I'll get to the book stuff in just a second but first I must share a conversation that Brooke and I had this weekend- And for those of you not interested in book writing- can you weigh in on how you solve the emergency birthday gift dilemma? I obviously need help.
Brooke: "Mom do you have friend girl's birthday present- the party is today."
Me: Oh shoot a turkey and it's not even Thanksgiving, "Well, not exactly."
Brooke" "Mom! No gift?"
Me: Listen up Buster Brown it's not like I've been sitten' around this week pickin' at my feet okay? "I'm sorry sweetie- we'll figure something out."
Brooke: "Let's get her a Teddy Bear from the grocery store."
Me: "Now that would just be embarrassing Brooke. I mean friend girl would be shopping for cheetos this week and she and her mom would pass by the teddy bears conveniently placed with the kid snacks and we'd be busted. They'd be all like, 'Oh those TerKeursts buy their birthday gifts from the grocery. A classic sign of ultimate disorganization. Tsst. Tsst.' No, I have a Starbucks card in my purse- we can give her that."
Brooke: "She's 9! You don't give a 9 year old a Starbucks card."
Me: "I'd love to get a Starbucks card."
Brooke: "Yeah, but you're old."
Me: Back off sister- you're treading on shaky ground filled with cellulite and wrinkles. "Okay fine, well then take your young little self upstairs to your young little room and go grab one of your webkins that still has a tag on it. I can replace yours later."
Brooke: "Mine! Mine! I could never give one of MY webkins!"
Me: As she throws her head on the counter, I make a note that she has entirely too much stuff. No more stuff. For Pete's sake, who gets all emotional about stuff. (Ahem- camera Lysa.) Just say no. Yes, every trip to every store this week I will only speak one word to my kids--- NO! "Well then we can regift something you're not so attached to."
Brooke: "You mean give her something I haven't opened from my birthday party? Mom- if I haven't played with it, it's because it doesn't seem fun."
Me: "Friend Girl will love it."
Brooke: "No she won't."
Me: "Okay then you can't go to the party."
Brooke: "Fine- I'll give her the reject gift---whatever."
After the party----
Me: "So, did friend girl love the sparkly no purpose regift?"
Brooke: "Yeah! Friend Girl said--- 'How cool- don't you have one of these?' "
Me: Gulp.
Like I said--- I obviously need help.
Now for the book writing stuff---
Wow! Gals, I am absolutely blown away by your many great ideas for wonderful books. When you do get published, you have to promise to send me a copy~
So, here's what is in store for my book writing friends today. How do I write a book?
For me, it comes down to a numbers thing. A typical trade paper back book that I write is about 50,000 words. These books typically range between 50,000 to 75,000 words.
I like my readers to be able to read a whole chapter in one potty sitting- so mine are a little shorter. Do I know my audience or what? (Multi-tasking, bathroom hiding, need to feel like I accomplished something today- readers! I love them~)
Anyhow, if my book is going to be 50,000 words, then I will usually have 25 chapters. Which means I will write 2,000 words for each chapter- 1500 words will make up the text of the chapter and 500 words will be reserved for a Bible Study at the end of a chapter. So, if you do the math, 25 x 2000 = 50,000 words.
Now, some people like longer chapters so they may do 10 chapters with 5,000 words in each. If you do this, I would break the chapter up into sections with little subtitles throughout.
Either way, it is important to keep your chapter lengths consistent throughout.
Breaking it down to bite size pieces like this makes what seems like a daunting task, much more realistic and manageable. Much like a lot of life- right? Maybe I need to apply this principle to my birthday gift dilemma!
Hey, leave a comment today and I'll register you to win one of my books--- I'll let you pick which one. Sweet Blessings sisters!
Brooke: "Mom do you have friend girl's birthday present- the party is today."
Me: Oh shoot a turkey and it's not even Thanksgiving, "Well, not exactly."
Brooke" "Mom! No gift?"
Me: Listen up Buster Brown it's not like I've been sitten' around this week pickin' at my feet okay? "I'm sorry sweetie- we'll figure something out."
Brooke: "Let's get her a Teddy Bear from the grocery store."
Me: "Now that would just be embarrassing Brooke. I mean friend girl would be shopping for cheetos this week and she and her mom would pass by the teddy bears conveniently placed with the kid snacks and we'd be busted. They'd be all like, 'Oh those TerKeursts buy their birthday gifts from the grocery. A classic sign of ultimate disorganization. Tsst. Tsst.' No, I have a Starbucks card in my purse- we can give her that."
Brooke: "She's 9! You don't give a 9 year old a Starbucks card."
Me: "I'd love to get a Starbucks card."
Brooke: "Yeah, but you're old."
Me: Back off sister- you're treading on shaky ground filled with cellulite and wrinkles. "Okay fine, well then take your young little self upstairs to your young little room and go grab one of your webkins that still has a tag on it. I can replace yours later."
Brooke: "Mine! Mine! I could never give one of MY webkins!"
Me: As she throws her head on the counter, I make a note that she has entirely too much stuff. No more stuff. For Pete's sake, who gets all emotional about stuff. (Ahem- camera Lysa.) Just say no. Yes, every trip to every store this week I will only speak one word to my kids--- NO! "Well then we can regift something you're not so attached to."
Brooke: "You mean give her something I haven't opened from my birthday party? Mom- if I haven't played with it, it's because it doesn't seem fun."
Me: "Friend Girl will love it."
Brooke: "No she won't."
Me: "Okay then you can't go to the party."
Brooke: "Fine- I'll give her the reject gift---whatever."
After the party----
Me: "So, did friend girl love the sparkly no purpose regift?"
Brooke: "Yeah! Friend Girl said--- 'How cool- don't you have one of these?' "
Me: Gulp.
Like I said--- I obviously need help.
Now for the book writing stuff---
Wow! Gals, I am absolutely blown away by your many great ideas for wonderful books. When you do get published, you have to promise to send me a copy~
So, here's what is in store for my book writing friends today. How do I write a book?
For me, it comes down to a numbers thing. A typical trade paper back book that I write is about 50,000 words. These books typically range between 50,000 to 75,000 words.
I like my readers to be able to read a whole chapter in one potty sitting- so mine are a little shorter. Do I know my audience or what? (Multi-tasking, bathroom hiding, need to feel like I accomplished something today- readers! I love them~)
Anyhow, if my book is going to be 50,000 words, then I will usually have 25 chapters. Which means I will write 2,000 words for each chapter- 1500 words will make up the text of the chapter and 500 words will be reserved for a Bible Study at the end of a chapter. So, if you do the math, 25 x 2000 = 50,000 words.
Now, some people like longer chapters so they may do 10 chapters with 5,000 words in each. If you do this, I would break the chapter up into sections with little subtitles throughout.
Either way, it is important to keep your chapter lengths consistent throughout.
Breaking it down to bite size pieces like this makes what seems like a daunting task, much more realistic and manageable. Much like a lot of life- right? Maybe I need to apply this principle to my birthday gift dilemma!
Hey, leave a comment today and I'll register you to win one of my books--- I'll let you pick which one. Sweet Blessings sisters!
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