Checklist for Publishing a Book - Part One
Fall in love with the story.
Write the story.
Finish first draft.
Still love story.
Send to critique partners.
Rewrite the story.
Edit.
Edit.
Edit the stupid story.
Edit.
Hate story.
Edit.
Party.
Send to editor.
Rewrite the story.
Love story.
Send back to editor.
Edit.
Story sucks.
Write dedication, acknowledgments, bio.
Find copyeditor/proofreader.
Send to copyeditor/proofreader.
Find out I still suck at hyphenation.
Edit.
Party.
Find cover designer.
Tell cover designer I have no idea what the cover should be.
Wait.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Maybe I chose the wrong designer.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Fabulous ebook cover!
Love story again.
Send blurb to cover designer for back of print cover.
Wait.
Find formatter.
Send to formatter.
Wait.
Get as far as I can at completing the process at Amazon without having files to upload.
Wait.
Make Goodreads author page. Halfway.
Wait.
Wonder how best to get the word out about In Name Only.
PANIC!
This is where I am now.
I may have missed a step or two. I definitely messed up a time or two. Did things wrong, had to redo. Did stupid things, looked like a fool.
I'm releasing some of the panic through dreams. Almost nightly I have a dream where I'm in a car that goes off a cliff or off a bridge. Or I'm driving and the brakes fail. Or I'm naked in a room full of clothed people.
Next Monday I'll pick up where the waiting begins.
Wednesday, I have CONTEST NEWS!
Write the story.
Finish first draft.
Still love story.
Send to critique partners.
Rewrite the story.
Edit.
Edit.
Edit the stupid story.
Edit.
Hate story.
Edit.
Party.
Send to editor.
Rewrite the story.
Love story.
Send back to editor.
Edit.
Story sucks.
Write dedication, acknowledgments, bio.
Find copyeditor/proofreader.
Send to copyeditor/proofreader.
Find out I still suck at hyphenation.
Edit.
Party.
Find cover designer.
Tell cover designer I have no idea what the cover should be.
Wait.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Maybe I chose the wrong designer.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Fabulous ebook cover!
Love story again.
Send blurb to cover designer for back of print cover.
Wait.
Find formatter.
Send to formatter.
Wait.
Get as far as I can at completing the process at Amazon without having files to upload.
Wait.
Make Goodreads author page. Halfway.
Wait.
Wonder how best to get the word out about In Name Only.
PANIC!
This is where I am now.
I may have missed a step or two. I definitely messed up a time or two. Did things wrong, had to redo. Did stupid things, looked like a fool.
I'm releasing some of the panic through dreams. Almost nightly I have a dream where I'm in a car that goes off a cliff or off a bridge. Or I'm driving and the brakes fail. Or I'm naked in a room full of clothed people.
Next Monday I'll pick up where the waiting begins.
Wednesday, I have CONTEST NEWS!
Comments
But if there is panic and mad rush then I think you are doing the right thing.
Will review copies be going out? (Sorry, I just added to the panic, didn't I?)
Isn't it interesting how our anxiety shows up in our dreams? I hope soon you can have some party dreams when the book is released and is a big success!!
I'm not sure if I've checked out your goodreads page yet, will have to do that now.
Haddock - I sure hope you're right!
Jennifer - I'll click my heels together and say that three times :)
Alex - Review copies were already part of the panic, so no worries :)
Theresa - Gotta laugh! Thanks for your good wishes :)
Yay!
T
And yeah, that's pretty much how the whole story process goes. LOL
Julie - My Goodreads page is a mess. I'm looking forward to good dreams, too.
Stina - Gotta laugh or I may run screaming into the night :)
Theresa - It's stressful and nerve-wracking, but I can't lie. It's fun, too :)
Clarissa - It is hard work. I think writing is something we feel compelled to undertake.
What's it about? I want to read and review!! My kids do summer swim team every day so I have LOTS of poolside reading time coming up.
Rula - I'm hanging!
JoLynne - I enjoy the first parts of editing. The last parts, not so much.
Kyra - Love/Hate/Repeat.
Lydia - Glad I'm not the only one. Hope JoLynne is right about loving it again after the push.
lbdiamond - Seems to be the consensus.
The blurb:
No home. No family. No place to hide. For Summer Newcombe, that's only the beginning.
The night Summer escapes from a burning Padre Island eatery and discovers the arsonist is stalking her, is the same night she meets Fire Captain Gabriel Duran. As much as she's attracted to Gabe, five years in the Federal Witness Security Program because of her father’s testimony against a mob boss have taught her the importance of being alone and invisible.
No matter how much she yearns for a real home, Summer relinquished that option the night she killed the man who murdered her father. But Gabe breaks down her guard and places both of them in danger. Summer has vowed never to kill again, but she's frantic she'll cost Gabe his life unless she stops running and fights for the future she wants with the man she loves.
LD - I'm hoping it all comes together soon :)
You'll get it all done. Maybe in fits and starts, but it's an ongoing business! Have fun.
Laura - Party Central, LOL!
Hang in there. It will all work out and be great!
Ciara - I had no clue. It's definitely a hands-on learning experience.
I once dreamt I was at a very fancy party and a beautifully dressed woman with her hair up in a severe bun approached me and said, "You use too many sentence fragments." Lol! And she was probably right. :)
Looking forward to reading your novel. I want to add it to my upcoming blog post on my planned "summer reads." It will just be a list of covers. Mind if I include yours? I want to ask first of course.
Yvonne.
Yvonne - I can't wait to hold it! So happy you're back :)
Talli - I've been having these for a few weeks now. I have another month to go.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of your book. :)
I've been told the more we get out there, the better. So, keep at it. Don't panic. You're in the game.
M Pax - Thanks for the encouragement!
Nas - Everything of mine at Goodreads is a disaster. You'll be hearing from me! Thank you :)
Stephen - LOL!
I have those panic dreams sometimes too. Usually I'm clinging to the wing of a plane. Haven't yet progressed to being naked in a room full of clothed people.
Really looking forward to reading your book!
Janet - Sure you will be up to it. Eat your Wheaties :) Thanks for your good wishes.
I can't wait!
It does sound like you've kept your sense of humor!
Heather