June 1 Monthly Mash-up post

Extra to the "launch check-list" post: how to sign a book! The usual monthly mix. And happy 4th!

Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash

It’s The Unschool’s 4th birthday since “going paid.”

I am extraordinarily grateful to the 134 of you who actively support my work. I would not be here without each of you—

Or this offer, birthday gift for a friend:

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First of the month posts are always a free mix-up, a taste of what The Unschool for Writers is about—crafty bits, the usual re-cap of monthly posts, a prompt….

A few days ago I posted about creating book launches. The piece was getting lengthy, so I didn’t include thoughts on how to sign—a seemingly simple thing. But I remember the first book signing I ever did, and the onslaught of realizations at the time. Not the least of which was Ugh,what a horrible signature I have!

Signing books

Make sure you have two real pens with you—nothing ordinary! Pens you enjoy the feel of.

Generally, you sign on the title page. Some writers cross out their typed/printed name, and replace with their signed name. Some add the date.

Note the “be happy!” that Caroline wrote in her inscription.

Before you go out for your first signing with a new work, pause and consider what might be a phrase that carries some echo of the work.

For instance, for my picturebook, A Little House in a Big Place, I sign it with the phrase Enjoy the Big Place! It’s my little message to young readers to please enjoy the world around you; don’t listen to all the nagging negs. And in the case of picturebooks, with young readers, I most often print the message so they can read it before they’re too old.

For my memoir, Dance Me to the End: Ten Months & Ten Days With ALS, I generally write Dance—always! Or some variation.

That memoir is not the easiest subject matter—caregiving—so I often change up that phrase, or add and personalize. Also, much to my humbled astonishment, it is sometimes read by people who have ALS, and I’ll change it up to You will always be dancing—much love—and my name. I don’t often add the ‘much love,’ but when it comes to people living with that disease, I do. There’s a lot of emotion around that book for me, and for the readers. I’ve never had as much email as a writer about a book, and shared realities.

For this new book—a novel for adult readers—the phrase I’ve chosen is a reference to the closing line of the first chapter: No day is ordinary.

Think about this BEFORE you leave the house for your first signing. (And write it into the notes you’ve scribbled as your own resources on the front page of your READING COPY.)

NOTE for us left-handed folks: I realized very quickly that, like so any other things in a lefty’s world, signing is awkward. (Reminds me of my ink-stained sides-of-hand through elementary school, and the impossible forays into calligraphy-that-never-happened.)

My trick is to turn the book on its side and write in line with the side. That way, I’m not cracking open the spine which, as a book collector is not something I like to do. I think my own spine cracks every time I see and hear someone opening a book thus!

(photo by Unschool writer, Shirley! Flowers by Shirley, too!)

Any signing tricks to share?

Re-cap of May posts

I do this re-cap for those who are here for the first time, or who have not had time to keep up with posts this month.

Our first-of-the-month mix looked at the question of “quick” and fun prompts that was part of the annual Q&A series. And we had a prompt thread to accompany. (Tara’s contribution of a haiku was all alone in this—you can always add to a prompt thread. There’s no expiry date!)

I also posted a question thread about navigating the Substack platform. Again, do continue this conversation on this thread—some recos came up, and thoughts.

This thread came as a result of one of the Q&A posts in answer to a question about working the various platforms, where one’s energy might go, the types of writing most suitable…

I posted a couple pieces on endings/multiple POV crises last month, culminating in this post, about borrowing from the theology of Julian of Norwich to reconsider approaches to endings. I enjoyed grappling with this! So often our curiosity and passions connect to inform our creative practice.

I posted a “close read” piece, after twice getting between the covers of Eowyn Ivey’s Black Woods Blue Sky. The second read was so worthwhile.

In a most recent post—about the chandelier under one local bridge—Rachel Rose of Desperate Writer, writes of reading TEN TIMES what we write. (Or five times, twice over?)

Also of note, we had our 27th (yes!) picturebook manuscript submission for feedback in our workshop space! (Do email me material you might like workshopped; so far, the picturebook group is the most dedicated, but poets and nonfiction writers have also shared work.) alison@alisonacheson.com

Last, after the Sunday book launch of my new novel, I wrote about the process of pulling together a launch, thinking of it in terms of setting, characters, and plot.

That was May!

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PROMPT

Let’s do a video piece as prompt this month. I filmed this at a little springs in Gaudalupe Mountains National Park in NW Texas last spring. Recently, the three young characters in my WIP passed through this same place and visited the grotto there. Is that why we write? To re-live?

Listen and look. I love the bit of wind in the trees close to the end here. Let this evoke whatever it does in your mind. What it draws up might have nothing to do with being outdoors. It might bring up longing or resolve.

Bring what it may, and post away! Leave here in the comments, and enjoy.

Extra!

One of our Unschoolers here passed along this link to an on-line collection of short fiction (and poetry, it appears…) (Thank you, Al!)

https://www.libraryofshortstories.com

Do share your on-line finds this way! I spent a bit of time taking a look at what this fellow is doing here on his site; you can suggest stories/authors to him. He suggests maybe a ko-fi in return.

This sort of access is a positive. Take the funds that you save in doing this to buy short fiction collections of writers who are still alive, publishing, and in all likelihood seeking out some grocery money!

My rule o’things: only buy second-hand books of dead and/or rich authors! Or if you are struggling for groceries and rent.

Email: alison@alisonacheson.com.

Happy summer writing —

Alison