I
have now gone through the process for submitting the files for print on demand.
I ordered some proofs to look and also to be able to give some hard copies of
the books to some musicians who were coming through. (Not the All American
Rejects though; Frank Iero and James Dewees.)
You
may have noticed that there are still only electronic versions showing as
available:
I'm
working on it, but I've run into a few issues, and I'm learning some things.
For
one thing, not having title pages or end pages looks really horrible, but they
are not added automatically. Also, even though I checked and re-checked the
originals, I am still finding errors. I found two on the front page of Family
Ghosts, which horrifies me.
I
believe I notice different things with the physical copies when I am
proofreading. That would tempt me to start with the CreateSpace first, instead
of Kindle Direct, if the process of getting the proofs were not so slow.
They
aren't completely error-ridden. For example, in Cara I found five. Those
include an extra space between two words, a period instead of a question mark
at the end of a rhetorical question, and a line break in the middle of a
sentence. And I know I entered that Family Ghosts was Book 2 in Family
Blood, so why doesn't it say that on the cover? Plus the cover for Family
Blood is hideous.
Since
I think the cover for Cara works, it is tempting to forget the errors
and just go with it. If I make changes, then I have to order proofs again, and
then approve them. What if I find more? Also, now I know those errors are in
the electronic files. I could correct them, but then that's two electronic
editions, plus the print edition, and that feels excessive for what is
essentially a hobby. Yes, that sounds self-negating.
When
people act impressed, I get a touch of impostor syndrome. I mean, it's only
self-publishing, which has been made remarkably easy. It could be utter trash
and it would still be just as easy. I do realize there is some accomplishment
in going through the process. And yet, when I was reading through and finding
those remaining typos, I still got caught up in the story again.
With
Frank and James, I really wanted to give them the books, because they have
inspired me and they might enjoy them and it is basically what I have to give,
but then when they thanked me I felt so guilty. What if they read it and don't
like it? Life is too short for bad books.
I
can't keep on an even keel about it. If only professional musicians had some
way of understanding the emotional ups and downs of putting your artistic input
into the world.
I
had written previously about concerns with the covers:
I
may look into creating my own files before printing. I guess technically I
don't have to push all of the print on demand books live at once. I could
probably get Cara ready pretty quickly, and then agonize over the Family
books a little longer.
Ultimately
I am still working out best practices. It would be lovely to have an agent who
worried about all of those things, leaving me to just focus on the writing, but
it works out.
Morgan is still being worked on, and will be followed by Family
Reunion.
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