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As promised, an update on what I’ve been working on.
For the first six months after I quit work, I sat on the couch. I watched
90 Day Fiancé
90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After
90 Day Fiancé: What Now
There are more spinoffs, but you get the idea.
Then, after 180 days of fiancé-ing, I stopped procrastinating and got to work. I began noticing things around me that I didn’t previously know.
- Wait. Why are duck breasts dark meat, when chicken and turkey breasts are white meat?
- How many times do I have to look up the word perspicacious before I’ll remember what it means?
- Where is Kokomo anyway?
And I wrote about these things in a book that is part memoir and part “How the hell did I not know that?” The working title (which will surely change):
Curious Curiosities:
A Book for Inquisitive Empty Nesters, Retirees,
and Others with Newly Found Time
I’m 67,000 words into the draft. I’d like to land at 70,000-75,000 words, but I will overshoot on the draft so that there’s room for cuts. I am getting close.
Here are my next steps:
-Finish writing
-Edit, edit, edit
-Get full-book beta readers to read and give input (who Rich calls “master-betas,” then giggles. Every. Single. Time.)
-Edit, edit, edit
-Get chapter readers to read and input (Folks like you! Let me know if you’re willing!)
-Edit, edit, edit
-Prepare book proposal
-Query agents
-Edit, edit, edit
-Find the perfect publisher
-Edit, edit, edit
-Publish the book
-Live happily ever after
Yeah, I know, there are some big steps.
But remember how I did that Ironman thing?
I’m good at making big goals and being able to “just keep swimming.”
And now that this post is almost as long as the book, I’ll sign off.
Again, I so appreciate all of your support. Truly, friends, y’all are the best.
Good luck and I can’t wait to read it! I recently retired and I understand.
Thanks Lisa. Yes, it’s perfectly timed for you 🙂
I would love to give it a read!!
Thanks Cory! You’re on the list. I’ll be in touch – likely November.
Proud of you!! Still can’t believe you did the “ducking” Ironman.
Thanks, and I can’t either. I couldn’t get inspired to run a 1/2k these days.
Count me in! I will buy a red pen.
Thanks Elaine! I’ll put you on the list. It will probably be November.
Sign me up to read and edit!
Done! Thanks Annie.
As a semi-retired sort I’m with you and happy to help in any way. 🥂-carlye
Thanks Carlye! I’ll be in touch!
Robert and I both will read. I’m in a book club. Would you like me to ask a few of them to read. Much younger age group.
Oh yay. I’ll put you both on the list.
I may at some point ask you to do that, but for now, I think I’ve got enough people for the chapter reads. If some of those are unable, I’ll let you know.
It’ll likely be November before I start sending out chapters.
THANK YOU!
So excited for you as a writer and me as a reader!
Thanks Terri!
I love it! You are so amazing.
Always up for a challenge and sharing your talents!
Big hugs!
Thanks, Mari. That’s so kind of you. Hugs back.
I would be happy to read/edit!
Wonderful. Thank you! I’ll put you on the list. It will likely be November before I start sending chapters out.
As a recent empty nester and someone with newly found time on my hands, I hope you are able to publish before I complete your title hat trick and retire. You have 15 more years. Until then, I will simply have to settle with enjoying your insight through short videos and other generated content.
Now stop reading comments and get back to work writing.
I’ve got good news for you. I will have a title out in 2025! Details to follow, but I’ll definitely meet your deadline 🙂