So, all week and last week I’ve been struggling with my Vegas guidebook project. And it’s SO late. But I felt like the project turned from a quick refresh, to a rewrite of the whole thing. I know and love Vegas, but I don’t live at each and every venue all day every day and can’t tell the difference between what happens on Tuesday vs. what happens on Saturday.
My editor was on a work trip to Australia, so I had a bit of a reprieve, but she came back and called me yesterday. I was not looking forward to returning her call for fear I’d really get yelled at, but guess what? She totally put me at ease. She was a master, and I guess that’s her job. She needs this book done. So, she ever so smoothly turned me from a raving stress knot into an, “oh, yeah, I can do this,” sweet and obedient writer. She told me what to write about what I do know, and to take a breather, go to happy hour, and get back to it later and we’d check in Friday.
After I hung up I thought, damn, she’s good at her job.
So, I’m back at it, with a new fresh attitude. See how that works? Ah yeah, the crazy life of writers and editors. Still, my hats off to guidebook writers! I’ll never do it again.
please follow it up with How To Snag A Bridge Player!
i want to see you in the arms of Omar Sharif!
Tell me about it … I’ve done 2 full guidebooks and co-authored a third so far. It’s maddening in the details, isn’t it? I sometimes felt more fact checker than actual writer.
Can’t wait to read it when it’s out. 🙂
Hi,
Just came across your website. I’ve been doing a blog of my travels back and forth across the US. I mix lots of photographs with an irreverent narrative.
I’ve been thinking of trying to do some writing (my three newsletters not being enough). I’ve done some writing for marketing communications, but that’s a far cry from writing a book. It would be nice to make enough from writing and my web sites that I could travel full time.
I was wondering why you decided to do a travel guide on a town where every casino does a guide. Was this something that had been assigned?
If you weren’t working on this guide, what would your favorite type of writing be balancing money and fun?
Thanks.
-Don-