My book is with the printer. Yup, the revised edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book is out of my hands and into the care of strangers at a new-to-me offset printing company. I’m experiencing a mix of relief and sadness. I’m glad that the project is completed, but I miss the work.
Are you familiar with that lull that comes after the whirlwind of activity in the final preparation of a book? While some people live for the lull, to me a lull can be dull. I’d rather feel at least a little pressure.
Some of you know that I am creating a workbook to accompany the second edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. But even this is out of my hands at the moment. It’s with my designer. I feel rather like a mom whose children have gone off to kindergarten for the first time.
While I’m currently working with a few clients and there are several projects I could start, I’m not, at this moment, invested in a project and it feels weird. While putting the finishing touches on The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, this month, I have also completed the 9-page SPAWN Market Update for September, I have written one new article, hopefully, for Angela Hoy’s Writer’s Weekly and I’ve submitted a few reprints. Ron at Publishing Basics will publish my piece, Publishing: The Raw Truth. I’ve submitted articles to Willamette Writer, Write News, Absolute Write and Write Success. And I’ve been practicing a speech I’ll present August 25 at the Ventura Book Festival. I’m speaking on Self-Publishing.
I’m actually going to leave my home office for a long walk this morning before temps hit the triple digits. I’ve been taking short walks while busy with the book details. I’m also going to try out the new window squeegee I bought at the county fair last week. Often, I find that, when I get out of the office and do something mindless such as walking, washing windows or gardening, I return to work overflowing with renewed creativity.
There is no lack of projects in this office. I collect them like some people collect pennies, tools or shoes. I need to write the promo for my usual pre-publication book discount offer. I’ll start planning my major promotional campaign for the book revision soon. I really would like to spend some time with my cat stories book. I may bring it out as an ebook early next year. I have a 3-inch stack of files on my desk filled with article and book ideas. And, thankfully, there seems to be no shortage of clients who need help with their projects.
Writing lulls don’t last very long in this office and, as you can see, this is by design.
Be sure to visit my Web site http://www.matilijapress.com. Sign up for one of my Courses on Demand. Learn how to self-publish a book, how to write a book proposal or how to get involved in writing magazine articles. And the best part is, I teach you on your schedule. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm