Managing a job, a family,
and a book

Managing a job, a family, and a bookComing back to my blog after a babymoon, I thought it would be interesting to touch on a topic that has been prominent in my mind, and something that I know many people struggle with: how to manage a job, a family, and personal time for creative expression.

Most people have a 9 to 5 day job (if they’re lucky; for many folks, it’s longer). Then, if they can muster the energy, they carve time out for their personal projects around their bumpers of sleep. Be it late in the evening or early in the morning they must preserve a time for creativity.

Derick and the Baby
For me, as a new father to an infant, my world has suddenly dramatically shifted from focusing on my own personal projects to ‘how much sleep can I recoup‘ or ‘when can I have a walk with my wife alone’. My energy and inspiration has gone through a dramatic reality check and I’ve had to evolve my discipline and schedule to meet the challenges of managing a baby. Simultaneously, as all parents know, I’ve been exposed to a new level of inspiration and love that has pushed me further to create.

To help myself try to balance everything, I created an ideal schedule to serve as a starting point, a foundation to help keep my work-life balance in order.

Schedule Foundation
Schedule Foundation

While this schedule may be my ideal, reality has forced me to move things around. For example, I’ve recently been shuffling my professional networking and social time to adapt to the baby’s sleep schedule. While it used to be on Tuesday evenings, recently, I try to schedule this time over lunch, or on a night when my wife has more flexibility in time to take care of our daughter. However, in moving one activity, I try not to steal time from another. So, if I need to have 2 or 3 networking or social events in one week, I then need to be accountable for the time that I didn’t have with my family and I have to shift time the following week to balance out the month.

Schedule Reality
Schedule Reality

Currently, with my new fatherhood responsibilities, my biggest challenge has been managing my lack of sleep. While this exhaustion has made getting up early to exercise or carving out time for writing difficult, having a foundation schedule has helped me keep reasonable short term goals. And now, as my daughter is getting a little older and settling into a routine, hopefully I will be able to as well.

Most importantly, despite my creative world being turned upside down, I’ve got one of the most inspiring little creatures at my fingertips now!

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Character Interview: Charlie

Character Interview: CharlieThis week I’ll be conducting my last character interview for my book The Heir to the Unexpected, with Jon’s uncle, Charlie DeBlanc.


 

Charlie– So, where are you from and what do you do?

Sure enough. I’m from Pleasant Grove, Mississippi. After the honor of serving my country in the Vietnam war, I travelled the world for a while, saw a lot of great things, but came to appreciate home all the more. So, about 30 years ago when my sister started having kids, I decided to settle down again back in Pleasant Grove. I took up a job as a long haul truck driver, which allows me to have a home base near my family, but get away when I need to.

What do you love most about Mississippi?

For me, it’s the family bond to the land. My family fled France in 1680 and came to Charleston, South Carolina due to religious persecution happening with the Calvinists (or Protestants, for those who aren’t versed in the history of that era). After a few years, they relocated to our current family homestead in Mississippi. From what my Great Grandmother told me, they wanted to be close to the French culture of New Orleans, but safely away from any religious persecution. I love that land and the rich history that it has given me the responsibility to carry on.

Would you have done anything differently?

I’m proud that I was able to serve my country and protect my land, but I sometimes wonder what could have been if I had pursued a career as a minister with a family. For all the fighting and killing I’ve seen and done, I think I would have done more good if I helped guide and grow people instead. Today, I’m trying to help a few folks get back on track who live on one my properties in a trailer park.

What do you do in your free time?

If I’m not on the road or fixing things at the trailer park, I do like hunting. I don’t go out to kill things for the sake killing. But I like watching, feeling and smelling nature at it’s most innocent moments. Don’t get me wrong, if a big ole buck comes walking into my tranquility, I’m obliged to fill my freezer for the next month or two.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years?

