My 30-day countdown starts today, August 1st.
Over a month ago in June, I discussed with my Portland-based book editor Emily my publishing date of November 20, 2021, for Clicks, Tricks & Golden Handcuffs. It’s an anthology of over 70 articles for tech execs regarding their job search that I published on my website and LinkedIn within the past 3 years. Although I have a 50,000 word-plus book manuscript, I need to edit and fine-tune it before sending it to Emily.
This process has piqued interest in some of my clients for publishing their books. My husband and a couple of clients suggested I write a book about writing my book. The best way for me to do so is to blog about the inception and share my journey.
In December of 2020, I was introduced virtually by the million-dollar copywriter Laura Belgray, via her Talking Shrimp newsletter, to Houston-based ghostwriter and book author Dr. Cindy Childress Ph.D. When I joined Cindy’s newsletter distribution, I fit right into her inner circle where nerds rule. Why? Since I was going to write and publish a book, she offered an 8-week course to do so with sage advice, positivity, and fashionista thrown in. In January 2021, I joined Cindy’s free-of-charge Epic Book Challenge and signed up for her course Crank Out Your Book in 8-Weeks at the end of the month. Cindy is an email and marketing seminar ninja; take note. And, no, I don’t get a cut promoting her stuff; she stands on her own. Three months later, I had a 50,000-word count draft manuscript plus new writing cohort friends from the US, London, and Mexico. I excitedly debuted my book during a 5-minute chapter reading to a virtual group of friends along with published and wannabe authors.
Like my technology executive clients, I reverse engineer when it comes to projects. This Type A has a goal to be published on Amazon in the Fall of 2021. I stated it out loud, and, boy, howdy, it’s going to happen. It sounded good, but I have a mountain to climb to achieve that milestone.
Fast forward to August 1st, and I have the innards mostly figured out—book outline, chapter titles and structure, and 3 key reader takeaways per chapter along with minutia of font selection, margins, cap drops, and footnotes, which are the time boogers of my editing. The iffy part continues to be the opposite of innards, the outards; there’s no such word in the English language, but it expresses my headspace. Like having an inny or outy belly button, OK, those aren’t legit English words either. Book graphic designers are challenging to find, even though my best friend Linda is my fairy godmother regarding graphic support. I created a 2-page statement of work for the book cover design, including timeframe, design elements, and samples of best-in-class business books in my category. After working with 2 graphic designers, I’m near the finish line on selecting the final designer.
Hunkering down on book editing, I hit the 45% completion rate with 9 out of 20 chapters revised. To edit the balance, I need to spend 2 days per chapter for the entire month of August with some wiggle room thrown in to complete my self-imposed deadline.
Will I make it? Without question in consideration of a couple of family surgeries, SUP (stand up paddleboard) head space-time, my cadence of 2 monthly blogs, a new mentoring gig with WomenTech Network, and collaborating with 5 executive clients. For the latter, I’m not accepting new clients for the balance of the month. Deadline over money, who knew?
I’m making myself a priority. It’s the biggest challenge I find with tech execs; something always comes in the way of attaining their next significant impact role.
Are you ready to make yourself a priority?
