It’s okay. It’s gonna be hard to pass up though. Palin may just be the hottest ticket in town right now (and I mean in any town, not just Wasilla, Alaska).

But you know, consider this. It’s Oprah’s show and she has made it quite clear who she’s voting for. Obama. C’mon. How unsupportive would it be for her to host Palin? Totally wrong. Don’t worry, Oprah. You will probably regret missing out on the most amazing woman in the history of the GOP, though.

Oprah and Palin wouldn’t have to discuss anything about the election! They could talk family, the stress of being governor of a huge state, having FIVE kids while being governor of a huge state (dude, Sarah’s amazing), and Sarah’s clean up of the old boy’s club up there (which were Republicans, mind you). Dirty bastards. Take that! Give ‘em hell, Sarah!

Seriously, I’d watch her on Oprah even if she weren’t running for VP with John McCain. The lady rocks! I have actually cheered for her so many times this week that my husband just plugs his ears every time we see a glimpse of a replay of her speech (Sar-ah! Sar-ah! Sar-ah!)

I know, if you’re an Obama supporter, you really hate everything Sarah Palin stands for. She probably scares the shweet-shwoo out of a Democrat or anyone who was hoping Obama would run against McCain and just another white guy. Let me apologize in advance for ruining your autumn.

We are going to drive you crazy for the next 2 months while we celebrate–raucously–in the aisles of grocery stores, in our cars as we drive our kids to soccer, in the dentist waiting room, on the elliptical machines at the gym, while reading PEOPLE (we’re boycotting US Weekly because of that terrible cover, remember?) at the hairdressers, even when discussing this month’s book at our local book club.  We’ll be walking with a lighter step, smiling more, laughing louder, and wearing lipstick (”the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom”) with pride. Sarah Palin has rocked the core of the GOP and it is about freaking time.

The rumblings have and will continue to grow, day after day, all the way to November. This is not going to stop on November 4 though, no matter who wins. We have waited for this for too long. Do you know how we’ve longed for a hockey mom with a brain to stand up to the stupid money-spenders in our party and say, “get the hell out!”? A long, long, long, long time. Game ON!

So, I’ll keep hollering my chant and hope that McCain actually brought her on his ticket because he wants to reform our government, not because he just wanted to be president. I can hope. And the GOP voters deserve that this fall. After all, we have to claim those old boys from Alaska and elsewhere that have spent our money and ignored everything we asked for in election after election. The GOP you don’t see on the news everyday wants fiscal and personal responsibility first and foremost and we’ve had a string of very bad, bad representatives. And in the tradition of Sarah Barracuda, I think their time has come. Buh-bye, boys.

Finally, a WOMAN we can follow who GETS what we’ve been saying for way too long:

“I put it on eBay.”

Amen and amen.

(Sar-ah, Sar-ah, Sar-ah)

In honor of the political season, I’m not reading political books. But I am reading a few others.

The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria was one of those books I was going to avoid until someone told me “Read this, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” And I like it. A very positive outlook on the rise of the rest of the world (not our decline mind you) and how it will impact our planet. Very interesting. I like this stuff.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman was really freaky delicious. I don’t think I can watch the movie though, because just his description of the “other mother’s black sparkling button eyes” freaked me out. Incredible story, I love the heroine’s spunk. I love the picture of a modern English family (parents both work from home). Great read. This one should be vetted by parents of kids younger than 8.

Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecelia Galante is an incredible book. I got this pressed into my hand by a writing buddy and I was instantly swept away into Honey and Agnes’s world. I’ve been there before in some ways and never in other ways. Still, it was a powerful book and interesting because I’m meeting more and more children who had parents who were involved in cults and other similar religious orders who had hellish experiences. This book makes you realize how lucky you are to have had a normal, wonderful childhood.

ProBlogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett is one I read almost every day. Seriously, between the copyblogger.com web site and this book, I get new insights into doing a better job for my blogging clients (the number of which grew this week!). I started blogging without really knowing exactly how to do it. Got hired to blog and copied another popular blog at first and now, thanks to Darren, I think my blogging style has morphed into my own style. Fun! Highly recommend.

And last but not least (oh no) is The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer. This is a massive read. I’m determined to finish it before 2008 is up. I tend to read history in large swathes and then ponder. I then must reread what I already read to make sure I got it right in my head. Great book, worth the time. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

Have a great weekend everybody! Over and out.

I doubt I can come up with anything more interesting to blog about today, but I want to talk about my writing progress. If you want to read great commentary on Sarah’s speech, though, look here and here and here.