Well, I never married or had kids, but I do have a nephew, Jonathan, who I’ve always been partial to. I’m hoping I can convince him to move home from New York City and work down here instead. I have lots of stories and things I still want to share with him. I don’t think he’s wanting to return, but he doesn’t know what’s right for him. What’s going to be required of him some day…

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Character Interview: Liz

Character Interview: LizAs a continuation of my character interviews for my book The Heir to the Unexpected, this week I’ll be interviewing Elizabeth Ann Todd, known by her friends and Family as Liz. Liz is my protagonist’s, Jon’s, longterm girlfriend.


 

Hi Liz– So, can you share with us how you landed where you are today?

I grew up in Boulder, CO with three brothers and the Flatirons in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains as my playground. After graduating college in Denver, I moved to New York City to pursue a  job as a Drug Sales Rep for Hayera Pharmaceuticals. Huge change for me in environment, but a fun new adventure.

It took me a few months to settle in to the bustle of the city, but when I did, I  found a great group of friends. In fact, that’s how I met Jon. One of my girlfriends met him at party, and she set us up. He was quite the pleasant surprise. He’s just as passionate as I am about his work, but he values the same bigger things in life as I do and he wasn’t about playing games. We also have some fairly unique connections. For example, I had a head injury in high school that resulted in me loosing most of my ability to smell and taste. The head injury is a story for another day. But, try imagining how chocolate looses it’s allure when you only have the texture to remind you of it’s flavor. So much of our sense of taste comes from smell. Thankfully, Jon has a really uncanny sense of smell and an amazing ability to articulate the details of flavor- it makes me able to love food again!

What do you love most about New York?

The shopping! Definitely a step up from crunchy Boulder. I love the colors and the styles that the City inspires. My parents are very proud Hippies and they taught me how to shop at thrift and vintage clothing stores. I love the challenge of finding the best outfit for the best price. It’s a game that my girlfriends and I play together.

What do you miss back in Colorado?

As much as I love New York City, when it’s hot, you’re hot. In Colorado, if it’s hot, you can go drive a few thousand feet up in altitude and there’s a cool breeze waiting to greet you. Mountains are dramatic and relaxing… and the city is fast and exciting. Colorado snow is fluffy and accessible, while New York snow is icy and annoying. There are trade-offs… but I love both.

Where do you see your self in next 5 to 10 years?

I’m on track for being promoted in the next month or so, but you know how things happen in this economy. You really have to look out for your career and be proactive in owning your own advancement. So, as much as I like my job, I might have to consider other options if things don’t work out on the time-line that I want. Relationship-wise, I’m just really lucky to have found Jon. He’s an amazing guy who makes me feel special and I know I can trust him. If we keep going in the direction I think we are, I might have to put up his antics for life!

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Character Interview: Jonathan

Character Interview: JonathanI thought a fun break from blogging about the topical process of writing my book could be to give you a more direct introduction to the actual world of my characters over the next few weeks. To do this, this week I’m going to interview my protagonist, Jonathan Lee Thomas, known by his friends and family as Jon. Look for similar interviews with his girlfriend Liz, and his Uncle Charlie moving forward!


Hello, Jon– It’s good to have you with us today. I’d like to start the interview off having you tell us a little bit about yourself. For example, where do you live, and what do you do for a living?

Sure… Glad to be here and share my background to the audience.  I’m 27 years old. I live in Brooklyn, New York and work off of Madison Avenue at an advertising agency, ArtWord.  I’ve been an Art Director there for the last 2 years working on the Rein Sportswear and Junk Footwear accounts. I’m responsible for shaping the campaigns that appear on TV, all of those ads that appear in Sports Point magazine, and all of their web campaigns. You name it:  football, baseball, soccer, etc. If you see a Junk shoe or a Rein Jersey ad, I was one of the people who was behind it.

What do you love most about living in New York?

The food. I love the fact that I can step out of any building or subway stop in the city, and always be within walking distance of some new and exciting thing to eat. You can navigate the boroughs by the delicious and diverse aromas wafting through the different communities. My personal guilty pleasure is the greasy food at the Shake Shack at Madison Square Park. Between their juicy burgers, thick custard shakes and the wait in the park, it’s a dangerous addiction that results in a lot of gym visits for me…

What do you miss back in Mississippi?

