Welcome to the new home of Author & Professional Speaker, L. Diane Wolfe (AKA "Spunk on a Stick") and The Circle of Friends!

The Circle of Friends series follows a group of young adults as they face different challenges and learn to overcome. The emotionally gripping stories focus on love, friendships and the pursuit of dreams. Aimed at adults/young adults, these books defy the growing trend of salacious titles, especially for teenagers. Positive and uplifting, this series will leave readers determined to overcome their obstacles and achieve their goals.

This blog is now the home of the original The Circle of Friends website.


Thursday, September 15, 2011

The End of the First Draft


This week I finally finished the first draft of my next book. A month behind schedule, but it is done!

This weekend I begin the task of entering it into the computer and doing the first round of edits. (I hand-write all of my work.) Usually I start this process after writing a few chapters, but this time I didn’t. So, I am in new territory.

Since this is a non-fiction how-to book, I have a lot of references to include. Most I already have saved in several files, but some will require me to jump online or check book listings to complete. So the first round edit will be very time consuming.

I’d hoped to be further along in the process, but I’ve been pulled in many directions this year. Here’s a short list of what else I do besides write:

Speaking engagements - which includes sending out flyers, making calls, developing new seminars, research, announcements, and lots of travel.

Social networking and website maintenance.

Book ‘Em NC committee member duties - author school visits and school writing contest.

Publishing consultation and ebook formatting.

Run and maintain another business that requires travel.

Obligations to three different clubs and organizations.

Obligations to church and our local photo club.

Family obligations which include husband (very important), two needy cats, and phone calls and trips to Oregon for my mother, who is in assisted living now.

(They say diversity is good - you shouldn’t rely on just one income source - but some days I wonder.)

I think once this next book is done, I need a vacation!


11 comments:

Nicki Elson said...

Congratulations on finishing the draft! The edits might be cumbersome but at least now you know for sure that book's going to happen. One month late is nothing considering everything else you've accomplished in that time. Brava!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Karen, yours will be so wonderful.

Nicki, it's all a matter of perspective...

Stina said...

I think I need a nap now after reading your list. ;)

Morgan Mandel said...

You are amazing!
I can't even handle the thought of writing by hand any more. I have a hard time signing my name, I'm so used to typing now!

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com

Jen said...

Wow, good for you! I could never write non-fiction! You do deserve a vacation!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Stina, I have a theory - I'll sleep when I'm dead!

Morgan, I just think faster that way.

Jennee, it's a totally different mindset.

Nas said...

Congrats on finishing the draft!

anthony stemke said...

Wow, you are amazing, good on ya. With your work ethic, everything will come out fine, I'm sure.

Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep
Trouble on Earth Day
Author Kathy Stemke (my spouse)

Trisha said...

Non-fiction books would be a lot more work than fiction ones, just for all the references, etc. I mean, writing a 16k thesis was bad enough for me! ;)

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

WOWWWWWWWW thats a list, bless you, I hope you succeeded with it :)
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.:)
It's not dreary here to day it's sort of just damp and sunny.
Hope you had a good Halloween.