The Confessions of a Reluctant Author

[Jim]

How a Personal Challenge Became a Published Novel

Writing a novel was just one of several goals included in a bucket list that my late wife insisted that I create upon retiring in 2001.

The initial plan was to spend three or four months writing and then move on to the next challenge. The task proved far more complicated and time-consuming than I had presumed. I quickly learned that my first idea was seldom the best idea and that a few of my best ideas would come from others. It took me fourteen months to produce a completed, polished manuscript.

Each of my four adult children received a copy. They read it and told me that it was pretty good. I'm their father; what else would they say? Two of them pleaded with me for months to at least make an effort to have it published and succeeded in wearing me down. We struck a deal. I would send query letters to five mainline publishers. If all five rejected my story idea, the matter would be dropped and never resurrected.

Within twenty-four hours after e-mailing the letters, I received polite rejection responses from three publishers. A few days later, the two remaining publishers requested a copy of the manuscript for evaluation. About six weeks after I sent them, I received a formal rejection notice from one of the publishers. The following day, I received a phone call from a gentleman, representing Tate Publishing, informing me that their acquisition team felt that my novel had commercial potential and Tate wished to offer me a contract.

The next eleven months were spent learning and participating in the various processes required to transform a manuscript into a commercially viable book. My ego was severely tested as I gradually began to realize that the completed, polished manuscript, of which I had been so proud, was neither complete nor polished.

By the time the exercise was finished, my original manuscript of 126,000 words had been reduced to 111,000 and I was required to create an abridgement of the print format of no more than 85,000 words; so that the audio book format would not exceed eight hours listening time.

The print and electronic formats of the book were released and distributed by Ingram
Books/Spring Arbor to eighteen commercial vendors on August 9, 2011, followed by the audio book on compact disc on September 14.

Thus ended a long, drawn-out project that evolved from a simple challenge from two stubborn and persistent children.

[Jim]

You Can't Please Everyone

Guess what? Some who have read my novel enjoyed it and were very pleased. Others did not and were not. Who couldn't see that coming?

Some readers expressd disappointment that there was not more action, bloody encounters, or magic.

I was determined to adhere to self-imposed strict rules of conduct and rigid physical parameters while writing my novel and refused to allow myself the author's privilege of occasionally ignoring or bending one of those self-imposed rules in order to generate excitement, simplify the portrayal of complex plots, or to enhance character development. I preferred to keep it real

One reader informed me that, if my intent was to create a perfect world, then I had failed miserably.

That was never my intent. I just wanted to establish an environment that would encourage the inhabitants and provide them with opportunities to constantly strive for perfection.

Some readers found the subject matter to be commendable or even inspirational and felt that the world of Levels was a utopia. Others found the very same subject matter to be disturbing or even blasphemous and stated that such a world must never be permitted to exist.

I guess that beauty actually does lie within the eye of the beholder.

Whatever their opinion, every reader was encouraged to think; and that is always a good thing. Hopefully, the reader will leave my imaginary world determined to help make our real world a better place.

[Jim]

What You Write Reflects Who You Are

I believe that it is impossible for an author to prevent his personal life experiences, prejudices, and beliefs from directly influencing his work. So I am going to share some of mine with you now.

Life Experiences:
- Attended a Roman Catholic seminary (4 years)
- A former U.S. Marine (Vietnam veteran)
- Professional musician (8 years)
- Happily married (35 1/2 years)
- Parent (4 adult children) Grandparent (4 grandchildren)
- 33-year management career w/H.J. Hienz Co. (Retired)
- Widower (9 years)

Prejudices:
- Don't like war, hypocrisy, infidelity, large crowds, loud bars, snakes, spiders, bullies, undisciplined children, undisciplined adults, excuses, and illogical conclusions.

Beliefs:
- Luck has nothing to do with success.
- Promises should be kept.
- Wanting something to be the truth doesn't make it true. Believing something is reality doesn't make it real.
- Learn to accept the world that exists. Don't waste time and resources seeking a non-existent alternative.
- Heterosexuality and homosexuality are not choices or perversions. We are what we are and should be accepted for who we are.
- "It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble. It's what we know that ain't so." Will Rogers
- "The past may dictate who we are, but we get to determine what we become." Stephen Spielberg

[Jim]

It's Good To Be Loved; But Be Prepared Not To Be

A writer, like any other artist, must possess a strong ego. I do not mean conceit; there is a distinct difference. The dictionary defines ego as "the self as distinguished from others".

As mentioned in the first post of this thread, after fourteen months of writing, proof-reading, and re-writing, I was so proud of having produced a completed, polished manuscript. My four adult children read it and thought it was pretty good. Four mainline publishers, who sent me rejection letters, apparently thought otherwise.

My ego received quite a boost when a representative of the acquisition department of another mainline publisher phoned to inform me that I was being offered a contract.

The feeling of euphoria I experienced rapidly evaporated during the conceptual editing process, through which I came to realize that the completed, polished manuscript, of which I had beeen so proud, was neither complete nor polished.

The lesson to be derived from criticism, whether it be constructive, positive, negative, or even hurtful, is that it is just an opinion. One opinion is as good as another. Learn from every criticism and become better at whatever you do. I think I did.