OK, I’ll admit it, I’ve been procrastinating the past few months.  I haven’t been fighting to get my “Mik Murdoch” book ready to send out.

For those of you keeping score, “Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero” is the second book I’ve written.  I actually wrote it last year during Nanowrimo.  It turned out so much better than I expected that I plan to send it out to publishers.

There are two problems with that plan, though:  (1) Editing and (2) Synopsis.

I know darn well that I can’t edit my own stuff with anything but a strong personal bias.  That means I won’t be getting the book into the best shape it can be if I don’t get outside help.

I have put the book in front of a few select readers.  Unfortunately, beyond “My kids loved it and want another” I haven’t gotten any useful editorial feedback.  The good news is, I have heard the above comment from more than one person (several, in fact).

That still doesn’t overcome the problem, though.

My good friend, Aaron Kite has offered to give it a once over… and I know he will.  But if you’ve seen the challenges he has set himself, it will take some time.  And, he has already told me that he can’t give it the same level of attention that a true editor would.  That leads me to the quandry:  Should I find a professional editor and get it done that way?

I’m more than a little leery of that course of action for one very good reason:  money.  First books don’t typically pay much in terms of royalties.  How much am I willing to invest in the project to get it to see print?  Now, just for the record, my primary goal for my writing is not to become filthy rich.  Making a little money would be nice though.  And, having a family, disposible income to hire an editor with is a bit of a sacrifice.

It is a most serious thing to consider.  I mean, I want to give the book every chance to succeed.  I know my intended audience will enjoy it.  What to do?

That brings me to my second procrastination point:  Synopsis.  To put it bluntly, I HATE writing synopsis.  I suspect it’s because I really don’t know how to do it.  This is one of those times when a mentor would be a WONDERFUL thing to have!  I have, however, struggled through the exercise and written one.  It is quite short, a bit terse and “just the facts”.  Naturally, I won’t be calling it finished until the book edit is done.

So, in an effort to end procrastination (on this project anyway), I’m going to try reading the book with a jaded eye.  Anything that doesn’t further the story along will be cut.  I’ll be brutal, if need be.  Once that’s done, I’ll incorporate Mr. Kite’s comments and package it to send out.  That of course means that I will be updating the synopsis again (shudder).

This book will see the light of day, and not through self-publishing (not that there’s anything wrong with it).  I want to go the traditional route at least once before I start adjusting the model.  That means I’ve got to quit thinking about the project and actually get the damn thing done.  My goal is to have the editing done and the package sent to the first publisher by October 31.  I’ll keep you posted.

And for those of you keeping track, the first book now has three rejections.  I have looked at it again and realized that it needs a considerable amount of work still before I send it out again.  That will be my post-Nano project.

Have a good week and wish me luck.

My good friend Aaron has done it again.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please go back a day and read his previous post.  That should clue you in to what I mean.

What?  You still don’t know?  I’m being overly obscure?  Even Aaron doesn’t know what I’m talking about?

Honestly people, I thought you had all learned to read minds by now.

But you are correct.  I am being a bit unclear.  Perhaps it is just my own paranoid, ego-centric self seeing things that aren’t there, but I could have sworn that Aaron was challenging me to another Nanowrimo.

Even Terry is getting into the act.  I heard him clearly say that he had successfully completed the last four Nano’s.  Doesn’t that naturally mean that he’s asking what I’ve managed to do?

Huh, doesn’t it?

Maybe it’s just that I’m so darn happy to be ramping up for November that I’m starting to see challenges that aren’t really there.  After all, last year was the most fun I’ve had writing in my ENTIRE adult life.  It was also the time when I proved to myself that I could reasonably expect to write a complete book in a single month.

What you have probably learned by now is I thrive on challenges.  Maybe that’s what I’ve been missing.  The summer was pretty relaxing.  I didn’t get half the things done that I wanted to do.  Still, I’m not complaining.  I really needed the downtime.  Now it is time to get back down to it.

I’ve even begun to plot out the story for Nano.  Last year, I wrote a book I titled “Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero”.  Naturally, it is a book about a boy who wants to get super-powers just like the heroes in the comic books.  It is a story that I’ve wanted to write since I was twelve, but I never could quite get it right.

The pressure of Nano ensured that it would get finished.  Surprisingly, I was very happy with the results.  Even more surprising, the few kids who have read it love the story and have asked for more.  Almost sounds like I might have a saleable book here.

Now is the time to continue the great adventure.

I already know that time will be tight this year.  With a new job, holidays don’t exist yet.  Somehow, I’ll prevail.  And when it’s done, I’ll have another book under my belt.  Maybe even one that will see the inside of a bookstore (and not a Staples special tucked under my shirt like last time, either).

I’m joking, of course, about the Staples special.  I actually self-published a copy of last year’s book so I would have it in my hands.  It was an amazing thing to have; I would highly recommend it to anyone.

(cracks knuckles)… so Mr. Kite… whether you and Terry intended to make this a challenge, I eagerly accept.  Shall we say a pint to make it interesting?  That only leaves Stacey and Sean… are you two up to it?