Making a To-Do List – Help Needed!

Welcome back to my “Summerland Stories” book journey! I’m up to 61 1/2 hours since I started on October 9 … and 2 drafts more-or-less done. But, oh my goodness, so much more to do! I keep waking up in the middle of the night with ideas to add to my to-do list. Admittedly, some of those ideas come from dreams, and therefore maybe are pretty sketchy … and others come from listening to 2 am insomniac radio programs (what, you may wonder–and so do I sometimes–do those programs have to do with a collection of small-town Okanagan stories from the mid-1950s? Still, you’d be surprised!). More useful, probably, are suggestions I get over coffee (thanks, Aggie!) and at writers’ group meetings (thanks, OWL and PAG groups) from writer friends who are following my progress with interest. Anyway, I keep adding to my “to-do list” and here are some of the items I’ve jotted down:

Is it possible to get traditionally published (either large, medium, or small presses?) when a lot of the stories have already been published in various magazines, newspapers, and online? (I haven’t been paid for any of them; just did them for fun). https://writerunboxed.com/2024/10/22/the-beauty-of-small-press/
Need to check out old CDs and memory sticks for more old photos … speaking of which, should I include colour photos or just use black-and-white ones? … and how many photos should I use? … and what kind of cost difference does all this make for publishing?
I’ve had an offer from a friend who does design work to do interior design for me for free … but there’s another designer whose work I’m more comfortable with, even if I have to pay …
Still haven’t done an author’s foreword or intro or prologue or whatever … And should I also do some kind of “pull-together conclusion”? And should that foreward (whatever) include discussion of the historical time period covered by these stories (bubble of post-world-war-2 small town enthusiasm; local culture; etc.) (and if so, should that discussion be broad–national or even international–or regional–or local? You know: zeitgeist … And where should I get that information? And how much of it should I include?) (This is what comes of listening to those 2 am radio programs on current politics and how they’ve developed over the years and so forth…) (And online articles like this one:
I definitely need an editor(s)–but who? And what kind of editor(s)? I do have questions worth discussing with a developmental editor and structural/substantive editor … and maybe (after that) some copyediting, and a final proofread of course…
I need to track down some beta-readers … but I need to get the items in the point above sorted out first …
And then an interior designer and a cover designer and choose how to self-publish (Amazon? Kobo? Ingram? ….) … or maybe I should at least check out some local/regional publishers who might be interested in this local topic (and who would then take on the editing and design work…) https://books.bc.ca/who-we-are/member-directory/
Should I include a map? Other illustrations (besides the photos I have)?
And how, oh how, should a book like this be classified? Local history? Fiction or nonfiction? Memoir? What else?
I’ve been digging into marketing ideas — I think I better get busy and visit the Summerland library (and the regional library system it belongs to) (and, I guess, the Penticton library since the two communities are close together and Penticton does pop up in the stories a bit) … and stores and businesses that might be interested in carrying the book … and farmers markets in the area that reach out to tourists … and community events … and ???
The stories are mainly from my memories, and from letters written by my grandparents, and autobiographies by my parents, and input by community members who have their own memories of that time and place, and lots and lots of photos … and I realize more and more how much my own perspectives have been influenced by my particular upbringing, especially in terms of spirituality and values and such … and as I edit, I wonder if I need to tone down certain perspectives in order to make the stories more relateable to the whole community … or if personal perspectives make the stories more interesting … and ??? https://janefriedman.com/where-do-the-stories-come-from/
What social media should I use as I work through this process? I’m regularly on Facebook (and admin several groups, including writing groups, local history groups, etc.), and somewhat on Twitter (though I’m feeling a bit sketchy about that at the moment) and I do have an Instagram account which I suppose I could post old-timey photos on … and of course this blog series … Should I get accounts with other social media (and if so, which ones?)
I’m still not feeling confident about the organization I’ve working out so far (which is why I need to talk with a structural editor who has experience with this kind of book (which brings me back to the question of what exactly is this kind of book?)

So … what do you think? I’d love to have your input, ideas, suggestions … please!!!! (In the comments!)

4 thoughts on “Making a To-Do List – Help Needed!”

Ivy says:
November 2, 2024 at 7:42 pm


From my perspective, that is a highly detailed to do list. From this list, you can begin to make decisions regarding your preferences. Once you look at that list of preferences, it will begin to take shape and a map will appear. Certain comments made in your list indicate already what a few of your preferences are. You have cast your net far and wide. Now is the time to pull it in. Thanks for sharing. I am already interested in seeing the outcome. Go Norma go…says this cheerleader.

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norma j hill - penandpapermama says:
November 2, 2024 at 8:49 pm


Thank you for this excellent advice, Ivy. “Pulling it in” is always one of my problems! But yes, I am going to do my best! So appreciated 🙂

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Naomi Lane says:
November 4, 2024 at 9:14 am


Given that your stories are local, with plenty of grandparent connections, I think you should also keep any historical background references local too. There’s my two cents. Best of luck putting it all together.

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norma j hill - penandpapermama says:
November 4, 2024 at 10:11 am


Thank you! Good advice! I’m leaning that way, too. 🙂

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