, or with a Breton top, I can channel Jane Birkin in the 60s/70s.

Week 7 Update

Now I know why people go on about yoga. It's so good. I admit I've only attended two classes so far, but they have both been wonderful. It's strenuous and relaxing all at the same time, and after the class I feel like I've had the biggest and best stretch of my life.

I also feel taller, leaner and longer. I am seriously thinking about going twice a week, and maybe doing my own practice at home. I'll want to learn the positions correctly first though, no point in practising at home the wrong way.

When I thought about going twice a week I considered that it will a bit of an outlay, every week. The frugal side of me said this. But really, I would spend the amount of the cost of a class on other, less worthy things without a second thought. I need to get my priorities straight.

I love every part of my class, even the bits that hurt a little (like stretching beyond my comfort zone, or holding a pose for a while). The final ten minutes is worth getting to: you lie on your back with a bolster under your knees, warmly tucked up in blankets and with a rice-filled eyemask on while the teacher takes us through a relaxing meditation. It is simply bliss.

And in other breaking news, the french twist hairstyle has me in its grip. I simply cannot stop wearing my french twist/sheer soft-red lipstick/pearls combo. I am hoping people won't mistake me for a dotty old English duchess, fallen on hard times and living in denial, going around all grand in her pearls and chignon (whilst really working in a shoe shop with jeans on every day).

There's not much to report foodwise. I have been enjoying good, real food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and always a salad with lunch. But I have been having unchic snacks at drinks hour sometimes. What can I say, I'm relaxed about it right now. C'est la vie.

I did have a thought the other day, and it was quite an exciting one. What if I stayed the same weight I am now, for the rest of my life. If I didn't try to lose anything and just relaxed. I would still focus on chic eating and healthiness, and walk and do yoga, but for enjoyment and not weight loss.

It is actually quite a thrilling proposition.