Why I'm Glad I Chose A Mom

Choosing an editor is one of the most important steps of book-writing. Besides correcting all the little and big mistakes, rewording sentences that appear funky, and acting as overall cheerleader, editors are, I've discovered, little extensions of ourselves. Like us, without the baggage of being us.

Not having embarked on this journey before, I chose my editor based upon a recommendation. It wasn't until I met my editor in person that I truly realized what a gem I had hired.

She's a mom; to a young toddler, in fact, and that alone is reason enough to keep her around. Not only is she smart, creative, and utterly unflappable, she's also understands my life.

We met last night at a local coffee shop filled with young, smartphone-immersed young people who were only pretending to study for finals. Normally we meet during the day, but both she and I, and our children, had been sick, so there we were at 7 p.m. playing catch-up.

As our time together progressed and ideas began to flow thick and fast, I wanted to scribble some notes on my hard copy outline. Dang, no pen in my cluttered messenger bag. Mountains of tissue, a small dog collar (don't ask), notebook, mints, but no pen. Here's where it gets good. I asked Editor if she had a pen in her messenger bag.

"Um, let me see," she replied, opening up the flap and proceeding to take out a onesie, socks, plastic bags, one mitten, and a wallet with no money. See why I like her?

She didn't have a pen, either.

Mapping the Journey and All There is to Do

I've made it (figuratively of course) to Homer after a weeks-long process of writing about the Kenai Peninsula, a very popular section of southcentral Alaska. Between fishing and day cruising and camping and hiking...whew, I'm fried.

"Alaska On the Go..." is titled specifically to include "...Exploring the 49th State With Children" so readers who, like me, might be initially befuddled at the vast selection of activities in Alaska will now have a resource to help them make wise choices, emotionally and financially.

The Kenai Peninsula, in my humble opinion, is one of the best Alaska hotspots to visit with kids. Variety, accessibility, and sheer volume of things to offer children. I might also add that communities like Homer and Seward are beginning to recognize the importance of including entire families in a particular activity or attraction, and implement accordingly.

This is my favorite part about writing; the discovery is daily and the journey is so, so much fun. Is this what they call "passion"?

Why I Miss My Pen and Paper

In the early days of my writing adventures, I had a big, fat spiral-bound notebook. I took notes, scribbled doodles, and eventually wrote one or two or three drafts of whatever article I had been assigned, correcting them in red ink.

When I purchased my first laptop so I could write "on the fly," I still drafted my words onto the 8 1/2" X 11" lined paper, first. It took years for me to become comfortable with staring at a blank computer screen and its damned, blinking cursor before I could simply sit down and start typing.

I love this photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech on December 9, 1941, two days after Pearl Harbor was attacked by scores of Japanese military aircraft. Mr. Roosevelt undoubtedly had his communications staffer write the initial words, but I appreciate so much his scratches and notes and addendums, probably written in haste before that famous Fireside Chat. It's so unbelievably cool to see a portion of the process, and maybe that's what I miss by writing this book on a computer.

It's laborious it is to think up words, write words, delete and add new words to a manuscript, so the opportunity to witness them, alive, on my paper, might somehow prove satisfying.

What do you think?

Writing a Book? Don't Forget a Time Out

Two weeks since I've posted updates on The Book? Oops.

"AK Fam" had to go to Hawai'i, where I spent little time on the laptop, or indoors, even.
I didn't even write much for AKontheGO, but as the week turned into 10 days, and my fingers didn't so much as brush the keyboard, a few things became clear.

1) It's okay to take a break.

2) After said break, my brain is refreshed and ready to attack the next section of The Book.

3) My family is always more important than writing.