It is done, writers say to themselves. But is it? We have proofread our manuscripts a thousand times, put them away for a bit, proofread them again, hired an editor, and joined critique groups to consider helpful suggestions.
We second-guess the length and ask ourselves if it needs another chapter or two.
It is done. Now what? How are we going to publish our work? Submissions again, and again, until an acceptance is gifted to us, or we do it ourselves. At my age, I have opted for the latter.
There are a lot of print options out there, and choosing to do it ourselves is another long road. Either way, finding a publisher or becoming your own, there is much work to be done, and in the end, either choice means marketing our own work.
After we overcome our feelings of doubt and excitement, the obstacles become barriers to our goal of sharing our written work with readers.
There are numerous websites for cover presentations, hiring someone, getting help from AI, or artists/authors may do it themselves. We must consider the technical aspect of preparing a printed book and start with the cover design.
The next phase in publishing is researching the size, layout, and finding templates. Printers’ websites will offer size options for a variety of book formats, including books, short stories, poetry, novels, novellas, and nonfiction. There are industry-standard requirements for us; it is yet another set of skills to learn when self-publishing.
I did reach a point where I needed help; fortunately, I have a sister who is a graphic designer, willing to provide her professional skills in formatting and arranging the font type and size for the cover design.
Printers’ websites also offer download templates for the manuscript, including the size, bleed, and cut-off, font size in 12 points, line spacing, indentations, and margins to help keep the text within the boundaries. Reviewing the formatting is crucial, as spacing can be off without realizing it. This review process can take days.
We start with confidence, but it wanes as we navigate formatting and technical details; it is difficult and time-consuming. Behind-the-scenes moments writers share amongst themselves in a personal, private way that their readers are unaware of.
When it is done, really done, then do we have the confidence and courage to hit the submit button and pay the printer’s fee? Perhaps we experience a loss and not the relief or joy of completion. Why is that? Maybe we have not measured up to our personal expectations, or we have invested so much of ourselves in a project that we cannot truly let it go. We hold our creativity too tightly.
Remember, we as authors find joy in our work and embrace the reward that comes much later, when readers purchase our books and enjoy them.
Does anyone have reflections as a writer or reader when the completed book is truly completed? Please feel free to leave your comments below.
