How I wrote a knitting book
West Coast Knitter's News arrived today. I patiently wait for it to arrive six times a year. This issue did not disappoint. I flipped by interesting articles. One announcing the guild's recent moves: in to the Oarkridge community and on to the net. The announcement was written by the editor Paulette Lane. Another article written by Holli Yeoh invites knitters to explore knitting podcasts. I scanned these and other articles then quickly turned the page. Page after page I flipped. I was searching for something. Finally on the second last page I found it.
How I wrote a knitting book
by Leanne Dyck
Like all journeys, this one began with a single step. I was at a house party and innocently told a friend, "I'd like to start a writing group."
"Well," advised the friend, "you should talk to (name withheld to protect the innocent)." And a few short weeks later the Mayne Island writers group was formed.
I immediately began to benefit from the group. The first lesson I learnt was in order for skills to be sharpened you have to practice them. So I made a commitment to write daily.
I had tried this strategy before and had failed miserably. Not wanting this same fate I decided to go public by way of a blog.
Daily writing is difficult. You begin to run out of ideas. When this happens you have to dig deep. You have to crave off the fat to reach the bone. What really matters to you begins to be exposed. You begin to write from your heart.
I began to write about my passion: knitting. Each time I did this my readership grew. People where actually logging on to read my writing. Go figure? It amazed me.
The idea started to percolate in my brain that I could write a book.
Still the sheer volume of writing scared me. Even a short book is 100 pages. How could I write 100 pages?
Day after day I wrote. I kept the good bits and forgot about the bad.
I shared my best stuff not only with my blogging readership but with the talented writers of the writers group. They gave me the feedback I needed in order to grow.
I soon began to realize that my goal of publishing a book was attainable.
Upon reviewing my writing I realized how very dear to me this story was. Visualizing a publisher molding and forming it made me churn. No, the only answer for me at this time was self-publishing. I wanted to tell my story in my words in my way.
I have always thoroughly enjoyed clicking my knitting needles to the sound of audio books. I knew there were many other knitters who felt the same. I was surprised to realize that, (to my knowledge) there wasn't an audio book written by a knitter for the knitting community. An audio book that celebrated knitting called out to be written. Was it possible?
Fortunately for me the man I married had considerable computer skills. It is due to his patience, dedication and talent that Novelty Yarn has such high-quality sound.
The family I married into is jam-packed-full of talented musicians. The most talented is my brother-in-law Tim Dyck. He composed and performed the beautiful instrumentals which knit the readings together.
Self-publishing is a misnomer. Many hands were involved in the creation of Novelty Yarn. From the members of the Mayne Island writer's group who carefully edited it to the island printer who designed the CD cover.
Recently, a friend, clutching the CD in her hand, said, "You should be very proud."
Know what? I am.
...
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Don't be afraid to take that first step.
How I wrote a knitting book
by Leanne Dyck
Like all journeys, this one began with a single step. I was at a house party and innocently told a friend, "I'd like to start a writing group."
"Well," advised the friend, "you should talk to (name withheld to protect the innocent)." And a few short weeks later the Mayne Island writers group was formed.
I immediately began to benefit from the group. The first lesson I learnt was in order for skills to be sharpened you have to practice them. So I made a commitment to write daily.
I had tried this strategy before and had failed miserably. Not wanting this same fate I decided to go public by way of a blog.
Daily writing is difficult. You begin to run out of ideas. When this happens you have to dig deep. You have to crave off the fat to reach the bone. What really matters to you begins to be exposed. You begin to write from your heart.
I began to write about my passion: knitting. Each time I did this my readership grew. People where actually logging on to read my writing. Go figure? It amazed me.
The idea started to percolate in my brain that I could write a book.
Still the sheer volume of writing scared me. Even a short book is 100 pages. How could I write 100 pages?
Day after day I wrote. I kept the good bits and forgot about the bad.
I shared my best stuff not only with my blogging readership but with the talented writers of the writers group. They gave me the feedback I needed in order to grow.
I soon began to realize that my goal of publishing a book was attainable.
Upon reviewing my writing I realized how very dear to me this story was. Visualizing a publisher molding and forming it made me churn. No, the only answer for me at this time was self-publishing. I wanted to tell my story in my words in my way.
I have always thoroughly enjoyed clicking my knitting needles to the sound of audio books. I knew there were many other knitters who felt the same. I was surprised to realize that, (to my knowledge) there wasn't an audio book written by a knitter for the knitting community. An audio book that celebrated knitting called out to be written. Was it possible?
Fortunately for me the man I married had considerable computer skills. It is due to his patience, dedication and talent that Novelty Yarn has such high-quality sound.
The family I married into is jam-packed-full of talented musicians. The most talented is my brother-in-law Tim Dyck. He composed and performed the beautiful instrumentals which knit the readings together.
Self-publishing is a misnomer. Many hands were involved in the creation of Novelty Yarn. From the members of the Mayne Island writer's group who carefully edited it to the island printer who designed the CD cover.
Recently, a friend, clutching the CD in her hand, said, "You should be very proud."
Know what? I am.
...
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Don't be afraid to take that first step.
posted by Author Leanne Dyck at 3:24 PM
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