For about a year I live with this new book banging around in my head. Then the next year I cough it up onto my C Drive, research, research, research–write, write, write. If you write anything and want it polished, the next step is that phase we lovingly call editing. So some weeks go into that.
The big leap is submitting it. That’s usually a few weeks of pacing like a tiger in a zoo and a lot of monologues.
“Will they take it? Of course, they will. But what if they hate it?”
“Why don’t I hear? I should have heard by now. The book’s not good. I should have written something else.”
There are a lot more of these, but you might already be familiar with them if you’ve gone through this process.
Then the email comes and it’s a “Yes.”
I sign the contract. They set the publication date and viola! But that’s not the end, is it? No. Now just before publication, I have all that scheduling to do, all that shouting about this newest addition to my list.
So here I am in the final weeks just before publication. I can tick off several jobs as done, but I still gasp at what’s left.
My first Giveaway is complete thanks to those of you who were here every week in August for my Character Reveal. Thank you again for sticking it out a whole month. September, I set up a series of posts that tell more about the background for this book, finally, I could reveal the title was Shattered: A Story of Betrayal and Courage. I wanted to be sure the publisher didn’t change it. I’ve had that happen before.
The cover art comes next, but before it arrives…You guessed it. More pacing. Will it be something I love? What if I hate it? When will it come?
I still don’t have the specific pub date, so I have to guess a bit about when to do certain promotional bits. But I’m very practiced in tiger-pacing, that’s what I’ll do until I know about these final details and all of the scheduling is in place.
If you write for publication, do you relate to any of this? What do you do just before publication?
Great title. I look forward to reading the book.
Got your latest email. Facebook annoys me after about 5 minutes.
My time management skills seemed to have suffered lately. Just doing the “one day at a time” way of living right now.
Traditional publishing is so different to self publishing. You pace while the powers that be make the decisions under your guidance, I’d hope, a self pubbed author makes. I must try the trad way sometime, but I must say i find so much about self pubbing exhilarating!
As I’m only newly published (two books under my belt and one in progress), I still find the whole process exhilarating! Congratulations on your upcoming release!
Congratulations!!! I actually wrote for an hour this morning and I’m visiting blogs. I feel so happy to be back in the groove.
Hit me up if there’s anything I can do to help.
Lee I must ask if the choice of a tiger for a metaphor was intentional. Because no matter how much pacing it does, a tiger is a tiger. So, that is +1 for you. All the best for the cover.
Congratulations! If pace you must, better it be as a tigress. Have you worn out your pedometer yet? Should be a business expense, don’t you think?
I’m excited for you and wish you the expedient best!
Better it be as a tigress! I love that. As to the pedometer…that hasn’t worn out, but you should see my shoes. Yes, even tigresses subcumb to footwear. Thanks so much for the good wishes.
Much of life is what we do while we wait… Congratulations. I can’t wait to read it. You write for a needy section of readers and I have appreciated the works I’ve read that you have written.
How true that saying is! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate that you take the time to write them here and to read what I write.
Congrats, Lee.
🙂
No matter whether we are indie, small press, or traditional, the last few months before publication, and even the first few weeks, seemed filled with nerves, excitement, anticipation, and worries.
I hope your nerves settle and all goes well!
Filled with nerves is exactly right. I know you and other authors understan. Thanks for taking the time to check in and give me your input!
How exciting and nerve-wracking waiting for the cover!
Yours turned out wonderful. Did you hire the artist or did you do that yourself?
Hi Lee – wonderful to see this well-written post expressing emotion on the move towards publication … loved reading it. Looking forward to seeing the cover too – all the best – cheers Hilary
Thank you, Hilary. I know you’ll let me know what you think of the cover when it comes and I’ll appreciate your honest opinion.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
I’m excited for you, dear friend! Tiger-pacing as you await the cover art for your new book might be nerve-racking, but it beats digging ditches… not that there’s anything wrong with that. Personally, I can’t wait for you to display the cover because, to someone like me, a compelling cover can and does make the difference in my buying decision. I once bought a record album based solely on its cover art. I didn’t know a thing about the band or the type of music on the disc. All I knew was that the cover aroused my curiosity and passion and I just had to find out what was on the inside. So it goes with books. I wish you well as you continue to tiger-pace your way to the finish line and massive success thereafter.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
I love this, Shady! You and I are cut from the same cloth. I’ve been known to buy a totally unknown book and author just because the cover caught my imagination.
Oh, yes, I related to everything. Nicely said.
I just ordered my cover. Can’t wait!
Isn’t that exciting? In my next life I want to be a cover artist.
Fingers crossed for an amazing cover. It only takes you weeks to edit? That’s impressive.
I hope it only takes a few days actually. The publisher is a bit late in getting those edits to me, so I’ll be working longer hours if this book is going to meet the October pub date!
Awesome that your cover is coming soon. I haven’t gotten to that stage of publishing yet. I’m working on finishing my first draft.
You do so much, Natalie, that finishing a first draft is quite a feate in my “book”.
I am so grateful for your work, your pacing and your tensions.
So very grateful.
And I am looking forward (immensely) to reading your latest work too.
That is one lovely comment. Thank you so much.
Wow, you still haven’t seen the cover yet? Mine doesn’t come out until next April and I already have a cover. That would be tense, not knowing.
That’s me, too. The cover seems to inspire the editing at time!