Well dear friends, with two months down and one to go, you might be curious as to the progress of my writing project. What’s been done?

I began with a call to my spiritual director, who also has worked for Wood Lake Books and has had some work published.  One piece of advice from her has helped immensely with the project, and that is “Just do the next doable thing.”  Very simple, but it has moved me beyond paralysis on numerous occasions.

I read Dan Poynter’s book `Writing Nonfiction: turning thoughts into books’ which has given my some good pointers in terms of the writing industry, options about publishing, organizing the project and doing a mock-up of the front and back cover – which I have done.

I’ve connected with a colleague and friend who is willing to do editing work for me, and I’ve connected with a pianist who is taking some of my laborious hand-transcribed musical scores and is turning them into works of beauty, adding accompaniment and correcting my timing etc.   This young woman was a teenager in my congregation in Williams Lake, and is now living in Kamloops, so it is a delight to be supporting her musical career while benefiting from her gifts.

I have been going through old files, computer memory sticks and computer files to compile the best of my prayers, liturgies, songs and seasonal reflections for the book.  These I am organizing in a computer folder alphabetically – e.g. Advent, Baptism, Christmas, Grief, Healing etc.

I’ve consulted with friend, wise elder and publisher Ralph Milton who lovingly advised me not to count on this book for my retirement income and suggested I might want to explore the world of blogging instead.  He also advised me to take anything he said with a huge grain of salt.

I’ve decided that I do what to proceed with a book, but I will do a limited printing so that I don’t have a garage full of unsold books and a big printing debt.

What’s still to do?  I need to glean a few more resources, tweak them for the book, and send my precious `baby’ to my friendly editor and, so advised, do a bit more tweaking.   I need to do more work on the music end of the project, consult with some possible publishers and decide if I should self- publish; there is a great printing outfit here in Salmon Arm, if I end up going that route.

If I self-publish I need to lean on the expertise of someone else to help set up the book in a print-ready format.  Blessedly, Jim’s sister is able and willing to help with that part of the process.

It has been humbling to ask for advice and assistance.  People have been kind and encouraging and for that I am very grateful.  Thank you to the congregation of Sicamous United Church for your generosity – this gift of time to focus on my writing has been such a gift.

The working title of the book is:“Cup of wine and a piece of bread…”Worship resources to nourish your journey

I do miss the weekly connections at the Thrift Shop but remember I am out at Sicamous United Church every Sunday and would love to see you all there!

Blessings, Juanita