A Book is Born

I'm exhausted - Isn't every mother after the birth of her child?  But Fish and Grits is finished the copy editing stage, which felt like labor and delivery to me.  This is the segment when the book is totally out of your control and you can do nothing else but PUSH PUSH PUSH and hope your kid comes out with 10 fingers and 10 toes or in the case of a book, no errors and no holes.

Working with your copy editor is like working with your obstetrician, both of them open you real wide and sometimes you see things you don't want to see.  Whether it feels uncomfortable to you or not working with a copy editor is as good of an idea as working with your doctor is.  Through the process can be painful at times, the end result is worth the hours of back and forth.  Your copy editor, if she's good, like mine (who was great) will help you take your book to the next level.  Don't ever think you can't get better or the story can't get better - We can all "Make it more better" as Denzel said in Mo' Better Blues.

I'm constantly reminding myself that before a mother takes her child home she plans for the homecoming.  The homecoming of Fish and Grits involves me locating a publishing corp. that I trust with my project (I'm sticking with Createspace), plotting out an marketing course and building a marketing team, writing/re-evaluating my budget, considering distribution courses of actions and options. All of which takes patience.  Unfortunately for me, patience is my biggest weakness.

Tina

In Labor

This is will definitely not be a quick birth.  In fact it feels as though this book will never be born.  I guess this is that period when the mother prepares for their new arrival by cleaning everything in site and preparing the home.  For me, since I'm preparing for an inanimate object, preparing equals research, design and much patience.

The independent publishing field is wide open, still new (but not brand new), and growing daily.  This means there is a wealth of information to be found on the subject and people willing to share their experiences and knowledge.  One these places can be found at https://www.createspace.com/en/community/docs/DOC-1041 which offers current and past web seminars on independently publishing that makes the book inside of you jump with joy.  This site is like finding a treasure chest of publishing wisdom, offering information on how to sell your book, listing distributors, giving creative opportunities ideas, how to(s) on marketing strategy and packaging and  much, much more!  Take a visit to this site.

Another important piece of this journey has been waiting for the doctor (or copy editor) to tell you that your baby (book) is turning downward and heading towards delivery.  Nothing you can do about this but work on your front and back cover ideas, write your dedications and thank you(s) and think about layout.  Since none of these things are exactly easy thinking, this is a good time to get them done.

So, although I feel as though I'm about ready to POP, my baby is still not ready for delivery.  Of well, guess I'll eat another pickle and pray.  Hey, what else can a writer do?

Tina