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Friday, January 8, 2010

What I Didn't Know I Didn't Know ~


Okay, I'll be the first to admit that there are a LOT of things I don't know. For example, I don't know how to fix a computer. I don't know how to play the guitar. I don't even know how to change the oil in my car or fix a flat tire. There are plenty of things I don't know. But, today I realized that the extent of what I don't know far exceeds what I thought I DID know!

In my naivety I thought that if a person were to write a book, then the actual writing of the book would be the hard part. That makes sense to me...I mean, c'mon people! Wouldn't it be perfectly normal to assume that the actual writing of the book would be the hard part? Okay, well, getting published could be the hard part, but having that accomplished what else could there be to it?

What else could there be to it? Where should I begin?

Did you know that once your manuscript is in the hands of the publisher that they will have a list of more than twenty things they want you to do? I did NOT know this! They want a bio, they want an excerpt from the book, they want images (for your front and back cover, unless you want them to design it), they want a book overview, and they want you to provide information that they will use to promote your book. Now, here's the kicker... you just can't willy nilly throw something out there because the information that you give them will eventually end up in the readers view! So, it's essential that you do it right! The list of "wants" goes on and on, but I will not bore you with all of them. What I can tell you is that this book writing/editing/publishing thing is a lot harder than I thought it would be! I didn't know what I didn't know!

But...and this is a BIG but... we learn at a very early age that anything worth having is worth working hard for! This is nothing but a learning process. I have learned that the literary world functions a bit differently than the world inside my head! But, that's okay. I will live, learn, and hopefully remember all of this! That will make publishing my next book a hell of a lot easier! Ooops...Did I say next book???

6 comments:

  1. Yep! You said "next book". Maybe you should start with the pics and overview and work from there. The bio shouldn't change much....just add "World renown author and Pultizer prize winner!"
    Best of luck, Tina!
    Jay

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  2. LOL ~
    Jay, you are great for my self confidence!!! Hopefully the next time I do this I will be ready for whatever they hit me with!!! But, I'm sure there's more that I don't know yet!

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  3. Best of luck with the tasks. If you take each task individually and compare it to writing the book, they may seem easier. Do the easier ones first, and check them off, and the tougher ones will look smaller. Either way, the writing of the book itself, is a lot to be proud of!

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  4. Hi Brent!
    I think I completed all of them! At least for now. I'm sure next week there will be another list of things for me to do! LOL
    You're right though...it's much easier to just pick one from the list, do it and then move on! It sure is overwhelming when you have the list and don't know where to start!

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  5. Another informative and entertaining post. With many tasks that are probably more accurately described as projects (e.g. your book) the first is generally the toughest. There are a lot of reasons for that but primary among the reasons is what you said very well, finding out what you don't know. I generally think of it as the learning curve. You love challenges and you'll conquer this one.

    Let me know if I can help.

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  6. Hi Gerry!
    Yes... I must love challenges! Hell, my life is a challenge!!!
    Thanks for everything!
    For those of you that don't know Gerry, he is a photographer in the B'ham area and will be shooting all the events once my book is released!
    Hey! Don't judge me! Every girl needs a good photographer!!!
    LOL

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