We See How It Works
Inclement weather is still shouting at us, at least it is making itself known. We've had snow this week, and today there are falling temperatures and snow particles floating occasionally in the air. It is cloudy and mysterious. I've been busy, and I'd like to believe productive, but not so much as I'd like.
There is ever so much that goes into the making of a book. A grandson asked this last week about how do you go about writing a book. Well, of course you get an idea. That can come from about anywhere. The idea came for 'If I Should Die' when, in conversation with someone about their current situation (which should have been painful to them) I pointed out their dire circumstances, and was answered by, "Well, yes, but look how much (experience) I've gained".
Through my mind flew many thoughts, as in how much they'd lost: some of their innocence, their freedom, their childhood, their faith, and several other things. All traded for what? Experience? And there were other ways to gain experience without trading their soul.
Thus was the under-cover secret agent Julius C. Armstrong (extraordinaire no less) found standing at the garden gate to what he believed was a local Bed and Breakfast establishment. How would anyone of world wide experience get the wrong address in a small mid-west town? Does this bode well for his search for a villain—someone by the name of Meister—and an international crime ring?
After the idea comes the rough draft. And rough it usually is. I was so naive that after I'd written the rough draft I believed I would just send it in and have it published. Perhaps not quite that simple, but I was wholly naive. For some unknown reason I did get a reply from a gracious editor. It was not an acceptance, nor was it a complete rejection. Only that they no longer took unsolicited manuscripts they used a Christian review service. And she gave me two choices.
Long story short I have spent too many years lolly gagging over 'rewriting'. Rewriting and learning the 'craft' of writing. I've at last climbed the mountain of rewriting and gotten into the bog of freelance editors, cover designs, book-back blurbs, etc. etc. etc. And I'm still rewriting. I should put a smiling face here—and an agony face as well.
It hasn't been easy, it hasn't been pain free, and it certainly hasn't been cheap. Yet, it has been worth it because through all of this I have learned and gained useful experience. I haven't sold my soul to do it, and I am a better person for it.
My goal is to encourage others in this sometimes difficult journey. The Master Teacher used stories throughout his few short years to show his disciples truths and tidbits about life.
I am currently collecting pictures and settings for a book trailer. I had hoped to have it up and viewable by now, but through no fault of my own it is not finished yet. It has been a 'class' project, and although it was finished a week ago, after viewing several other book trailers I thought wow, I can make mine better yet. So, in order to have a better trailer—I'm rewriting.
