I have just recently finished the rough cut of my novel that I am working on in conjunction with my little “brothers.” It’s the first in a series of seven. (I realize the uncanny resemblance to extant young adult literature, however, it was never intended to reach such a hallowed number. When I sat down and mapped out the story, it grew from three, to five, and finally to seven books.) It was quite a feat, and I am proud of myself for getting it finished.
Now I am completely rewriting portions of it as I type it into the computer. (Enjoying pain as I do, I hand wrote the whole novel. Oddly enough, it is a non-linear process, and I can think more freely.) The story is evolving into greater clarity, and I found myself at the end of the first draft wishing that I had said something differently earlier. Worst of all, I found that my character had made his personal shifts far too quickly near the end of the novel. Thus rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite. I’m enjoying it because it’s like a play, each time I act through it, it can only get better.
The temporary website is up, with my layout ideas. I have a mock cover for placement issues. Very soon, I hope to update it with more pertinent information, and even release the final book cover. I have been talking with a really cool Amazon company; BookSurge LLC. They offer self-publishing options that range from full services to the basic print your completed PDF. Having a background in graphic design and layout, for $99 I can get my book into print. Exciting.
Of course, it is the dream of every author to be published by a reputable publishing house. However, working in book retail has made me question this model a bit. One of my friends is set on being published by an extant house. But I am addicted to the idea of total creative freedom. I tend to be obsessive about every aspect of the work, (to the point of picking out which parts are essential to the movie. And, I don’t intend to recap the book either; another little gem that I have been hewing.) So self-publishing would allow that freedom. For additional fees, I can publish hardcover versions, and make the book returnable to Baker & Taylor. Then bookstores could stock it without fearing the risk of a new author. Coupled with the fact that most authors end up doing all their marketing anyway, I’m not sure I want to give up all of these things for the special feeling I would get.
I am also self assured enough to consider this as an option for all of the books, even if it becomes extremely popular, (and it must, of course; I wrote it.) Along with all the other things I want to be when I don’t grow up, editing and publishing books, especially to encourage young authors, is among them.
Totally away from this fiction project, I am working on a website to accomplish the encouragement of young writers. [http://ya.dmarney.com] At the top right I am writing a book online. When I get frustrated or worn out from the fiction, I pop over there and work on it. It’s called Being Concise. A special topic that I feel very strongly about, but not in a grammarian dictatorial style, (as I am sure you will detect from my own departure from readily accepted grammatical constructions.) If it helps to incite better, and happier writing among teenage writers, I would count it among my greatest accomplishments. For most of my education, I was given very negative messages about my writing ability; this is something no longer to be tolerated. Change it I must. (Sorry, the first one was fun, the second was just showing I can laugh at myself, and proves that even when I am randomly writing, I am a total and complete dork.)
It’s very exciting still. If things go well, I might put the book to press late this year. Marketing is a whole other problem, but the resources of Amazon are available. (I catch the irony of working brick and mortar retail while publishing a book through an online competitor. In my defense, the store can stock my book just as much, and I will always have a place in my heart for them. Now, if they want to publish me, then we can talk.) In the end, it’s a large task, but one that I have dreamed of, and one that I set as a short term life goal.
