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\u2019m remembering it wrong, but I feel like I sent it off on a Saturday and got it back on a Wednesday \u2013 from California to New York and back in four days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019t help it. I can\u2019t help it. It\u2019s like vomit \u2013 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\u2026at least for a while I did\u2026a long while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, you know, some things you run away from follow you, tap you on the shoulder, remind you they\u2019re 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 \u2013 guess that rejection still left a bit of its shrapnel in me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve done a bit of research, and right now I\u2019m assuming the entire process is going to cost me a pretty penny. I hope I\u2019m wrong, but I think I\u2019m right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now it\u2019s 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\u2019re called \u2013 someone to check my grammar, to make sure that the story is cohesive. I don\u2019t need anyone to help with story development and plot and all that shit. I think my story\u2019s already pretty solid. I just need, like I said, grammar, and to make sure I didn\u2019t do something like reference somebody taking off glasses that I never mentioned they had on, stuff like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I\u2019ll need to get a designer for the cover art, and a photographer for my picture in the back. And then, of course, there\u2019s distribution. It\u2019s a lot, but as I\u2019m writing about it now, it also seems kinda fun. Like I\u2019m excited about the thought of getting into the thick of it. But first thing\u2019s first then next. I have to tell myself that sometimes when I can\u2019t see my way clear. I don\u2019t need to see the last step as long as I remain steady on the step I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Come with me. Watch and see.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n