For the record, I have not fallen off the face of the earth.
It only appears that way.
You’re probably sick of reading a post in which I say I’m getting back to blogging on a regular basis, and then proceed to, well, blog on an irregular basis. I don’t blame you. I’m getting tired of writing such posts. And I sure am darn sick of not blogging.
When I sat down to type this, I looked at the date of my last post and shuddered. Could it really be more than two weeks?
TWO WEEKS?
Yowza.
In the little world between my ears, I was thinking it had only been a few days. Six, maybe seven at most.
Nothing like the date stamp of a post to bring you back to reality and the stark truth I’ve failed miserably at keeping my ‘I will blog regularly’ promise. Mea culpa.
Because I really enjoy blogging. No, make that: I really love blogging. And when I don’t blog, I miss it.
Now I know some bloggers do so more for attention, publicity, designing their platform, building their ‘brand’. Good for them, more power to ’em. Or they blog to entertain, inform, educate, motivate, persuade or inspire. I aim for at least one of the aforementioned, two on a good day.
But in the end, I blog because I like the connection that takes place when fingers hit keyboard, words come out on the page, and are read. The act of writing is sufficient reward, and that last part – ‘and are read’ – is just icing on the cake.
I like being part of a global online community of fellow bloggers, each of us writing what flows through us. None of us can possibly keep up with reading every single post we collectively put out there, but it sure is nice to touch base and know what’s going on, what’s taking up their time and what they find interesting.
I love knowing what others find blog-worthy, and seeing what they’ve done with their words.
So while I may not have been blogging, I have been thinking about blogging quite a bit. I’ve captured a number of notes on topics I’d like to share, questions I have, things I’m not sure of.
It was six weeks ago, in Back in the Saddle Again, that I was sure my book would be published at the end of April. However well meaning those thoughts were, the universe scoffed at them – Ha! For reasons too numerous to mention, many of my own making, this behemoth of a book is taking a little (okay a lot) longer than I’d hoped.
The editing and cross-checking are complicated, as Saint Jane* and I follow up on loose ends in the manuscript and try not to forget anything. Life’s thrown in a few curve balls as well, and things get interrupted here and there.
But we now have a solid, no kidding, drop dead date to throw the sucker over the transom and into the lap of Lisa of Lemonberry.com to have her way with it. Wednesday. She’s already done a draft mock-up of the first 50 pages, allowing us to embrace the myriad details of what the words will actually look like on the page. We’ve tweaked it a teensy bit, moved this here and that there, and have agreed on the way forward.
We’re finishing up the last parts, filling in the cracks, polishing it up.
I don’t have a publication date as that’s heavily dependent on Lisa’s workload and schedule. But it’s looking like very late May or early June.
In the meantime, you’ll find me tap tap tapping away, setting things right and getting it done. And blogging. Because I’ve got a lot of connecting to do.
* * *
*One of the upcoming posts will be why every author needs an experienced book editor.
Good luck in the final throws Linda! You can do it! Nice to hear how it is coming along.
Thanks for your support Liv. Once I know book availability and launch dates I’ll share.
Life happens! I haven’t been able to find time recently to read blogs never mind write them. Good luck with book. Ann
Thank you Ann, it’s much appreciated. Really love how you combine art, writing, and issues of concern to you on your blog. The flash fiction is an area I haven’t yet explored.
Linda, when things calm down a bit and you can really get back in the saddle again, we will all still be here 🙂
Good luck with getting the book out there. It’s a major achievement. Looking forward to hearing about it soon!
Thanks Katia, good to hear from you. Was thinking about FIGT 2013 last night, so nice to meet you in person there.
You will always be welcomed warmly in the Gidday blogosphere Linda…no matter how long you are away. 😉
Good luck with the book…how very exciting for you!
Exciting is one adjective, Kym, but I can think of a few less appetizing ones 😉 Thanks
I think your book launch timing will be perfect, you couldn’t have planned it better. As you know another very important expat book has been attracting a lot of online attention these past couple of weeks and it would have been a shame to have 2 great books competing for their launch. Thank you though for sharing your ‘birth pangs’ through your blog. 🙂 It’s interesting to know all that goes on behind the scenes.
We would have deconflicted the launches even if mine hadn’t been delayed, but you’re right: things happen for a reason. Thanks Judy.
Hi Linda, I’m glad you blog because through blogging we connected! It was really great to meet you in real life yesterday at the book launch of Career in Your Suitcase (http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com/). Not only did I get to meet you, but Saint Jane, Lisa of Lemonberry.com and more interesting people.
I’m looking forward to your book and to your post on why every author needs an experienced editor. In the meantime just keep at it!
“De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst” as we say in Dutch, meaning actually finishing something is the most difficult.
It was so great to meet you in person, too, Drie. It’s the connections which make blogging so wonderful. Looking forward to seeing you again, soon. Love the Dutch saying, thanks.
Linda, I understand where you are coming from with regards to blogging regularly. Last year I was averaging one a week, now it seems more like one a month!
I enjoyed reading this post of yours and I wish you all the best with the final stages of your book. I am looking forward to getting my hands on a copy!
Thanks Carrie, doing my best!
Hi Linda,
Good luck with the book. Don’t forget to remind me so we can organise an interview at EF to help promote your book 🙂
Carole 🙂
Haven’t forgotten Carole, will send you an email. Thank you!
Sounds as though you have been busy. Good luck!
Great, thank you! Hope you got my comment on your site.
Good thoughts: I share the feelings. I enjoy blogging for the connection and expression, a chance to think things through and to make sense of the whirl of expat life in the Netherlands. If I don’t do some writing for a few days, I can feel the thoughts getting backed up and repeated rather than refined.
I do learn a lot from the community of expat bloggers that I read in the Netherlands, sometimes a good restaurant or weekend spot, other times and insight that helps me with running my business. Sometimes it’s just encouragement in a rough spot. But it’s always welcome to know that others share the happy discoveries and trying moments that I do.
‘Keep writing 🙂
That I will, Dave, that I will. You keep writing, too. Really liked your post on lessons learned on your 3 start-ups. Thanks