Jump

It’s amazing what you can accomplish once you set your mind on something.

I’m months away from my first book release. It’s been a very trying journey with lots of self-discovery involved. A part of me is afraid petrified about publishing. Though a writer will always question their work, I think there’s a possibility I may suck. On a slightly less dramatic approach, I may just not be ready. I go back and forth on the matter. Sooner or later I have to take the jump, craft as I go, and hope I land with something decent–not to mention the parachute opens.

I certainly put the effort into it, recognizing I couldn’t do it alone and hired help. I hired a professional book designer and editors throughout the process. In fact, it’s been through two content editors and is ready for the copy editor for what I hope will be the second to last round of edits. I expect when I get the manuscript back I’ll only have to fix sentence structures or add a few lines to make things shine. That is the easy part. I think copy edits are much easier than content edits, which can require a complete overhaul of the plot.

With a trilogy complete I’m hoping to create a decent backlist for future works. I have two trilogies still in my head, and a few other works outlined. I’m certainly not giving up. I expect to keep writing and improve my craft.

With edits done these past few days have been a sort of break. I laze about when I come home from work or on my days off. Sure, it’s a small reprieve for the marketing portion of the book release. That in itself will be a full-time job, one I’m not entirely sure how I’ll tackle. I’ve made a few notes in a document, outlined a few methods and things to try. And a lot of it is just that, trail and error as you go. While the manuscript gets copy edited, and while the artist works his magic, I’ll be outlining a business plan. I’ve read a handful of marketing books and hope to go back to highlight passages and layout a business timeline.

There are many changes coming. Either way, it’s time to take that leap.