My writing is settling into a nice rhythm. I’ve got several projects going (oh dear) but I like it that way and I think I want it that way. I’m taking a class on scene and structure this month from a romance novelist (oh dear again) but she’s really good. I am NOT writing romance, but every women’s novel these days has romance, so I think I’m in good hands.

I have been trying to get up at 5 am every morning to write. Um, that doesn’t happen a lot. I then try to stay up until 2 am to write, which also doesn’t work. I am a morning person first and foremost though, so the 5 am thing will just have to happen. I am inching my way down to that ungodly hour about nine minutes at a time. Hahahaha.

Anyway, the writing is slowly becoming something I can work with. I think as I come down off the heavy-duty copyediting schedules from this summer, it will get better and better.

My rules for summer 2009:

1. The beach (Dash Point and Alki) every day, at least for an hour. Nothing soothes me more than my beach time.

2. Summer rush on textbook production does not have to include me all the time. I can let some of these projects go.

3. Summer is for writing, not for checking commas or alpha ordering ref lists. Nuff said.

4. Hot weather makes me want to not work. I’d rather lie in our hammock and look at tree leaves.

5. I am so much more inclined to be industrious in the fall. Lesson learned.

Today’s post will veer away from the book talk, because as many of you know I work full-time as a copyeditor for the British Medical Association (I telecommute to the London office) and once the commas are checked and the Britishisms are taken out (or put back in, depending on the project) I dream up wild entrepreneurial plans on my own time. Usually they have to do with writing books and writing blogs and corporate writing (which is really lucrative, but kinda dry–last spring I wrote case studies about oil production for a recognizable company <you buy gas from them everyday> and while it was a really interesting challenge, I thought I would die if they threw one more acronym my way. I waded through the acronyms and learned how to write a succinct case study, but I am not sure I can do that for a entrepreneurial living, ya know?), thus I figured I’d explain my process or finding these entrepreneurial plans.

I will just redirect you to a book rec I gave out two weeks ago. Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port is the first stop for this moonlighting entrepreneur (for ANY moonlighting entrepreneur, I should say). And I mean it. I have business plan writing books, sure, but if you’re trying to figure out what work you truly enjoy and what work you aren’t sure you’d like to do all the time, Port’s self-interview process is excellent. It shows you what kind of client you’re looking for, what kind of work you’re looking for (it is not as elusive as you think), and I think Port’s self-examination is quite instructive. I bought the book years ago and then ended up writing those case studies for a client who carved out for herself a nice six-figure business just by thinking outside the box (directed by Port’s book). The synchronicity astounds me!

Port is a bit unconventional. He starts off by making sure you know exactly what kind of client you DON’T WANT to work with. What? I can hear the protests right now. Why not? I have many clients who aren’t sure exactly what they want, but they do know exactly what they DON’T WANT. Get it? Once you’ve got that figured out, it’s like you have permission to excuse those clients, ya know? It’s freedom. For me, at least.

Here’s a tip sheet (oh just buy the book already) I gleaned from Port’s book (I am so not going to copy this verbatim, these steps are hit and miss–go buy the book).

1. What clients and projects do you not want to do?

2. What clients and projects make you feel the most alive?

3. What are your parameters for clients and projects? (Hint: I don’t want this, but I do want this.)

4. If you want those projects, how should you represent yourself to get them? (Personal branding section)

5. Don’t cold call, network. The next event you attend and someone asks you what you do, don’t just say, “I’m a writer.” What should you say? (You really should just buy the book).

You say, “I create alternative realities for people who don’t want to watch television.”

No, I’m not going to tell you all of Port’s advice. Get the book already! It has changed my business in so many ways and made me more sure about saying no to clients and projects that suck my soul dry. Yes, I still write case studies, but I don’t let myself do it for more than a few days at a time.

I’ve enjoyed some time off from this blog. I’ve read a lot, written a lot, watched mindless b&w movies (The Thin Man collection), and hung out with my hubby. Our expansive to-do lists were curtailed in August because of hubby’s back issue (yes, he still plays soccer and they are KILLERS! and yes, my personal trainer is helping him with stretching exercises to ease the tightness in his back), so we’ll be doing all of our annual house stuff into September. It’s okay. The big party we usually host each September for around 50 of my hubby’s coworkers isn’t going to be here this year, so we have time.

