Book writing is a delayed gratification exercise. The first book, Construction Marketing Ideas: Practical strategies and resources to attract and retain clients for your architectural, engineering or construction business, took about two years from conception to completion.
My latest tome, a somewhat simpler E-book about social media, isn't taking quite as long, but, well, it is taking longer than planned. Cover design is now in the works and the chapters have all been written. Now the hard editing task starts.
Vivian (my wife, a professional writer by trade) struggled with the editing of my first book -- to the point that the project bogged down for several months. Finally, I took over responsibility for the editing task. With her painful long-hand editing notes for the first five or six chapters, I could see the sorts of problems she sought to correct: Long-winded sentences, unnecessary words, repetition, and the like. She told me that she could only handle the work for an hour or two a day.
With her template, I proceeded to complete the editing process -- learning (to my dismay) how much my original draft needed improving.
Same story applies for the social media book. I struggled with some chapters, cleaning up the writing, but left others in the original draft format, before pulling the book together into a single Word document in preparation for the cover design and e-book formatter's service.
Today, I set out to read through the manuscript for what I thought would be a final check. First chapter, no problem. Second, ok. Then, wham, I could see the chapters which had not received the editing fine-tooth comb.
I'll get the job done. I hope it will be in shape before our upcoming vacation. This gives me tomorrow and Saturday. Whatever, I won't rush it just to meet the deadline.
In the meantime, you can certainly read the original volume, available in print or e-book format. If you purchase Construction Marketing Ideas and would like a free copy of the e-book on social media, let me know by email to buckshon@constructionmarketingideas.com.
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3 comments:
I feel your pain Mark. I finished the complete first draft of my first book last night just before midnight. It felt good for about 1 minute before I realized that I need to start proofing now... I am certain, however, that the end result will be worth the effort.
I feel your pain Mark. I finished the complete first draft of my first book last night just before midnight. It felt good for about 1 minute before I realized that I need to start proofing now... I am certain, however, that the end result will be worth the effort.
Thanks Tim. Undoubtedly the rules of book publishing have changed recently -- publishes are no longer gate-keepers, but independently produced books will still flop if they aren't produced to the highest standards.
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