Joanne the Coach

Resources for Writing a Book Proposal

The trouble with sending out a book proposal is that it does kind of leave you drumming your fingers for what comes next.

But at least I am now well placed to recommend How To Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen.  JH followed its advice to the letter, and we all know what happened to him.

The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook is always worth a gander for publishing information, and I have heard good things about From Pitch to Publication and The Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book Published.  Also check out White Ladder Press's site, which includes some excellent advice on preparing submissions, including a template proposal.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have more finger drumming to do.

Reviews Ain't What They Used To Be

I am all of a tizz because of several exciting things which happened yesterday, not least of which was being asked to review books for a new website.  Hurray.

Yer Amazon review used to be the best recommendation you could follow, the online answer to word of mouth.  They're entirely open and democratic, because anyone can place a review if they feel moved to give their opinion.  Though JH has asked me not to place my chosen review on his book (just what's wrong with "I love this book because it's dedicated to meeeee!" anyway?)

But since when did Amazon reviews become a place to showcase your comedy writing?  Like this lot from Rundown.  The joke gifts are the worst for attracting showboating reviews - these reviews provide more laughs than the product.

Now have a look at this - the latest Food Doctor Diet book.  It's got several middling reviews, most of which express disappointment that the content has already been published in previous FD books.  That's a fair enough point, which you would need to know if you were considering buying this book.

But one review stands out - Katrina from Preston lavishes the book with fulsome praise, the only reviewer to give it the full 5 stars.   In fact Katrina has contributed 5 reviews, starting in 2005, all of them for Food Doctor books or products, all of them 5 star ratings.  And she's not at all bothered about the new one being less than unique. Is she just a genuine, enthusiastic fan?  Is it some kind of viral marketing PR ploy?   

Who knows, I've been cooking these recipes and am still mulling over a review.  They do seem to vary.  The best comment JH could give it the other night, as he grimly forked his way through a plateful of quinoa was "Well, it keeps you alive, doesn't it?".  Are we missing something Katrina?  Do tell.

Writing an E-book - Your Cut Out And Keep Guide

Must confess I've been moonlighting on another blog.  Check out this guide to writing an e-book on Freelance Writing Tips.  And a prize to anyone who can guess which flavour of canape I'm holding in the photo.

The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in My House

I had heard lots of good things about Linda Jones' new book The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World, but nobody told me what a handsome little feller it is.  Hardback, so ideal for drumming your fingers on whilst thinking of a particularly apt metaphor, and with a blue ribbon bookmark attached so you can tie it to the Christmas Tree after you've read it.

And oh yes, the content.  Pretty much everything a freelance writer would need to know is covered in its pages.  Areas covered include:  pitching, writing for newspapers & magazines, blogging and commercial writing.  Linda gives us the benefit of her 20 year writing career with energy, enthusiasm and passion.  You could open it randomly at any page and feel confident that you'd learn something to benefit your writing career.

My only criticism of this book is that it could stand being an awful lot longer.  All of the tips are neccessarily short, and there were times when I could have done with fuller explanations.  I guess that will have to wait.  Roll on volume 2.

Never Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Can Faff About With Today

AnnA Rushton recently sent me a copy of her new ebook on procrastination, and I intended to write about it today.

However, due to some email faffing, a cupboard which positively needed sorting out, some essential vocabulary rice donation and...er...well I guess maybe a smidgeon of procrastination, I didn't get through all of the book in time.  Oh dear.  I suppose it means I'm well placed to review it.

More on procrastination tomorrow (if the dog doesn't eat my homework first).

Don't bother going to Devon - all the cream teas have been taken care of now

Right, I'm back back baaack from hollybobs (as they used to say when Smash Hits was edited by Smurfs).  Not officially back coaching clients yet - that starts in September, though the diary is filling up so get in touch if you're thinking about booking some coaching sessions.

Little bloblets of work still happening - just did an interview with a newspaper in Finland (Question - Should Britney Spears, Paris Hilton & Lindsay Lohan rejeuvenate their careers by appearing on a reality show?  Answer - Joanne burbles on at length, the gist of which is 'NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!')

Holiday was good for books and badgers.  We had peanut-eating badgers who would visit the holiday homestead every night, though I suspect if they could work out how to open the packets themselves they wouldn't have bothered.

Also read a quartet of good books.  Many people read personal development/self improvement books on holiday, but I read those all year round so reckoned it was time for something different.  Started off with Out of the Tunnel by Rachel North.  I was interested in this because it's about the author surviving both the 7th July London tube bombings, and being attacked and raped by a stranger.  I particularly wanted to read her thoughts and experiences of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, something I also experienced after my house burned down when I was in it.  It's an unforgettably powerful book, maybe not the best choice for a holiday read because it does take you to darker places, but ultimately an uplifting story of an incredible woman.

Also quite dark and mysterious, verging on the creepy, then veering left into spooky was Sebastian Beaumont's Thirteen.  It' s the fictional story of a Brighton taxi driver and his adventures with the mysterious creatures who pop up on the nightshift.  I'm almost sure it's a great book - my only reservations are because it's quite distracting reading a book based where you live, even if it's painting the picture through a dream.  Hubby and I took turns at reading this and were forever poking each other and saying 'Look - he's gone in our local curry house!  He's in a pub I go to!' and other such fascinating snippets.  (We do have depths in our shallows BTW, but it was like this guy was stalking us).

Then swiftly on to Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk, which is an entirely different kettle of discontented housewives.  Had mixed feelings about this one - there's terrific writing in there, but ultimately there wasn't one woman in there who was happy with her life.  They were all hacked off, usually with their men or their children or both.  There was also lots and lots of rain, making it the perfect holiday companion.

Besides rain, no holiday is complete without a bonkers family, but if you can't supply your own then Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs is a good alternative.  Read it if you are a particularly safety-conscious parent who could do with a few laughs and a good dose of the horrors.