3 posts tagged “a writer's life”

I decided to fill out this survey. It took longer than I initially thought but it was interesting enough. Not sure how this will help more women become successful published authors, however, I'm curious to see when the results are in and report is completed.

FROM A PRESS RELEASE:
Over the past 52 weeks, fewer than 15 percent of the books on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list were authored by women. Industry experts estimate that nearly 70 percent of non-fiction books are purchased by women. This disparity led Content Connections (www.contentconnections.com) and eWomenPublishingNetwork (www.ewomenpublishingnetwork.com) today to launch a national, comprehensive study on the reading, recommending and book buying habits of women.

The study also investigates the factors that can help more women become successful, published authors. The "Women and Books 2007 National Study" is available online from March 8th, International Women's Day (since 1909, a global day to connect women around the world and inspire them to achieve their full potential), through Mother's Day on May 13th.  Women from all walks of life are encouraged to participate.

The survey can be found at www.WomenAndBooks2007.com The survey focuses on non-fiction books that female readers buy for themselves, give to others, and receive from family, friends and professional associates. It also explores the factors that influence women's decisions to buy, give or read a book. 

"We are interested in hearing from all women who read and talk about non-fiction books, especially those who can envision themselves as authors -- from top-level managers at Fortune 500s to stay-at-home moms," said David Brake, co-author of the survey and CEO of Content Connections Inc. "With 152 million women in the U.S., we think they're woefully underrepresented on non-fiction bestseller lists."

"The purpose of this survey is two-fold -- to understand how women choose to buy and give books, and how an understanding of the publishing process may be hindering aspiring women authors in their quest to get published successfully," added Jan. B. King, the other survey author and founder of eWomenPublishingNetwork. "It is only fitting that we launch this survey on International Women's Day so women's voices can be heard and create a lasting legacy in books."

The "Women and Books 2007 National Study" will help:
•Publishers focus on the unique preferences, needs, and behavior of female book buyers.
•Booksellers better understand how and why women buy and recommend books.
•More women adopt a successful strategy for becoming published authors

Every participant will receive a complimentary copy of the Women and Books 2007 Report, and will be entered into a drawing to win one of twenty $100 specialty retail gift certificates to be awarded after the close of the survey. Study results will be announced during Book Expo America, held in New York City from May 31st to June 3rd, 2007.

To complete the approximately 25 minute "Women and Books 2007 National Study" go to www.WomenAndBooks2007.com

About Content Connections:
Content Connections (www.contentconnections.com) is an independent publishing services and consulting firm. Each year they implement hundreds of surveys, focus groups, and organize online review panels for some of the largest publishers in the world. They are dedicated to helping authors and publishers create content that connects.

About eWomenPublishingNetwork:
eWomenPublishingNetwork (www.ewomenpublishingnetwork.com), the number one resource and advocate for successful, women authors, helps women who want to become non-fiction authors write marketable books, and women who are already authors create spin-off or additional products and promote them effectively.

I can't emphasize enough how challenging it is to write or get any work done when you have a baby. Not only do I feel like I gave birth to half my brain, but the day to day demands of working at home and caring for baby are beyond my meager capabilities.

Luckily, I've hired a babysitter to come in during the mornings to watch baby while I get a few things done each day. My days of multi-tasking, juggling a dozen things and always meeting deadlines are over. Welcome to the world of Stay-At-Home-Work-At-Home Motherhood. Yeesh!

Well, I did turn in the first half of my next book. And the article for Hitched which was challenging to write because I wasn't supposed to write about traveling with a baby from a parent's standpoint but rather talk about how my husband and I handled the situations that arose. Also turned in the Costco Connection piece but not sure when it comes out.

Still working on several other assignments including something for:

1. Minority Engineer
2. SBResources.com
3. Wyoming Business Report

Also doing some consulting work - a nice big fat project that takes up my remaining brain cells but is really exciting. Totally up my alley.

I've heard that I will never get my lost brain back. I will have to go through life half-brained. Why didn't anyone tell me this would happen when I said I wanted to have a baby? "Sure you want to have a baby, but did you know that you push out a portion of your brain with the placenta? It is a scientific fact."

Where have I been? Where haven't I been is a better question. Suffice it to say, Planet Mommy is a jungle, and I'm only barely seeing the sunlight through the thick overgrowth of baby stuff.

So how do I get back into the groove of posting here? I think I'll start off with updates on the projects I'm working on, particularly my writing. Sure, part of my reason for doing this is purely selfish - it will help me remember what I'm working on and what I've done.

But I also hope that by revealing the inner workings of this writer's life, I can inspire other writers or let people know what it is really like trying to make a living writing.

I must confess that I do not write 100% of the time for my bread and butter. I have found that I can make a better living as a consultant (Internet, PR, Marketing, Content Development), but I still spend a great deal of my time writing books and articles.

Now that I have a partial brain back (the rest of it was lost during the birth of my daughter and I'm not quite sure how to get it back), I'm easing slowly back into writing.

Some things I have completed in the last month:

1. an article for Costco Connection about MySpace.com
2. an article for Entrepreneur about women business owners talking about selling from a female perspective.
3. two women's business columns for SBResources.com.
4. an article about employee Internet monitoring for PINK magazine.

Things I'm working on at the moment (okay, I'm wasting time right now on my blog but it is what I should be doing...)

1. the first 50% of the manuscript for my next book.
2. a travel article for Hitched.com
3. my next few women in business columns for the Wyoming Business Report.
4. my next two columns for SBResources.com

Gotta get back to work!