Take The Risk
Greetings, All.
To those of you inquiring as to when my first novel in 'The Way' series will be available, I am in the process of wrapping up loose ends with the internet publisher and once that is done I am told we are looking at about two-three months to produce the finished product. Many of the delays are my own fault for I am one of those writers possessed of the maddening need to go back and rewrite, reconfigure, and generally polish and spitshine what most often should have been left as it was. I run poor Kaithlin ragged at times but according to her I am making some improvement in that area.
As this is my first venture into the unknown territory of internet publishing, I can and oft do claim ignorance of the process to justify my slow pace. I dare say my loyal assistant will not allow me to get away with it a second time. I am probably going to regret putting this information out but I am well into the home stretch on the second in the series and the third is in its pupa stage waiting to emerge from its cocoon. Aye, I am one of those who works on more than one storyline at a time. As this is a series I think it normal (at least I hope it is) that the writing of one produces story lines and characters for the next.
As you already know, many of my characters are based on real individuals and the plots are developed from their actual experiences. I do take creative license with both characters and plots but, for the most part, the tale is true to form. So, hopefully, the novel will be available to the public sometime in late March or early April. I will post the release date and where and how to purchase it as soon as I am given the go by the publisher.
Kaithlin and the rest of my staff oft inquire if I am 'excited' about this new venture. I suppose the answer to that depends upon one's concept of excitement. I tell them I am looking forward to putting that first child to bed, so to speak, and am ready to birth and nurture the next.
Some of you have ventured your thoughts and fears concerning your desire to try your hand at writing; wondered if you are up to the task. What I will tell you is this: The writer's arena is demanding; a tough and sometimes unforgiving taskmaster, but in these modern times the field is wide open to anyone willing to put forth the effort. With the birth of internet publishing virtually anyone with access to a few hundred dollars ($500.00 is the least amount with the publishing company I chose) can get published. That is the bare minimum and the cost increases, sharply, depending upon how you want your finished product to look and in what forms it will be available, for download with printing capability; paperback; hardback; or a package of those options.
There are several options for the cover, number of colors; artwork, and so on. Given that the middle-man (agent) is no longer needed since your book does not have to be 'shopped around' to interested publishers who dump your book off on 'readers' they hire to determine if your story is worth the publisher's time and effort to handle, the cost to publish is decidedly within reach. Understand that internet publishing companies will go to print with anything one writes without editing the content, so you must produce something well written in order to reap a profit.
To write requires a great deal of discipline, the courage to put your work up for close inspection by the public (your bread and butter), and the determination to get up and go again when you fail. Failure comes to each of us in some form or fashion; no matter how prolific and imaginative we are. Happens to the best of authors at one time or another. I look at those as stumbling blocks, rather than failures, that I must either move, or go around, over, or under, in order to succeed. Your perception of failure and how you handle it is what will determine whether or not you can be a successful author. If you think you have it in you go for it. But if you do not have self-discipline, a strong desire to achieve, and a thick skin, the path will be a rough one.
My advice to you is to gather your courage and begin, for only when you try will you discover what you are capable of. Start with what you have available, pen and paper; typewriter; or computer. Designate a work space (does not require a huge office with all the accommodations) where you can work without interruption (may have to be after your children are put to bed), and give yourself permission to spend a certain amount of time in the effort, free of worry of what else needs doing. The housework can wait a bit longer (it will not brow-beat you). Many a well known author was born at the kitchen table; spouses, divorced moms and dads; single persons; the physically challenged... You name it and those authors are out there doing what they love to do; entertain or teach the public through their gift of words.
Whether or not my novel is a success, I have gained many things of value, immense pleasure from the creation and completion of what is, uniquely, my very own; a better use of language and punctuation through research; a growing knowledge of the places and people I have researched for my characters and settings; achievement of what was once a distant dream; and most precious of all, belief in my self and my ability to overcome all odds in order to achieve self fulfillment. I hope I have given you some delicious food for thought because without a particular sustenance one's spirit and body tend to stagnate. Ponder and Blessed May You Be, Dream Teller.
