The not-so-easy part of publishing a book is that before you publish it, you have to write it.
But believe me, it can be done. When I teach writer's workshops or coach someone on writing their book, I usually tell them to take a field trip to their nearest big-box bookstore or library and:
1. Look around.
2. See all the books.
3. Realize someone just like you wrote every single one of them.
The authors of most books on those shelves are not big-name celebrities or well-known writers who've penned dozens of best-sellers. They're not people who sit in hammocks all day drinking iced tea and writing their memoirs on a yellow pad while ignoring calls from their agent asking when they'll be finished.
They're people like you and me who have a dozen other things going on (called Life), but pressed through the pain and agony of writing and rewriting, did the work, and wrote their book.
My day yesterday
If you could have seen me yesterday afternoon, you would know that I never, ever would tell someone that writing a book is easy. I actually have my manuscript finished--supposedly the hard part is behind me.
But no, there I was...
...doing the final edit on it for the 4th day in a row, trying to prepare and upload illustrations, and facing a hundred issues that are too boring to even go into here--but they had to be done.
This is a challenge with publishing an ebook (at least the way I'm doing it) that you don't face with traditional or even co-publishing. With traditional and co-publishers, someone else handles all the work prepping your manuscript, proofing it, inserting illustrations and tables and graphics where you want them, figuring out what needs to go on your copyright page, etc. etc. etc.
With an ebook (again, at least the way I'm doing it), what I submit is what gets published. Typo on page 1 of the manuscript? Typo on page 1 of the finished book.
So I better make sure it's right.
My current task: prepping all the illustrations (hard part) and inserting them where I want them in the manuscript (easy part). I'm relatively techy (tho not a Photoshop expert by any means), but if you don't know a pixel from a pica, you might need outside help.
I'm still not finished. In fact, I'm probably writing this blog post as a way to avoid going back to the process. But I want my ebook out in time for holiday sales, so I'm pushing myself to get it done.
The bad news and good news
The bad news: There is absolutely nothing easy about writing a book.
The good news: It can be done. You can do it. I promise you. Every single one of the authors of all those books in your local bookstore and library did what you are trying to do.
OK, I've delayed long enough. Back to photoshopping illustrations and finishing my final edit. If you hear someone yelling and wailing and gnashing her teeth, it will be moi.
Good afternoon Diane, thanks so much for keeping
me on your email/blogg list. At first this one was too long to take the time to read but I did
read most of it and it gave me a real boost and focus to get back writing and not feel that it will take too long or be too over whelming.
Phyllis
Posted by: Phyllis Frediani | 10/21/2011 at 02:05 PM
I'm glad, Phyllis. That's really great--and I can't wait to read what you write!
Diana
Posted by: Diana Scimone | 10/28/2011 at 07:10 PM