I miss my family and the quiet mornings that greet your day– privacy is cheaply available there, unlike the chaos of New York. I miss watching the SEC with a beer and the barbecue with the family. Oh, and I miss the speed of driving; the freedom of driving as far and as fast as the backroads of Mississippi will allow you.

What do you do in your free time?

What free time? <laughs> Well, in the city, you always have something to do. My girlfriend, Liz, and I enjoy the city stuff- like going to gallery openings, seeing the latest up-and-coming band, or just grabbing drinks with our friends. But we also really like to try and take in what quiet time New York allows you… like sitting on a park bench in the evening and taking in the different smells and noises. Liz mostly keeps me out of trouble, but life still has its way of keeping things interesting.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years?

Professionally, I’d like to be a Creative Director at a well known agency, which should be realistic if things keep going in the direction they’re going. I’m passionate about what I do, so I work hard. From a personal perspective, Liz and I have been dating since about two years out of college and I think she’s the one. But while I’m starting to feel more confidant about that, I’m nervous about how she and my larger family will get along. They’ve met, but a quick fun-packed weekend is different from day-to-day-life…

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Choosing the tools for writing

Choosing the tools for writingGot a pen that I can borrow?

We all have different ways of composing our thoughts. Some people prefer the tactile pressure they apply to handwritten words on paper, some enjoy the abrupt snap of a typewriter, or others appreciate the rhythmic-soft clicking that computer keyboards deliver to the fingertips.

Today, my methodology is rooted in Apple-based products. I bounce between my Macbook, iPad and iPhone to put my thoughts into words. Those three devices work for me uniquely in different scenarios.

My MacBook with an external monitor is for my scheduled writing sessions that are planned to be quietly desk-bound and focused on the words in front of me. If I’m on a plane or train and I can’t negotiate my laptop, my iPad (with Bluetooth keyboard) can offer a quick and easy way to capture a few in-depth thoughts. With my iPhone, I have an immediate way to capture any ideas or observations on-the-go. How I integrate these tools for writing is key. Here are a few software packages that I appreciate; I use all of these tools for slightly different purposes, described below.

For my MacBook:

Scivener LogoScrivener

by Literature & Latte

This is my primary tool for writing. It has a lot of valuable features focused on manuscript development. My favorite features are:

Corkboard– a card index sorting feature that breaks your story into larger flexible card set that you can organize.

Outlining– an outline organizer that helps you plan and write your story structure.

Collections– an internal folder organizer for multiple file types that we need during our research and refinement process. For example, a folder for your main character and various elements relating to him: a photo of his home, a map of the neighborhood where he lives, a moodboard with a collection of clothes he might wear, a PDF file for a user manual for a specific type of car he drives, etc.).

Full Screen editing– a great feature to hide all of those distractions that may be saved on your desktop, or any bouncing application icons that indicate you have mail or IM.

Scriptwriting– I currently don’t use this feature, but it can help you break your story out into Screen or Stage ready script formats.

Snapshot– If you have moment where you want to try something different and mix a few things up, you can save a snapshot before you do it. You have the ability to save and modify various scenarios and go back and reference sections as you go.

QuickReference Panes– If you have content that you need to constantly refer to, you can load it into a side-panel for easy/quick access.

Synchronise– you can set Scrivener up to back up to an external server, such as Dropbox.

Compile for Export and Print– this is a great feature to compile your submission ready manuscript with supporting footnotes and comments. This not only supports submission, but eBook ready book publishing formats.

 


MS Word LogoWord 2011

by Microsoft

This is my utilitarian writing tool because it has a lot of valuable features for basic writing, and because it has a vast reach in the current world. If I receive a pre-formatted Word document from someone else, I will open it in Word to preserve all original formatting. A few specific features that I appreciate are:

Basic formatting- it serves the purpose that I need it for (fonts, bold/italics, bullets, etc).

