A Book for Sale: Chapter One

Over the years, I’ve written a lot about my first novel.  It used to be called Small Fish, but now it’s called Something Else.

Something Else’s journey began a long, long time ago.  To get to this point, I have:

• Written (and re-written) seven full drafts
• Changed the story four times
• Dumped over 100,000 words: enough for a completely separate and rather hefty novel
• Took out three previously leading characters (two weren’t needed, the other is now reduced to one scene only)
• Asked several strangers – nicely – to read my manuscript and feedback on what works and doesn’t for them
• Finally silenced the “how will I know when my book is finished?” niggles

I’ve learned so much during the process of writing this novel, that getting it properly published almost feels redundant.  As I edited the final page, just before Christmas, I wondered if I even wanted it to be published.  I felt strange about it.  I still do, but I’m not sure why.

Am I scared of not being good enough?

Maybe.  I will never spend so much time writing a book as I’ve spent on Something Else.  In my last blog post I mentioned a new idea for another novel.  (The idea came out of the blue, and it’s thrown me because I honestly thought I wouldn’t write another novel).  If I decide to write that one, I won’t take half as long over it.  I won’t need to.  These days I know enough about how to plan and write a novel in a way that suits my style and personality.  For me, that has been no mean feat!

Oh, and my life changed unimaginably during the course of writing that book.  I’ve been divorced and re-married, moved house three times, and completely changed my career.  In a weird way, Something Else feels representative of all that time, and all that change (though it’s not what the story is about).  So much so, that the idea of a publisher rejecting it feels utterly terrifying.

But I’m still going to try and get my first novel published.

I fully expect not to succeed.  But something tells me that, just like writing the book, pitching it will be something to learn and grow from.

So I’m taking a deep breath, and I’m doing it.

I’ve also decided to write about each step along the way.

Why?  10 years ago, I blogged about my career change as it happened (you can read it all in my first non-fiction book, Procrastinations, if you like!).  Writing my way through an unknown and scary process helped me then, so I hope it’ll help me now.

I also hope my honest, step-by-step pitching process will help others in need of a real-world guide to getting their book published.  Not to mention how to feel all the strange feelings that will no doubt come with it.

So, Chapter One is all about getting started.

The first step, I’ve decided, is to print a proof copy of my manuscript and read it with a technical eye, noting story themes and plot points.  When I’ve got those down, I’ll do some research into publishing agents, and then I’ll prepare my pitch along these lines.

(It all sounds so smooth and organised written like that, doesn’t it?).

Anyway.  My proof copy is being prepared.  I have a bright red editing pen, all ready to go.

I’ll keep you posted.