Where Things Stand

I haven’t written a thing since late June. That’s when I wrote “The End” for book one. The writing gurus say it’s a good idea to take a break for a while before going into the first revision.

First Revision?

That’s right. The first of several. And calling it a “first revision” might be a misnomer in itself. My trusty editor (my wife) has been editing the book so that my stupid mistakes don’t make it to other readers. It’s really been great spending time with her working through every humbling mistake - but I know she’s still holding back.

So, yeah, this next one will be the “first” of several revisions. After six weeks I’ll pick the book back up and read it all the way through again, and hear - hopefully with a new ear - what’s working and what’s not.

Then I get to go back and fix everything.

After that, the beta reading phase kicks in where several lucky readers will get a sneak peek at the entire manuscript as it stands then, and do their best to convey to me… what’s working and what’s not.

Then I get to go back and fix everything.

After that’s done I’ll send off the manuscript to an editor, who will tell me… what’s working and what’s not.

Then I get to go back and fix everything.

And once that editor’s done, I’ll be working with a copyeditor and proofreader. Thank goodness they’ll fix all the remaining grammatical and story boo-boos that survived the last pass - and make sure it is finally ready for the public.

And that’s just the writing and revising part of things.

That was just the writing side of things. I did mention there’s a whole other side of things that must be completed, right? The business side. Normally, in a traditional publishing scenario, the publisher would take care of those things, but not for a book that’s being independently published.

And I want to make sure it’s all done right so A) It’s the best total package you can possibly receive when it gets to your hand, and B) that I make some of the money I’m investing in the process back - just like a traditional publisher.

But unlike in traditional publishing, I’m starting out with a publisher that already thinks I’m the bomb (me).