SO YOU WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR MEMOIR - POST # 3

The thrill of making a meaningful connection lasted for about a full two days until I received a packet of detailed instructions as to what was required to "advance the troops." Now the hard work began. Little did I know what I was getting into.

• DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS

The major task was to edit the manuscript in such a way that it would be camera-ready. Camera-ready means formatting the book to conform to the required structure to print it. Although the instructions were clear, execution presented formidable obstacles. Among them were the following:

• THE 4 C's

My 12Th grade English teacher drilled us - semi receptive students - to utilize the 4 C's in editing our writing. The 4 cs are: clarity, continuity, cohesion, and coherence. I found it helpful to use these concepts as an effective guide in editing my manuscript.

• LETTING TIME PASS

I found myself becoming obsessive about reading and rereading and re re reading the various sections of my book. Utilizing the 4 c's enabled me to cut out extraneous words, make better bridges between the paragraphs, keep focused on my major points, and identify and clear up tangled paragraphs.   

After each re editing I was utterly convinced I had done as much as I could reasonably do to make the writing more effective. However with the passage of time (as little as one day) and receiving feedback from various readers, my delusion of perfection was blasted to smithereens. This was so as with each new reading I surprisingly saw clearer ways to say things, better words to make my points, and utilizing more effective use of punctuation and the likes. Letting time pass between readings, coupled with other people's comments lent inevitable perspective.

• FORMATTING

The publisher sent a list of guidelines that had to be strictly adhered to before the manuscript would be accepted for typesetting. Unfamiliar with many of them I found negotiating these tasks to be daunting. Among these guidelines was to number the pages, alternating right (odd numbers) and left (even numbers). Seemingly no big deal it turned out to be a major hassle.

Knowledge is power. Once you know how something is done the rest is relatively simple.But what if you don't? Without belaboring the issue - learning how to alternate pages from left to write, using word, was like learning to free myself from a series of complicated mazes. Despite using key words to locate tutorials on the Internet, purportedly to show me how to accomplish this task, I found the directions to be anything but user friendly. I was forced to bear high anxiety and intense frustration, enabling me to press on through much trial and error before I finally caught on.

The good part of bogging down is when you finally find the key and open the lock the experience of mastery is delicious.

INCREASING the CAPACITY to ENDURE CRITICISM

Criticism hurts whether it is benign or malevolent. In this context the issue of where I am best slotted throws some readers into perplexity. The pure scientists believe that my work lacks objectivity as it fails to quantify my findings hence is not scientific; whereas, many in the lay public are put off because they find my perspective too dense and complex.

I am beyond having to be defensive. Those who appreciate complexity will appreciate my perspective. Those who insist on over simplifying reality by being partisan will likely not get much beyond my preface.

Some criticism has been exceedingly helpful. For example I have used many flashbacks that seemed at the moment to be of crucial importance. However, when one critic indicated she felt too diverted from the path she thought I was taking, I had to carefully weigh her opinion. Agreeing with her point of view, I performed a verbal amputation I initially experienced as if I was cutting off my left leg. My conclusion is that sometimes lesser is more.

PRESSING ON

I am at the point where I have completed all of the required tasks and feel confident that I will get final approval. If I happen not to I am prepared to do what is necessary to get a thumbs up from the pubisher. Assuming that all goes as is expected the next issue is the formidable task of marketing.

TO BE CONTINUED