Picking my insecurities for this month was as easy as
choosing a new hairbrush:
I’m scheduled to finish and clean the first draft by Dec. 1, which leads me to
my second insecurity.
Is there anyone interested in being a CP/reader for the
memoir I’m co-writing?I have several awesome folks locked in, but would love another few sets of fresh eyes to read the ms, which is about 65k long (+/- 260 pages).
The memoir is about Donald Braswell, a young opera singer on the cusp of international success, who was hit by a car while riding his bicycle in 1995.
Donald lost his voice, but relearned how to talk – and then sing. Later, he auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2008, and came in fourth place overall. Full video details here.
If this tickles your fancy, I'd get the ms to you Dec. 1, and would need it back by Dec. 28 as I have an editor booked for Jan. 1.
You may find this a unique challenge because as Dorothy once said on the way to Vegas, “Hey, Toto, we’re not in YA anymore.”
(For example, while I can’t change “characters,”
events or the timeline, I can add (or remove) more show-not-tell (if
needed), flesh out (or in) backstory and reduce (or remove) Donald’s dialogue (as
needed.)
If interested, please shoot me an emai at: mark.koopmans[at]yahoo.com and I appreciate your fresh eyes in
advance J 
I think it’s very brave of those of you who did the public shout-outs, ‘cos I know I’d be like the dude at the awards ceremony... who first gives the crowd a shaka, then sets his bottle of Sam Adams on the podium before reading from a crumpled, chicken-scratch written 3x5 card… I’d forget multiple people.
I am, however,
sincerely grateful to my many, many Bluddies (Blogger buddies) who have followed along as I slip
and slide along the icy roads of the Blogisfear.
I have learnt,
oh my gosh, have I learnt sooo much in the last fourteen months, more than I evah dreamt I
would.
And, if my writing
career ever pulls out of Pauper Place and heads down Wall Street, please know,
dear Reader and Commenter, that it was you who gave me the courage to press
down, just a little bit harder, on the gas.
###
There are
only twelve days left, so y’all need to please remove your minds from the gutter :)
Jeez... I suppose someone's going to make a bald guy joke next...
29 comments:
But ... I LIKE my mind being in the gutter! :P
Hee hee, I think it's safe to say your Blogger Buddies love you too! :D
The memoir sounds fascinating, and I'm sure experienced CP's will be lining up to help you! Great line about the hairbrush! I also can't wait to hear more about your mysterious blogfest! You have lots to be thankful for!
Julie
Ask Cassie to critique it - you know you'll enjoy the responses then!
Bluddies - need to remember that one.
And glad there is no stripping involved...
No stripping? I guess I can stop my diet then. :P
I'm confident you'll meet your deadlines, just hang in there and keep plugging away. (:
Totally random comment because you covered so much stuff and I can't decide what to talk about.
Jeez... I suppose someone's going to make a bald guy joke next...
(You last line, just in case you didn't remember.)
What is the proper way to spell jeez? I would go with jeez. But then I've seen a lot of people write geez. So I'd switched my spelling. But now I see you use jeez... and you're a smart guy.
So who's right?
:)
Bluddies ... I'll use it moving forward. And I wrote my memories. Everything fit on a napkin.
I'm not a big biography reader but I do enjoy a few that have a inspiring story to tell and I do like those that have beat the odds. Haven't let anyone tell them they can't...
I would love to be a beta but my schedule right now just wouldn't let me do it justice, Mark.
I like the way you said that, "followed along as I slip and slide along the icy roads of the Blogisfear." Oh, I hear you on the slipping and sliding part. Time constraints and sickness monsters attack and all you can do is the best you can, you know? :-)
It's good to know there are no strippers involved in the mystery blogFest--especially since I've already committed to it!
What kind of critique are you looking for? I'd be happy to have a look at your manuscript and give my thoughts, for what they're worth. :)
You may have noticed, I love a challenge ...
Laughing about the non stripper blogfest. And a little sad...
I'm sure you'll have an endless amount of people volunteering to read for you but if you get desperate, let me know. I'd be more than happy to help.
And you're not as late as I am to Tara and Vikki's bloghop. (Sorry, ladies)
Darn it, do I have to wear pants to join this blog event? ;)
And I have you to thank a ton for being so supportive, Marvin ;) You have no idea how much you've helped me in my corner of the blogisfear ;)
*chest bump!*
Mark, I love non-fiction/biographies. I might be interested in being a CP for your MS, OK? ;) Drop me an email at jincomt@gmail.com so I can pick your brain a little about what you're looking for in a CP. Julie
So there's no way to convince you to make this a stripper fest? Damn.
I had to bow out of the Thankful fest due to NaNo craziness, but I totally agree with your sentiments. I've learned so much from blogging!
You know I'm an email away if you want my opinion. And honestly, don't worry about choosing a hairbrush...you're bald.
Good that you have friends who are bold enough to tell you the truth, huh?
I know what you mean about being worried you'd forget someone! Thank you for joining in the Thankful Bloghop!
Hey Mark,
I'd love to read more of your stuff as a CP. The timeline might be a bit of a crunch for me with school and all, but def. keep me in mind. Thanks for the lovely tribute to all your blog readers. Right back at ya!
There is so much going on I think we all forget things sometimes. Now if I could only remember my name I'd sign up for the blogfest. Glad it doesn't involve stripping though! lol.
I love my blog buddies! They're so awesome!
I would forget about lots of people too if I was at the awards ceremony doing my acceptance speech. One thing I would know is, I'll be thankin' Alex Cavanaugh until he's blue in the face.
Can't wait until Nov. 19! I know I will be signing up! :)
Stripper free? Why, that's not nearly as much fun! Hee hee. Okay, sorry.
As for a CP, I have no experience with memoirs. I've never even read one before. And the limited timing strikes me out, though I so wish I could. I love critiquing. But I have 2 edits and one critique that's been waiting over a month already. And I gotta write my own stuff, too. No rest for the wicked, er, weary. Good luck, Mark. I'm sure you'll have lots of volunteers. But if not, give me a holler.
good luck with your request! sounds hilarious as i know you can be!
your thanks are divine! and filled with your own personal touch (bluddies? hmm)
and im all signed up for your fest! yay!
That memoir sounds really interesting. Good luck with it and your deadline.
This blogger buddy is super happy to have met you on here as well. Thanks for the inspiration you in create just by being you, Mark!
A WIP deadline during the holidays? You're a glutton for punishment. hahaha Good luck! :D
Good luck finishing up the memoir--I'm sure it'll be great! I have no experience in that area or I'd totally offer to cp :)
My inbox is waaaaaaiting... ;-)
And who started this stripper thing????!!!! I need to have a word...
I had ordered a pole, though. :)
I have a deadline Jan. 21, so I'm stressing, too. I have a launch in the middle of it, too.
Hi Mark - the book does sound interesting .. how Daniel coped - I hope to read it once you've published. I see you've got a couple of CPs - so should be set ..
Good luck with it all coming together - I'm sure it will .. cheers Hilary
Mark, you do have a way with words. :) Your Thankful For part made me smile.
No strippers? No even a tease?
Strippers? Now this is my kind of place. Boobs, babes, cunts 'n' slaves
hope you find someone!!! bio's have got to be hard!!
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