Starting on a new Dream....again

[Teri Embrey]

I put up the last of my new stuff for 2005 on my website early this morning (well, now it's yesterday for most of you) - if anyone would like to take a stroll through - www.teriembrey.com .

I'd really like to do a book this coming year, something like a photo book with stories around the carvings. I've been thinking about this for awhile now, but actually getting down to working on pieces and stories for it seems "out there somewhere". I wonder if anyone here has done anything like that and if you have any advice for planning and getting started on such a project. It's a dream for 2006 and I'd love some help or butt-kicking to get me started at it.

Thanks,

Teri

[rick-in-seattle]

Teri,
Some words of advice I have found helpful over the years:

I got this from a fortune cookie.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"

Glenda (the good witch) once said:
"It is best to start at the beginning"
Or was it a munchkin?

On the other hand, a wise old man once told me:
"I don't think you can get there from here"
Well, he was old anyhow.

[squbrigg]

Go for it Terri. Dreams are what begin great things! Not much help with the actual book, no experience in that area, but they always said I was a "dreamer"!Bob

[Just Carving]

Hi Teri

I haven't written any books that were published but I have written training manuals when I was doing training for the rescue squad--and they got quite a bit of use. Here's my tip:

Get a notebook--either like the cheap black and white ones that the kids use in grade school, and seen in the foodstore, or if you prefer, a loose-leaf notebook. I personally like the bound notebook because the pages don't fall out, and it is small and compact enough that I can take with me wherever I go. Others like the loose-leaf because they can easily rearrange it--now with divders, or later when organizing.

First thing you do is write your goal--could be simply, "I want to write a book...", and then you can expand on it now, or as you go along, you can come back and add to it. I would leave the first 2-3 pages blank for that purpose. Then, every time you think of something that you would like to include in the book, whether it be a story--write it in, a picture--tape or glue it in, a sketch--draw, tape, or glue it in, or even just random thoughts, write it down. It doesn't have to be neat, it doesn't have to be grammatically correct, just write it, tape it, glue it, into "Teri's New Book Journal." Each time you add something, put a date at the top of the page. It's interesting to look back later to see just how long it really took you! You'll be surprised to see how quick it went once you got going!

After a while, you'll see this "monster" that you created begin to get out of hand with bulges and bumps that need to be tamed. That's when you look through it and write an outline based on what you wrote on the first few pages when you started.

I like to keep the outline simple. The format I use is:
I. Intro--a little about yourself, a little about your book
II. First chapter--intro to your Santa carving for example
III. Second chapter--Expand on how you got started--maybe even show a step by step of how you create a Santa, etc.
IV. Could be photos of all of your favorite Santas and their stories
V. Conclusion

These are just some ideas that should get you started. The outline is more of a guideline and can be changed at any time while developing your book. Chances are the only version that will be seen is when you submit a query letter to a publisher, and then anything even close to your outline, would be the table of contents.

Then once you've got a basic outline, you can begin to go through your notebook, and decide what should go where, and make a note at the top of the page.

One other piece of advice: I write in my notebooks in pencil. It makes revisions a little easier later on. I also use colored pens when organizing according to the outline. This way my notes stand out more as I am flipping through.

If you're really organized, you can create an "index" of what's where in your notebook, so that it makes it easier to find things without having to flip through the whole book looking for something. I personally haven't done that one--I'm not that organized.

These are my thoughts---take one, take all, take none--and they are for anyone's use. Hope you write a best seller!! Good luck!!

[Nancy-G]

In the world of carving if Teri wants it ...........


Teri will find it, right?

I just can't imagine anything else. It might not be an easy journey or a smooth road but Teri will find her destination.

[Kenny_S]

Cool Teri! My advice is, Go for it, you only live once and if you don't go for your dreams, Then they are only dreams. Been there !

[AlArchie]

Teri, I think that quote, correctly was "If I was going to go to XXXXXXX,
I wouldn't start from HERE!" Since you have already left HERE, (wherever that was) what the heck, ya might as well get started!

We'll be waiting to see your book!

Al

[artolver]

Hey Teri,
Yeah .........shouldn't be too hard fore you. You write (real good), and the pictures of your fellows tell it all.
the new ones are beautiful.
Art

[carver6]

Go for it Teri!!! Is it too early to place an order? If so, I'll be waiting with cash in hand for the first copy available.Thumbs Up
Garon

[GeorgiaCarver]

I would love to hear some of these charactures stories Mobster