I don't think anyone wants to read a book that has grammatical errors and sentences that make no sense. I am by no means a good typist and this often shows in my blog posts. I do the usual spell check and two days later I read the blog post and spot several issues in one form or another. If you are looking at publishing a book or document, I highly recommend getting a good editor before your book goes to a publishing agency. From my experience, you cannot rely on one person to do the job right, and do the job well for you. I am in the process of working with editors and my publishing company to get Comet the Red Bus republished due to numerous grammatical and word errors. This is a costly exercise as I purchased over 200 of my own book to sell locally, these all have issues. Yes, I can still sell them at a discounted rate, but it is numerous thousand dollars for a faulty product and one the publishing agency is not prepared to take credit for. You can always catch others’ mistakes, but rarely your own. This is simply the nature of writing. Getting entirely outside your own head, your intentions, and seeing your copy with “another's eyes”. Don’t let anybody fool you, the only “self-editing” you should do is before you turn that manuscript over to a real editor. What does an editor do? In simple words, an editor polishes and refines your text. They give direction to the story by enhancing the major points, pulling the spotlight on places where the readers should focus. They chop out what doesn’t fit and what is nonessential to the purpose of the story. They will ensure that the final product is the best it can be. Why shouldn't the writer self-edit?
I can't say loud enough... Check, rest, check, get an editor, and then get a second opinion if needed. Thats my advice based on experience. So...... what shall I write about in the next blog? I am enjoying writing the blogs to give myself some experience and giving my brain some exercise during this lockdown we find ourselves in. Can't wait to share the next one with you all. Chris
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I changed jobs! It came as a surprise to many people I know, especially the company I was working for. They felt it came out of the blue. I had a good managers role with good salary and benefits, they seemed confused to my departure. I had in fact been browsing for a new role for about 9 months, I grew tired of a negative working environment and made to feel like I wasn't good enough and being micromanaged. When someone is being micromanaged it is usually because they want you out. It is hard to keep your team happy and motivated when you yourself are slowly, but surely slipping into a deep dark hole yourself and cant see a way out. Several years ago I was diagnosed with depression and was seeing a counselor for this, and this helped me. However, staying in this type of environment would never be good for me and I felt, not good for the business . I was concerned about the negativity affecting the relationships with my team and with our clients. However both, up until I left and still now, are good, and I keep in touch with everyone. I found my way out. However, it wasn't entirely up to me. The company I am now working for has a person who reached out to me when their managers position was advertised as their manager at the time had resigned. I applied straight away. I was in such a low place mentally that I never thought I would be asked for an interview. I was incredibly nervous as I had been with the last company for 18 years and had not been to an interview outside this company for a long time. Feeling incredibly anxious, I went to the interview and the two people interviewing me were lovely. They welcomed me, they were kind and I felt at ease straight away. Instantly I knew I wanted in. I was invited back for another interview and had a Zoom meeting with their Human Resources team the following day who were also lovely people. Moving forwards, I have been with this company 4 months today. I love it. I absolutely love my job and enjoy going to work. My managers are awesome, I feel like part of the family, I am treated with respect and treated like a Manager. My confidence is back and I know I am good at what I do. My experience and skills help me in my new role, and help me with the challenges of starting in a new company. Even though this is a similar role to what I was doing, every company has their own way and it takes time to learn their ways and systems. The main thing though… I am happy. My head is in a good space. Minimal stress and most of the anxiety I had from the daily crap in my last role has gone. Mental health is no joke. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Likewise, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental, and social well-being Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness. If you are struggling, reach out to someone, talk to your doctor, call one of the free health lines. Do not be embarrassed about it. During lockdown, people struggle, don’t be shy, we all have phones these days, there is no excuse. Ask for help. I better get on and do some work now, I am enjoying the working from home every second day type routine I currently have under the Alert Level 4 (Lockdown) in New Zealand, but today I am in the office and have a list of tasks to carry out. Keep Safe everyone! Just like that and New Zealand is straight back into lockdown with a matter of hours as notice. This isn’t a bad thing, and we were prepared because we were told that if the Delta variant came to New Zealand, we would be put into Lockdown, and this is what has happened. New Zealand has fought off COVID before and we can do it again. Perhaps before we open the border or a travel bubble with another country, this time we will have super tight restrictions and regulations around it. We can’t afford to have further lockdowns, especially when the government is funding wage subsidies for businesses each time. I personally don’t mind lockdown, it gives an opportunity to relax and catch up on things around home. I am in a fortunate position where I can work from home if I want to during lockdowns, but I opt to go into work every few days to check in on the team. They are not so fortunate and are on the forefront driving the public around, wearing a mask all day every day with little to no thanks from the public. It can be more stressful being on the road at work than it can be being stuck at home for weeks. In general I think it is the uncertainty of not knowing how long we will be at level four for is the most stressful part, how it will impact our incomes and the way that it upsets our home and work life patterns or routines. I’m not complaining that it’s upset mine. Having a break from a 4am alarm is great. One thing that lockdown gives us is plenty of time to read books! I haven’t picked up a book yet, however I recently picked up some old readers digest magazines from a secondhand shop, I like reading those, even though some are nearly 20 years old, many of the stories in them are relevant today and the magazines contain some amusing anecdotes and looking at old adverts is intriguing. One of my projects for lockdown was making a good stock of jam to stock I’m Taupo at Love Heart Collective, this is a business where vendors have a space in a retail setting and they also offer workshops for kids etc, check them out on Facebook if you have a chance and give them a like. I have made about 40 jars of jam now, and that’s enough for the time being. It’s quite a complicated task, making sure they all set and are not too thick or too runny. I’d love to know what you and your whanau are doing this lockdown, or if you are overseas and in and out of lockdowns still. Keep safe, take care. Well it is finally here.
Comet the red bus has been released online in New Zealand and internationally! So exciting!!!! I am still waiting for my copies to arrive, and have imagined the feeling of opening one for the first time, seeing my name in print, seeing my first children's book in print, in real life. I have seen word and PDF copies of it, but to actually hold the real deal in my hands is going to be an emotional moment for me. My dad who passed away a few months ago used to work as an offset printer. He loved his job. Dad is well known for picking up a book and giving it a good sniff. He could tell you about the paper and the ink used. Sadly this first book was published a bit late so I will mis the chance to see Dad do this with my book; but I know he would be proud that it was published. I have had the website updated and it will continue to be updated to give quick and easy links to where to purchase it online. There are numerous sites including Amazon, Xlibris, Barnes & Noble, Kobo etc. There are twelve that I have been advised of so far. Comet the red bus is available in softcover, hardcover and eBook, and I am working with the publishing agency to get it turned into an audio book, it will have a musical intro and ending and will be fun for children to read along to. I look forward to telling you more about that as it progresses For now though, I need to concentrate of the two colouring books that are about to be published and the second Comet the red bus book. Plenty to keep me occupied along with working my usual job. Thank you all for your support and to those of you who have pre ordered a book in NZ. We opted to offer NZ a big discount to keep things local. I look forward to updating you when your copy has been shipped. Take care everyone! Chris. |
AuthorAfter the outstanding success of his first children’s picture book, Comet the Red Bus - Around the City, Author Christopher Candy has continued to write the next book in the Comet the Red Bus series. Working full-time as a Manager for Tranzit Coachlines, Christopher has many years of bus-related experience that brings his characters to life. Christopher is based in the Tararua region and enjoys spending time with his partner, farm animals and pet dog, Tupance. You can see updates from Christopher, including new releases, giveaways and more, on his website or social media accounts. Archives
October 2023
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