Words With Wendee
Dec 06, 2023 8:01 pm
Welcome to December 2023! I can’t believe it’s the end of the year, already. Where did the time go? And, what about my carefully formulated method of organization? I think I have “shiny penny syndrome” right now, and deliveries of holiday gifts just make it worse. 🤣
I have a few projects on my desk before the end of the year, and I’m looking forward to a fresh start in January 2024—that means I’m prepping systems to keep data about the editing biz. Consequently, I’ll be evaluating that data at least quarterly, through planned “CEO Retreats”. These retreats will be a half day spent focused on growing Purple Pen Wordsmithing by looking at the data, determining what works, and creating a plan for the next quarter.
Interested in making a plan for YOUR business, too? (Because writing is a business…) Got you covered. Send me an email and let me know you want to join the Writing Buddies Slack group.
AI: Friend or Foe?
Worried about AI and your intellectual property (yes, your book is your IP)? Check out my hot take.
Next week, I’ll talk about tools I use for editing. Some of these may surprise you!
Making Habits Stick
Did you spend the month of November writing? Did you open your manuscript every day and add words? If so, congratulations! You are on your way to a concrete habit of writing every day!
With the holidays fast approaching, what can you do ahead of time to ensure you continue with your daily writing habit? Think about when you’ll have time, where you’ll write, and who you might need to tell—and what you’ll say to people who might question you.
Then, make sure you put your butt in the chair and hands on the keyboard.
Planning for interruptions makes it easier to handle without completely derailing your habit.
Holiday Reads
This week, I am featuring Maddie James’ box set, Christmas at Holly Hill Inn. This collection contains three novellas: “Home for Christmas,” “Miracle at Holly Hill Inn,” and “The Last Christmas at Holly Hill Inn.” All three titles are part of the Dickens Holiday Romance world—a multi-author project.
Get all three books in the Holly Hill Inn Dickens Romance series in one complete box set.
Follow Jenny and Ben as they fall in love and acquire Holly Hill Inn in Home for Christmas.
Then read about their children in Miracle at Holly Hill Inn. Will Ariana tame the Scrooge in Matt Matthews?
Last, share the holiday with the Cohen family as they return to Holly Hill Inn, perhaps for the last time, in The Last Christmas at Holly Hill Inn.
I’ll share holiday stories from two more authors this month. Stay tuned!
Scheduling
Interested in booking an editing slot? I’m taking deposits for May 2024 right now. When you schedule editing with me, I focus on your project during that time and am not doing the same service for anyone else. In February, I plan to re-assess where I am on timelines and decide whether I can have two projects going concurrently (with different services). I know my brain will let me–the question is, can I balance the business side of PPW + Editing side of PPW + Author Life. Stay tuned!
Website News
If you connected with this newsletter through a landing page that was not on the PurplePenLLC.com domain, I’ve fixed that!
Share the new landing page with the writers in your life using: https://www.purplepenllc.com/ppw-nl.
Author Portal
Coming soon! The Author Portal will contain content developed by Wendee related to: the editorial process, the writing process, and drill down into specifics that might come up in editorial letters.
Using my education background, I am creating informative sessions authors can use as needed and be able to apply their learning to their manuscripts immediately.
Is there a topic you’re interested in learning more about? Send me an email and I’ll add it to the list!
Connect
Need to schedule a meeting to talk about your project? Want to fill out a form to send me an email? Looking for my socials? Visit my Connect page.
You can also reach me via direct email: wendee@PurplePenLLC.com.