A Writer's Tale

The Big Picture

HERE IS A BARE-BONES BREAKDOWN OF WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS TO A writer “me during the entire course of my involvement” with a novel. This is generally the way I’ve been operating during the last few years on the basis of multiple-book contracts.

1. I write about five pages in the course of a day.

2. The next day, I reread them on the computer screen, revise them, then write about five new pages.

3. After finishing a chapter, I carefully read it from start to finish on the screen, making more corrections. Then I print it.

4. I may be asked to provide my publisher with a description of what the book is about.

So I spend a day writing a synopsis.

5. After the entire novel is written and printed up, (about 600 manuscript pages), I read it again from start to finish, marking errors, dog-earing every page that needs to be redone.

6. At my computer again, I make all the changes, reprinting each page that requires a correction.

7. I take the finished manuscript to a photocopy shop and have a single copy made. On white paper with no holes.

8. I pack and mail the copy of the manuscript to my agent. (Keeping my original.) 9. I start working on my next project.

10. After my agent and editor have read my manuscript, they may ask me to make some changes. I usually get a page or two of suggestions, questions, etc. I discuss them with my editor, make whatever changes may be necessary, and fax them to my editor.

11. A month or two later, I receive an “on acceptance” check in the mail. So I have to interrupt my busy writing schedule for a trip to the bank to make the deposit.

12. My editor and I talk about what sort of artwork should go on the cover of my book. He may later send me some rough sketches for my suggestions and/or approval.

13. My editor writes cover material for the book and sends it for my approval.

14. In some cases, I am sent a copy of the “edited manuscript.” When that happens, I have to read the entire manuscript to see what’s been done to it and to look for errors. Then the corrections need to be phoned, faxed or mailed to the publisher. They usually give me about a week to do this. Headline, however, does not mess with my work and doesn’t usually send me a copy of the edited manuscript.

15. They do send me a copy of the “proof pages” or galleys. This is my novel set to print. This is the “next-to-final” version. It always seems to arrive at the worst possible moment. But it can’t be ignored.

If I don’t catch an error there, the mistake will likely end up in the finished book and make me look like a numbskull. So I read the pages carefully, mark all the mistakes, then communicate the changes to my editor.

16. After the book is published, I receive several copies that I normally send to friends and family members. I inscribe and autograph each book (usually about twelve), put it into a padded envelope, address the envelope, then make a special trip to the post office with the whole stack.

17. Over the next few weeks, various book dealers bring copies of the novel to my house so I can sign and sometimes inscribe copies for their customers. I may travel to a bookstore for an “autograph party.”

18. I receive a check for the “hardbound publication” of the novel. I stop doing everything and rush to the bank.

19. A few months after the hardbound edition has been published, I will receive page proofs for the paperback version of the book. I used to ignore them, since they are based on the hardbound edition. After catching some errors in them, however, I now read and correct these proofs, too.

20. A month or so after the paperback is published, I receive still another check and have to make still another journey to the bank.

21. My publisher and agent send copies of reviews to me. I read them. They often amuse me, sometimes flatter me, occasionally make me angry. I almost never respond to the reviews.

22. My publisher forwards fan mail to me. I always read it. Most of it is wonderful. I almost always respond to the sender (unless he or she seems to be a nut), but it may take a while.

23. In some cases, I will eventually be notified that the hardbound version is being “remaindered.” The publisher tells me how many copies are unsold and gives me an opportunity to purchase them at a very low price.

By the time we reach the final stage, the remaindering, I have probably written four new books.