Track changes– by being widely adopted, I can utilize the track changes functionality that’s built into Word.

Office integration– when I need to communicate something in Excel or Powerpoint, the programs inter-connect fairly well.

 


Pages LogoPages

by Apple Inc.

Pages is Apple’s Word processing tool that is empowered by it’s cloud support across Apple devices (MacBook, iPad, iPhone). My favorite features are:

Price– For $9.99, you get a word processor with a lot of online and offline flexibility.

Capabilities– A robust word processor that supports basic formatting and track changes, similar to (and compatible with) Word.

Device Accessibility– With Pages available on iPhone, iPad and Macintosh computers, you have a word processor that can sync with iCloud and feed your spontaneous need to write. Just beware of font limitations and proper sync backups.

File export- you can export to .doc format or PDF.

Suite of integration tools– Just like Microsoft Office, you can expand your word processor’s capabilities by inter-connecting between Numbers (counterpart to Excel) and Keynote (counterpart to Powerpoint), but for a far cheaper price of $9.99 per tool.

 


For my iPad and iPhone:

Evernote LogoEvernote

by Evernote Corporation

A great tool built to be utilized on all OS platforms that works well for accumulating notes, pictures, and sounds. You can then organize them with multiple tags for access later. My favorite features are:

Free… (sort of)– it’s free for the basic account. I use it so much though, that I upgraded to the premium account which doesn’t require internet connection and has added security.

-Accessibility– it runs on my MacBook, iPad, and iPhone, and synchronizes all content onto a remote cloud server.

Tagging– When I document and create multiple types of files, I can assign my own form of topical organization to each—Recipes, Songs, Cities, People, Stories, Life moments, etc…

File support– It can retain and organize photos, sounds, single web pages, web links and of course, basic notes…

 


Dropbox LogoDropbox

by DropboxA free, remote cloud-based file server that’s available on most devices. What I find most attractive:

-Free… (sort of)- it’s free for the first 2 Gigabytes. If you are managing a lot of files, you’ll have to upgrade or refer several friends to reap the benefits of their memberships by expanding your disk size.

Accessibility– you can share and backup files from your MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. It’s an easy way to store and share files across multiple devices and their applications.

-Secure Backup- It’s another safe place to keep backup copies of your work.

 


Google Drive LogoGoogle Drive

by Google

Originally there was just Google Docs. Now, Google has expanded this service into a cloud-based collaborative service called Google Drive. Google Drive is a great alternative to Microsoft Office and it’s almost free. As an online and offline based tool, you and anyone you want to invite can have access to files that you want to share. What I like:

Free… (sort of)– it’s free for the first 15 GB. Higher storage spaces are available for a price.

Suite of integrated Tools– Just like Microsoft Office, you have the ability to freely access and inter-connect between their counterpart tools: Sheets (Excel) and Slides (Powerpoint).

Secure/sharable/collaborative documents- if you have a friend with a Google account, you can share access to a file immediately for editing and review and if needed, conduct Instant Message sessions over the doc.

Revision History– A backup system to help control versioning.

Cloud service- Similar to Dropbox, Google Drive provides a remote space to save and access your files remotely from multiple devices.

Online and offline access– By using Google Chrome, you can set-up an offline Google Drive.

Graphical Optical Character Recognition Search– Google has taken it’s search from pure text recognition to graphic text recognition.

File access– you can view over 30 file types (DOC, PDF, PSD, AI, etc.)

 

Stay tuned for more specifics about how several of these tools for writing have helped me during the creation of my book.

 

 

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Reaching a first draft: defining a timeline and milestones

Reach First DraftThere are several ways to plan writing a story as a First Draft. Some people have a clear idea of what tale they want to spin, they write it, and then they find a way to publish it. Other writers start by testing their market, and then writing a story to reach their specific target audience. In my case, I am pursuing a hydrid approach- we’ll see how it works… I’m still trying to figure out the right balance.

