The Weight of The Wait

I am on the second set of proofs for my new book, “SCHLEP” and we’re almost done with the re-writes and proofing process. I ordered three copies of the proof and presently have three copy-editors reading through the book looking for any and all mistakes, inconsistencies and other errors. I want this, my first published book, to be as perfect as possible. I motivate myself by thinkg of The Beatles and would they have let an album come out if every track was not absolutely the best perfect they could achieve? No, they would not…they did not and that’s one of the things that made them so great. I want to emulate that sense of high production value as best as I possible can; my thought is to have more eyes on it, reading the proof copies and then helping me find everything I could possible improve before publishing. But the wait is killing me! I need to move on this now, I want to reach my publication date of 1 May 2010, but I don’t know if I’ll do it; I have to keep pressing on and all I can do is wait.
The gravity of the wait, I must admit, is a little easier now that the website, www.dphilipchalmers.net is just about done. It’s functioning and we’re moving swiftly with it in terms of design and ease of use. I have been working on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) issues and trying to get the site ranked higher in search results. I also have been working on getting the site, like the book, as perfect as I possibly can. It’s very important to me to get the beginnings right and this is the beginning of a whole new era in my career; I am an author now. I am a published author now. With the title and role come certainly responsibilities for the quality of my work. I take this very seriously and its another key element in my motivation.
The last thing weighing on my mind is the other pieces of my marketing plan for the book. I must keep in mind that the real goal of “SCHLEP” is to secure the right kind of Hollywood based agent to represent me; sales of the book is a secondary priority. Nevertheless, I believe I can sell a few copies of this book and my goal is to sell 1,000 copies worldwide within the first year. To do this I need to put myself out there some, do some reading, attend some conferences and networking seminars and otherwise be a personality of some kind. The weight of this matter is rooted in my own struggles to deal with the recovery from my nervous breakdown (in ’06) and my desire to be a celebrity author of some kind. I want my name and face to be out there, where others will see it and recognize me some; not crazy famous, but known among a certain crowd. Like Kesey was, I want to fit into the group consciousness as something of an author and elder statesman…except I’m not old enough for the latter yet!
The Weight of The Wait is almost over, I can feel it in my sinews and bones and I see that my copy editors are all going to be done reading “SCHLEP” by next Friday. I like what I see and think www.dphilipchalmers.net is developing very well, so that rests a little easier on my shoulders. The book tour, which is in the very early planning stages, should also come together in the next week and with a little luck, our funding will hold out until our next round of investments come in June. I would like to extend an open invitation to my visit my portfolio destination, I welcome any and all comments, so if you’re so inclined…drop me a line sometime!
Take care, be well, stay cool…