To those of you inquiring as to when my first novel in 'The Way' series will be available, I am in the process of wrapping up loose ends with the internet publisher and once that is done I am told we are looking at about two-three months to produce the finished product. Many of the delays are my own fault for I am one of those writers possessed of the maddening need to go back and rewrite, reconfigure, and generally polish and spitshine what most often should have been left as it was. I run poor Kaithlin ragged at times but according to her I am making some improvement in that area.
As this is my first venture into the unknown territory of internet publishing, I can and oft do claim ignorance of the process to justify my slow pace. I dare say my loyal assistant will not allow me to get away with it a second time. I am probably going to regret putting this information out but I am well into the home stretch on the second in the series and the third is in its pupa stage waiting to emerge from its cocoon. Aye, I am one of those who works on more than one storyline at a time. As this is a series I think it normal (at least I hope it is) that the writing of one produces story lines and characters for the next.
As you already know, many of my characters are based on real individuals and the plots are developed from their actual experiences. I do take creative license with both characters and plots but, for the most part, the tale is true to form. So, hopefully, the novel will be available to the public sometime in late March or early April. I will post the release date and where and how to purchase it as soon as I am given the go by the publisher.
Kaithlin and the rest of my staff oft inquire if I am 'excited' about this new venture. I suppose the answer to that depends upon one's concept of excitement. I tell them I am looking forward to putting that first child to bed, so to speak, and am ready to birth and nurture the next.
Some of you have ventured your thoughts and fears concerning your desire to try your hand at writing; wondered if you are up to the task. What I will tell you is this: The writer's arena is demanding; a tough and sometimes unforgiving taskmaster, but in these modern times the field is wide open to anyone willing to put forth the effort. With the birth of internet publishing virtually anyone with access to a few hundred dollars ($500.00 is the least amount with the publishing company I chose) can get published. That is the bare minimum and the cost increases, sharply, depending upon how you want your finished product to look and in what forms it will be available, for download with printing capability; paperback; hardback; or a package of those options.
There are several options for the cover, number of colors; artwork, and so on. Given that the middle-man (agent) is no longer needed since your book does not have to be 'shopped around' to interested publishers who dump your book off on 'readers' they hire to determine if your story is worth the publisher's time and effort to handle, the cost to publish is decidedly within reach. Understand that internet publishing companies will go to print with anything one writes without editing the content, so you must produce something well written in order to reap a profit.
To write requires a great deal of discipline, the courage to put your work up for close inspection by the public (your bread and butter), and the determination to get up and go again when you fail. Failure comes to each of us in some form or fashion; no matter how prolific and imaginative we are. Happens to the best of authors at one time or another. I look at those as stumbling blocks, rather than failures, that I must either move, or go around, over, or under, in order to succeed. Your perception of failure and how you handle it is what will determine whether or not you can be a successful author. If you think you have it in you go for it. But if you do not have self-discipline, a strong desire to achieve, and a thick skin, the path will be a rough one.
My advice to you is to gather your courage and begin, for only when you try will you discover what you are capable of. Start with what you have available, pen and paper; typewriter; or computer. Designate a work space (does not require a huge office with all the accommodations) where you can work without interruption (may have to be after your children are put to bed), and give yourself permission to spend a certain amount of time in the effort, free of worry of what else needs doing. The housework can wait a bit longer (it will not brow-beat you). Many a well known author was born at the kitchen table; spouses, divorced moms and dads; single persons; the physically challenged... You name it and those authors are out there doing what they love to do; entertain or teach the public through their gift of words.
Whether or not my novel is a success, I have gained many things of value, immense pleasure from the creation and completion of what is, uniquely, my very own; a better use of language and punctuation through research; a growing knowledge of the places and people I have researched for my characters and settings; achievement of what was once a distant dream; and most precious of all, belief in my self and my ability to overcome all odds in order to achieve self fulfillment. I hope I have given you some delicious food for thought because without a particular sustenance one's spirit and body tend to stagnate. Ponder and Blessed May You Be, Dream Teller.
posted by Dreamteller at
4:21 AM
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