Thoughts on being a writer...

Sometimes I wonder if being a writer is worth it.

Don't get me wrong; I love writing, it's the other stuff that elevates my blood pressure. Thanks to changes in the publishing world, creating multi-layered characters...or an engaging story...or witty dialogue...or crafting meaty sentences isn't enough any more. No, a writer has to have an Internet presence and a fan base before a contract is offered.

Think about it, in days gone past, a writer could fill his day with what he loved: Writing. Now, the day starts with wading through emails, leaving a message on Facebook, so folks know you're still alive, checking hits on your website, blogging and tweeting or twittering or tacking a message onto the shimmering walls of the biosphere. I'm always behind with this. Why? Because I hate it. I'd rather be writing.

And while I'm venting, I'm going to take jabs at the publishing industry. A kind of "biting the hand that feeds you" rant. When I signed a contract in August, the projected date of release written on the contract was November 9th. Right. Of course there were those three little words after the date: publishing schedule permitting. Evidently the schedule hasn't been very "permitting" lately.

I received my proofs two weeks ago. A proof is like a sample book that the author must read, hunting for every error. Now, let me preface this with the fact that my agent, who once ran an editing business, had already proofed my manuscript. So had the editor at the publisher. All errors--punctuation, word choice, formatting, etc. were corrected through these two layers of editing (my agent's and editor's). So one would think the proof would be nearly error free. WRONG! Some chapter headings were centered on the page and some were left justified. Many paragraphs were not indented. Much of the punctuation, especially quotes within a quote, was wrong. Words were transposed. The word cafe needs an accent mark over the e, and although I made certain that accent mark was there, now over a dozen times, it is missing. Evidently the printer has no concept of quality. For a writer who agonizes over every word and comma he puts into his manuscript, this is especially frustrating, annoying--and, yes, disheartening. I don't exaggerate when I say out of a 312 page book, 25 pages were error free.

After I mail the proof back to the publisher, I go into the waiting mode once more as these corrections are made (hopefully) and another proof is generated (publishing schedule permitting). Then a second proof will be mailed to me, and I'll get to read my novel again, hunting for more errors. Want to make book on how many I'll find next time?

There are some days when I wonder if being a writer is worth it.

The Anxiety of THAT Day!

Second Wind Publishing had projected November 1st as the release date of my book. That day is approaching at a snail's pace. One thing for certain, on that day the sun will rise, the tide will roll in and McDonald's will flip burgers. The headlines in the papers will not read "The Phantom Lady of Paris is here!", nor will newscasters announce that lines of eager readers are at the bookstores waiting for the doors to open so they can rush in to buy copies of my beloved lady of Paris. Life always has a way of going on...

To be sure, I'll be on Cloud Nine at the chance to hold my novel--the other woman in my life--in my grubby hands. An idea that germinated in 1968 that I worked on sporatically over the years until Vonnie told me I needed another serious writing project. I blew the dust off the notebook and began entering the story into my computer. This process was followed by an almost infinite number of revisions. It is a story I love, set in a city I call the spiritual birth of my soul.

With all the latest changes in the publishing industry, most authors are now responsible for the promotion of their works. I will have to schedule book signings. I will seek out TV, radio and print coverage of my novel. It's a process I abhor. Creative people are expected to morph into marketing wizards, an uncomfortable process. Even so, I am pleased that my publisher will make my novel available in eBook format--the wave of the future. How many of you own Nooks or Kindles or iPads? Hey, buddy, wanna buy a book?