First Steps on a New Path

2-13-13 First Steps on a New Path

My retired journalism professor and volunteer editor thought it would be a good idea to return to the first manuscript I submitted and was originally accepted by my former publisher.  That rang true with me, so the search began.  I thought I had saved the manuscript on a flash drive and put it safely in our lock box.  I confidently went to the bank, searched the box and found – nothing.

Next I searched through the four flash drives I use regularly.  My practice is not to store any manuscript on the hard drive of my laptop in case something happens to the laptop.  I found seven versions of my manuscript, but not the one dating to 2010.  I didn’t panic.

I plunged into reviewing the galley version of the manuscript sent to my former publisher in August 2012.  My reasoning was that an anonymous editor reviewed the galley and did make suggestions that I thought strengthened the work, like adding more senses (taste, smell etc.).

I’m reading the galley version now and will pass it along to my editor next week.  I learned from that reading that I’m too close to the work.  I don’t seem the have the ability to determine if the plot moves as it should, if anyone would care about my protagonist, Ian Murphy and if the detail is sufficient and I’ve harnessed my tendency to tell vs. show.  That’s why there are editors and this time mine resides only a few miles away and I’ll be able to work with him eyeball to eyeball.

I’ve also met once with my volunteer cover designer.  The previous book cover, which I had no say in developing, had bright, dramatic colors.  My volunteer designer takes a darker approach and has found a wonderful gaelic font to use (my former publisher rejected my suggestion to use a gaelic font on the book cover).

I queried the 10 groups I follow on Linkedin to learn their experience with the two primary self-publishers Amazon’s Create Space and Ingram.  Next week I’ll share what I’ve learned.