Month: April 2024

Counting Backwards.

/ bowersneil / Leave a comment

I started this entire process with no real aim in mind other than finding out what happened next after my carefully crafted first line ended. 

Back in those simpler times my only struggle was to write the next sentence – but then, and I don’t know at what point, but thirty or so pages into my tall tale I developed a need to have my scribbles read.

This need is part self-serving validation, and partially some sort of philanthropic desire to share this awesome story I’ve been writing.

Friends, total strangers, and all points in between have learnt not to maintain eye contact, to discuss contentious current affairs, matters of faith, anything other than “so you’re a writer, what’ve you written.” 

They’ve learnt it, and I think I’ve learnt it too.

If badgered, if asked more than once they I’ll offer up my scribble, but long gone are those days of self-publicity and puppy dog eyes…

I don’t want to brow beat folk into reading my work, but I do want them to read it [conundrum].

I’ve tried the traditional route to publish my work – score currently reading zero from a lot of submissions.

It could be my submission style, my choice of agents, my timing, or indeed the mediocre quality of my work…  could be any of these, could be many, could indeed be all.

So, undeterred I’ve decided to back myself and publish my own work.

Some say its long overdue, some that it’s a fool’s errand, an expensive one at that!

Most first-time authors sell around 250-300 books (many considerably less), so any return on investment is going to be limited.

I may buck the trend, but if I’m going to plan, then the current trend must be my handrail.

From a commercial point of view my book has many obstacles to overcome. 

Howsoever you cut the number, strike a deal with a sympathetic editor, the initial outlay from the family funds is not insubstantial.

Two big costs I can’t seem to avoid.

An editor will cost me £1500 – £2000, a book cover £400. 

My vanity is £2000 in debt before the first book is sold.

I could of course avoid both costs and publish ‘as is’ – after all a) do I really need a professional editor and b) who looks at the cover of a book?

Okay, I know the answer to both (hence this little missive), but it is still a lot of money just to service my vanity.

So that’s my current struggle, my first world problem.

Stay safe, hug those you love and remain sane!

Editing.

/ bowersneil / Leave a comment

And the singing girl asks why things are so complicated…  this isn’t the teenage angst of her warbling; this is getting my book to market.

I need to present the absolute best version of my scribbles.

If I fail, I fail because my work is poor, not because the offering was poorly put together.

I want to edit my work, I want a skilled and practiced eye to cast criticism over my chosen words, the rhythm of my writing, the spin of my yarn.

I need this.

But to whom do I turn, and once facing them for what task do I ask?

I want my work read, grammar and spelling errors highlighted; plot holes if they exist highlighted. 

I don’t want the nature of the story critiqued. 

I don’t want unpleasant scenes removed.

Maybe what I want isn’t what is needed, maybe I need more than I’m asking for?

I feel under pressure – although it’s all in my mind, none of it is real.

I’m publishing this book, not to satisfy a Bond style villain who has my loved ones hanging over a tank full of angry bass… 

Nope I’m doing this because I have a need to give my tale the opportunity to be read, to be read and enjoyed.

Can’t be read until it is the very best version of itself.

Can’t be the best version until I’ve had it edited by the afore mentioned skilled practitioner of all things wordy.

So, having spoken with Sean (a patron of the arts) down at the GAA club I now have funding to pursue this worthy cause.

All he requires is a reasonable return on his investment, a few overheads and expenses covered, an administration fee, and all monies returned within six months.  Nice man Sean. 

So, back to the point under discussion – EDITING.

I need one.

I want one.

I just can’t find one.

I put a pinned tweet on social media – may as well ran nude round the big field for all the attention that’s achieved, and this, this talk into the great empty auditorium of the world wide web, this will attract even less attention than streaking past the bemused sheep.

So, we search. 

We search and we pout about it all being too complicated.

Stay safe, look after all that you love and remain sane!