As I started preparing to write my story, I knew the basic plot structure and how I wanted to differentiate it from other mysteries. But having a big idea and making it a reality on paper requires some planning. First, I made a projected schedule of milestones to guide my story development (below). Having some form of protective boundaries like these during the creative process is a must, but my boundaries were carefully established so they were not too creatively restrictive or too lackadaisical. For me, as I write, I need to continuously step back and take a breath and ask myself what’s working and what’s not? Then, I refine my process. But, everyone operates differently, and what works for me may not be the best scenario for you. Moving forward, as I shape my ideas onto paper, I plan to share specific chapters with you, in order to gauge how the story is flowing.

For this post, I’m avoiding the role of an agent, publisher, and marketing requirements for story development and how the first draft is handled. I promise this will be further down the road.

For my First Draft timeline, I identified the following milestones:

*Defining Timeline

  1. Writing
    • High level- Plot Outline
    • Opening
    • Conflict
    • Climax
    • Post Climax
    • Resolution
  2. High level- Characters development
    • Personas
    • Dialogue
  3. High level- Environments
    • Setting
    • Subtles of life (my collected ideas for content bridging.)
  4. Plot, Character, and Environment integration
    • Refined Plot
    • Refined Characters
    • Refined Environment
  5. Editing Review
    • Self
    • Editors

*First Draft Completed

 

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Planning whom you’re writing for

Planning who you’re writing forToday, most people have very little time or patience to deal with sub-par storytelling. I’m constantly reminding my friends and colleagues that web browsers are not the only reading devices with a back button; tablets have them too. The back button has become the new trash can. It’s easy to delete a downloaded digital book that doesn’t connect to you, thus freeing up your time for something more interesting.

So, if you’re planning to write a book, you have to think about who your audience is and how you plan to keep them engaged in your story. For my book, ‘The Heir to the Unexpected’, I wanted to target my story to young professionals in the process of establishing their careers, who are learning to juggle their family and career responsibilities. This relationship dynamic opens up an opportunity to resonate with both young professionals and their older loved ones.

My main character is an art director at a communications agency named Jon. While he lives and works in NYC, the story involves him traveling to Mississippi to deal with a death in the family. I’m portraying his lifestyle in a way that speaks to my target audience– all of their hopes, dreams, insecurities, etc. In this journey, Jon uses social networks to communicate with friends and family. Today, a conversation on Twitter wouldn’t speak to a non-technically savvy individual as effectively as a phone call, so it could alienate a very large group of readers.

How have I addressed this problem? By writing the conversation from a non-tech point of view, I was able to construct a dialogue around an individual not understanding Twitter and the process my character Jon took to explain what he was doing. This created a contextualized experience that was informative and connectable to readers from various backgrounds.

What good is a great story when no one knows it’s out there? That’s where a marketing plan comes into play. As an author, you need to know what kinds of communication channels will be most effective to connect with your readers. I plan to use this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and traditional book promotional methodologies. Will it work? Some of these venues may be better received than others. But my ultimate goal is to raise awareness of me and my book, The Heir to the Unexpected, and share what’s working and tweak as we go.

Cheers! Back to writing…

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Project: The Heir to the Unexpected

Glasses: The Heir to the UnexpectedFor the last year and a half, I’ve been working on a book tentatively entitled The Heir to the Unexpected. This project has turned out to take a little longer than expected! While working on this project, I met and married my wife, have traveled around home and abroad, and have maintained my day job. During this process, my book began to change with me along the way. Sometimes it was more prominent in my day-to-day activities, and sometimes it was placed in the background as I reflected on life. Recently though, I decided it was time to complete this writing project.

I started this blog to give my readers a narrative glimpse into my creative process, and to document this experience. Over the next few months, I will be sharing snippets of the book with you. While my plots and characters will have distinct arcs and personalities, I think it would be interesting to refine these based on the feedback of my readers. Therefore, I’d like to invite everyone not only to come along for this creative ride, but also to provide me with feedback that will make my ultimate story more rewarding for all to enjoy.

I look forward to sharing my journey with you.

D.C. Sumrall

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