P.S. I'll be posting my Significant Other Blogfest Entry tomorrow due to today's special blog tour visit.
Michelle McLean: Essays & Term Papers Blog Tour
Today I am honored to host Michelle McLean and her new book, Essays & Term Papers. You may have noticed that she was Elana J's featured review yesterday. If not, hop over and check it out, because Elana asked some awesome questions!Michelle was kind enough to write a guest post for us today, sharing the story behind why she wrote this particular book.
Michelle's Journey of Discovery
I was one of those weird kids that didn’t cringe when we were given an assignment to write an essay or paper. I liked to hang out at libraries and thumb through books all day. It was sort of fun to research a particular topic and then write about it. And I was good at it. So as the years went along, I was always the one my family members and friends would turn to if they needed help with a writing assignment. Thanks in large part to my siblings, I got really good at breaking the process down into manageable steps and explaining things in really simple terms.
I didn’t intend to write a book on how to write essays and term papers. At first, all I wanted to do was write a few helpful posts on my blog. I looked through all my old papers and visited a lot of college websites and textbooks to refresh my memory on all the rules for the specific essays. It drove me nuts how many books and websites out there either list the rules with no real guide on what to do with them, or explained things in such a technical and confusing way, using as many huge, unutterable words as possible, that even I, with all my experience, degrees, and love of writing, was ready to reach through the computer and slap someone.
Why on earth did everyone have to make the process so confusing? Even the books that did a good job breaking things down either just listed the rules and moved on, or only discussed the process in general.
So in my posts, I focused not only on the rules, but on how to actually write the essay…from exactly what you needed to do to get going, to how you needed to finish it up – and I included examples to illustrate what I was talking about.
I got such a great response from my readers that I kept the posts going. Soon, my friends started encouraging me to expand those posts into a book. I finally did. I worked up a proposal and a query letter and started submitting. And I was very lucky to quickly find interest in my book, which was renamed Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers. It is my hope that all the confused and frustrated students and writers out there find what they are looking for in my book…a fun, easy to use and understand guide that walks them through every step of the essay writing process.
I didn’t intend to write a book on how to write essays and term papers. At first, all I wanted to do was write a few helpful posts on my blog. I looked through all my old papers and visited a lot of college websites and textbooks to refresh my memory on all the rules for the specific essays. It drove me nuts how many books and websites out there either list the rules with no real guide on what to do with them, or explained things in such a technical and confusing way, using as many huge, unutterable words as possible, that even I, with all my experience, degrees, and love of writing, was ready to reach through the computer and slap someone.
Why on earth did everyone have to make the process so confusing? Even the books that did a good job breaking things down either just listed the rules and moved on, or only discussed the process in general.
So in my posts, I focused not only on the rules, but on how to actually write the essay…from exactly what you needed to do to get going, to how you needed to finish it up – and I included examples to illustrate what I was talking about.
I got such a great response from my readers that I kept the posts going. Soon, my friends started encouraging me to expand those posts into a book. I finally did. I worked up a proposal and a query letter and started submitting. And I was very lucky to quickly find interest in my book, which was renamed Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers. It is my hope that all the confused and frustrated students and writers out there find what they are looking for in my book…a fun, easy to use and understand guide that walks them through every step of the essay writing process.
Essays & Term Papers is now available at your favorite bookstores:
You can find Michelle at the following online locations:
- my website: http://authormichellemclean.com
- My blog: http://michellemclean.blogspot.com
- Operation Awesome Blog: http://opersationawesome6.blogspot.com
- Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-McLean/183714415115?v=wall
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/michellemclean.com
And now for the fun part . . . the giveaway! Michelle has put together this great prize pack.
16 comments:
I've already told my aunt about it and my cousins are going to get a copy so they can get a bit of help! I wish something like this exsisted when I was a kid! It would have been my bible!
Thanks gals this rocked!!
This is wonderful. Perfect for my high schooler... Thanks, shannon, and best of luck to you, Michelle!!
I have seen Michelle's book all over the place! That's excellent. I definitely need the book.
I'm reviewing the book next week. It's a great book! :D
What a great idea for a book! All the best to her..
I wish you could give this book away simply on a need basis because I was up with my high school junior last night until 1 a.m. writing one of those essays! She needs this book desperately!
It's great of Michelle to write this! So many have trouble writing these type of things. Having a reference that can help is awesome!
This sounds fabulous and something I'm needing for my daughter (and myself)!
What a great and helpful idea Michelle had. Wish she'd been around (with book) when I was a kid writing those papers.
We'll be needing this in a few years...it's so cool this is out there for students!
Thanks for the great information Shannon. It's good to see something about non-fiction.
Yay for Michelle. I'm going to give my cousin a copy of the book before she goes to University in September. :)
Yay Michelle!! This book is going to help SO many students... and their parents :)
Wow. That's so cool! This would definitely be helpful when my sister who is in high school asks for help with her homework.
Thanks everyone :) and thanks for hosting me Shannon!!
Hi Shannon and Michelle .. please could we rewind the years somewhat c/o Dr Who .. and let me have your book way back when! Just what I needed .. and probably still do ..
I'm not surprised it's been picked up - congratulations and perhaps that should be aimed at your family, friends and readers ..!
Cheers have good weekends Hilary
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