12,316 Days Later
On December 31, 1989, I started writing because I wanted to. I picked this a start date because it was a New Year’s Eve gig at a bar in Orlando where my friends performed classic rock oldies and their own music. I was a hanger-on, sitting in the crowd with a few other school friends, and I specifically brought my notebook to make observations. I don’t remember why. Some guys would figure out a way to get a beer, some would look around for a girl to chat up. I wrote down dumb shit.
Since then, well, there’s been a lot.
A lot of writing.
Not success.
In the last year, I started a new series, which will likely be three books. It is what I want to do, and convincing myself that I can and should continue is a daily struggle. I talk about writing with my therapist and we agree I won’t be able to quit until I go through the process completely. That means a clean, well-written draft, editing, the publication process, marketing, advertising, and eventually settling in with reality. I am about to jump into the second draft of Book 1.
It might not be as intense as I once thought. The draft is closer to being done than past first attempts. But all that means is that it goes to a proofreader/editor. Now, here is the interesting part. Most people do not know what comes next. Do you get an agent? Do you send it to publishers with a synopsis or a query letter? Do you publish it yourself online and take care of the marketing yourself?
The answer is Yes. And No.
Agents take one or two new clients a year. Unless you are a proven commodity, they don’t give a shit. There are niche publishing houses out there with editors ready to read. It takes research, but they are there. But they are also more willing to bet on a known entity. Then, there is self-publishing, which is what most of us do. It is basically free, but you are in a sea of other titles with big sales and bigger advertising budgets.
The real stickler is the same for most endeavors. Money. A high-quality editor willing to give extensive notes? $3000. A big-time editor, a publishing plan and marketing? $10,000.
In nine years of releasing books, my six titles. all-tolled, netted $64.
So, it’s a bit of a challenge.
There are proofreaders and younger editors willing to get paid in the hundreds instead of the thousands, which is what I will have to work with. Getting the book neat and clean with an attractive cover is not the hard part. It is getting it in front of the right people. Apparently, there are twenty-somethings on TikTok that can make someone a best-selling author if they’re in the mood. That’s how stable and predictable the book market is at the moment. Probably forever.
As of September, 2023, I’m starting the second draft. I’m also taking notes for Book 2. I’m also writing these blogs and essays during the note-taking time because editing a draft is not really writing. I have to keep going or my head will explode. There’s also a very good possibility I will be writing a completely separate novel during this same period. Yes, that’s correct. Essentially, 3 projects overlapping. I’ve stopped asking myself why. I don’t think the answer will help me.
If you like reading fun things, stay tuned to the blog. I’m going to try new shit. As far as the books go, I’ve learned that writing requires one thing above all others. Patience.