I’ve gone all Neil Gaiman on my writing projects. Neil Gaiman works on multiple projects to ensure he does not get bored. This fall should be a nice writing escape for me. The day job is going to be pretty intense into February 2009 and writing and reading keep me sane.

I’ve missed countless news reports and threads, gossip, and such, but I’ll be back this week with more stories as I find them.

Today though, HarperCollins and Doubleday have a nice gaffe with a book cover (HC had it first!), and My Friend Amy is calling for Best Book Blog nominations (no, I don’t want any noms, but I’m thinking of nominating Books On the Nightstand or Allison Winn Scotch). Got any great book blogs to nominate? Tell me! I wanna read ‘em too.

Off to get lunch and watch last night’s premiere of Gossip Girl. It promises to be Great Gatsby-esque and I cannot wait. I reread The Great Gatsby this summer and then followed it up with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford in the movie version. I think Blake Lively can channel Mia Farrow as Daisy, yes? Same whispery voice and amazing clothes. I think Blake’s hair is better though.

And have a great Tuesday!

Today is a momentous day in our family’s life: my bro is getting married. Congrats N. and D.! We love you so much!

A few books I’m reading this week:

Long Journey Home by Os Guinness is another jewel from my bookshelf. Os Guinness is an amazing writer (born to Christian missionaries in China, and has traveled the world speaking and writing about creativity, books, spirituality, and philosophy). This book is to be savored. You read it slowly. From Amazon.com: How do we unriddle the mystery of life and make the most of it? What does it mean to find ourselves guests on a tiny, spinning blue ball in a vast universe? Is our sense of individual uniqueness backed by a guarantee, or are we only dust in the wind??

How Fiction Works by James Wood. I’ve resisted buying another book on fiction writing, but so many people have told me that this book helped them read better that I bought it. It’s amazing. This is a book up there with Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster. Really good so far.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson is one that was recommended to me by multiple people. I asked if it was anything like The Historian or The Thirteenth Tale and they said no, but it was similar to Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, so we’ll see. I’m not sure I like it so far. But I’m going to finish it.

Hollywood Babylon is book research, but I tell ya, if you wanted to know dirt on Hollywood from early in its heyday, this book is for you. There’s a sequel to boot! <sigh> The things about celebrities that interest us.

Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port is one of those necessary books if you’re rewriting a business plan, which I am doing right now. It’s a fabulous book and I never let it get too far away from me, because I rely on it so much.

Have a great weekend!

My top five that I’ve been reading this week:

The Importance of Being Kennedy, by Laurie Graham is background research for a novel and yet, I can’t put this book down! Luckily, it’s a Kindle book, so I have read snippets at the grocery store and while in line for tea at Starbucks.

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh. Just a delightful treat. Waugh’s vocabulary is intense! Burgeoning and clement are just so literary to my ear.

The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, which was recommended to me by a friend and which I’m enjoying just because the pursuit of a peaceful subconscious mind is so worthy, but I just don’t get the emptying out of the mind to meditate. I prefer to meditate on something, usually the blessings in my life and the grace of God. I really love Tolle’s focus existing in the moment, however. This is a lost art. For that, I will always be thankful to this author. Great reminder.

What Does God Really Want?, by Michael Trillo was a great follow-up to Tolle’s thesis. Between the two of them, I’ve really learned a lot. Trillo points out that the point of reading the Bible is not to attain perfection, but to enjoy a peaceful mind and spirit. If the Bible has become another rule book for you lately (I know how that feels!), you might check it out.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski. This is a Books on the Nighstand pick and I couldn’t resist a story about a “modern take on Hamlet set in rural Wisconsin.” Just started, I’ll keep you posted!

My book piles are so much taller than this, but I’ll stop for today. Another round-up in two weeks!

You know, with the Internet, more and more people are moonlighting as entrepreneurs (including me!). Sure, we’ve got lucrative day jobs and work from home or work a flexible schedule. It’s Gen Y invading the space of Gen X. Both generations are changing it up, breaking the rules, and doing it their way (it’s a mini work revolution) and I’d like to harness some of that great information and energy on this blog and share what I know. (I tested out as Gen Y, folks. I’ve got to use that to my advantage.)

Moonlighting entrepreneurs aren’t content working 9 to 5. They want more. They want the ability to test out their theories and their skills in a global marketplace. Why not? We’re so there. Moonlighters are talented multitaskers, think outside the box, adopt technology and new best practices early, and are very motivated. Moonlighters also are interested in everything, have to-do lists and dream lists and wishlists up the whazoo, and don’t take no for an answer.

I’ve got some ideas on starting a moonlighting enterprise, and first things first, how are you going to get clients? I’m assuming you have a product or service to sell.

How to Get Clients to Buy Your Product or Use Your Service

1. I get around on the Internet. Probably too much social networking, but for me it’s social marketing. Have you considered Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIn? You need to. This is how deals will be made in the future. You’ll meet someone online and they’ll need more writers or a website designer, or a virtual assistant. Of course, if you’ve got a plumbing business in Albuquerque, a more face-to-face approach might work for you (see #2).

2. I get around my town. I meet people. I’m involved. I have a mastermind group of fellow freelance people and they hook me up! Not just for charity events, which is a really great way to meet people who might use your services/products, but to fellow mastermind club members’ birthday parties where decision makers at large companies mingle or coffee meetings in a part of town where everyone my buddy knows gets coffee. Freelancing is more about “lancing” out and meeting people than just being “free” to watch another hour of television while the rest of the world commutes.

3. Cold calling, warm calling—this takes planning. Yes, the detested task of freelancers. But it’s the way to get clients. I have a three-step plan: I purchase dedicated lists every year for my industry and I mix it up. Some years I cold call, some years I send out marketing postcards (see #4), and other years, I send my resume packet (this got too spendy when postage started going up), but for several years it did the trick. I combined each step with a second follow-up step (see #5), and then a third if necessary. Multiple contact points gain you clients. Experts say a client needs to hear about you seven times before they will act. So set up those seven contacts within a 12-month period (or less, if you’re really willing to keep up with your marketing) and see what happens.

4. Postcards. These are a really good way to get your brand out to prospective clients. Postcards should be eye-catching (try a gorgeous piece of art on the front) and with minimal words. Postcards should send your prospects to your website, hopefully in order to get something for free (we’ll touch on this in a later post). The text on the back should be easy to read, and only three sentences. Your business info, your offer, your contact information. You need to attract them to you, so don’t overwhelm them!

5. Follow-up. Again and again and again. This is marketing at its core. Sure, it’s easy to unveil your marketing materials and marvel at their beauty, but if you aren’t following up after each contact, their stellar quality won’t help you much. It takes work, but follow-up is the biggest secret around. You can never do too much (unless you’re bugging that one potential customer endlessly; stop that!) and if you have a large pool of possible clients, doing some sort of contact everyday helps to minimize the terror of having to once again check in to see how things are going. It’s necessary and expected in today’s working world.

In future posts, we’ll discuss scripts for cold calls, follow-up tips, how to design marketing postcards, and the best places to order those postcards online.

If you haven’t visited Books on the Nightstand, hurry over right now! Podcasts and posts on everything book related from two stellar employees of Random House. I got caught up watching the trailer for Brideshead Revisited (need to finish reading my first Waugh this summer in honor of the movie starring Emma Thompson!), and countless other means of diversion.

Fabulous, fabulous. And perfect for book addicts such as myself who love to talk shop with other people in the publishing industry.

Thinking a lot lately about the root of behavior (both online and offline) and I think it comes down to fear.

Let’s face it: we are afraid, of what others think, of what we ourselves think, and of the horrible looming idea that–gulp–we might fail.

It’s a universal fear. Everyone is there. We use coping mechanisms to fend off the fear, hoping we can just stay busy, do too many work projects, clean more, accomplish more, and the fear will subside “because we are accomplishing something, doggone it!”

Oh boy.

So, the past few weeks, I’ve challenged myself in this area. Why must I be perfect all the time? My wily self squirms in discomfort and I pin myself to the wall with a bit more force. Why do I have to be perfect, especially in this one thing?

Answer: I don’t. It is a perception in my head, a manic behavior we all fall back on to trick ourselves into thinking we’re okay.

Huh.

Well, let me be the newest person to say it. Failing is the fastest way to success. We need failure to learn lessons, to do it better, to push farther, to accomplish more. If we don’t let ourselves fail, we’ll break in half and lose our minds (that’s where the manic behavior comes in), and I doubt that’s a healthy work/life balance, do you?

Let something go already. What will it hurt? You are not going to “get it all in” on one try. You will take your entire life to accomplish your dreams. Don’t you want to feel the accomplishments one at a time?

We’ve got to let go of our fears. We need to try a healthy dose of “good enough” this week.

I have started a list of things that are “good enough.” My goal is to add more to that list in August and into the fall. And to use the time I save from “perfection” to write 500 more words every morning.

Off to it!