As you may or may not know, I have decided to self-publish a book. Twenty years or so ago, I wrote a short story that I tried to get published in the New Yorker, but was summarily rejected. I mean really, perhaps I’m remembering it wrong, but I feel like I sent it off on a Saturday and got it back on a Wednesday – from California to New York and back in four days.
That was a gut-wrenching rejection that had me steering clear of trying to get something published again. Oh, I still wrote stuff, I couldn’t help it. I can’t help it. It’s like vomit – can you stop it from coming up, pouring out? I have to write. I just gave up on trying to get it out there for other people to read…at least for a while I did…a long while.
But, you know, some things you run away from follow you, tap you on the shoulder, remind you they’re still there. That is what telling stories has been for me, its tenacity emboldened a bit of my own. And so here we are with me trying to publish a book myself instead of attempting the gain the favor of an established publishing company – guess that rejection still left a bit of its shrapnel in me.
I’ve done a bit of research, and right now I’m assuming the entire process is going to cost me a pretty penny. I hope I’m wrong, but I think I’m right.
Now it’s time for me to get down to business. I better use this time without a 9 to 5 wisely. There are so many things I have to do, and I really need to get started. First of all I need to hire an editor. I just need a line editor, I think they’re called – someone to check my grammar, to make sure that the story is cohesive. I don’t need anyone to help with story development and plot and all that shit. I think my story’s already pretty solid. I just need, like I said, grammar, and to make sure I didn’t do something like reference somebody taking off glasses that I never mentioned they had on, stuff like that.
Then I’ll need to get a designer for the cover art, and a photographer for my picture in the back. And then, of course, there’s distribution. It’s a lot, but as I’m writing about it now, it also seems kinda fun. Like I’m excited about the thought of getting into the thick of it. But first thing’s first then next. I have to tell myself that sometimes when I can’t see my way clear. I don’t need to see the last step as long as I remain steady on the step I’m on and get good footing on the next one. The steps will light up as I go like the ones in Billie Jean, that Micheal Jackson video.
Come with me. Watch and see.
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