I nearly did it again. Did what? I nearly gave the ‘go ahead and print’ order for Tess of Portelet Manor. Thankfully however I called for yet another soft-copy proof.
With growing horror I’d marked up the previous, hard copy, proof with sticky flags. It was full of typeset errors where a word break at the end of a line led to white space after the penultimate word on that line. Advised that the corrections had been put through I was confident enough to give the print order – but I didn’t. Just as well. This latest proof has no fewer than 36 similar errors, plus a handful of typos which I’m sure I’ve identified before.
So it’s back to the printers, asking if they can give me a price for finally cleaning the thing up. It’s as well I like the story I’ve written as I can now recite it off by heart.
Do other writers end up tearing their hair out like this months after submitting their work, light of heart? How many times do you have to proof-read your work before printing?
Meanwhile I’ve tentatively set off on my fourth novel. Hardly for the mass market this one. It will focus on real, modern-day slavery, alternating between the misery and cruelty bestowed on the slaves and trying to dissect and examine the money chain which enables the trade to happen. I wonder how readable I can make this! Not easy but I’m going to try.
And I’m also going to have a shot at a volume of short stories. This is a different discipline entirely and something I’m trying to learn as I go along. I’ve got a couple in the can which is, at least, a start.
And in other news my new Jersey Joggers group meet for the first time on 14th January. I have about 30 indications of interest, which is great. A big attendance will bring a number of little problems, but nothing that can’t be overcome. 
In addition I’ve just taken on a wider-ranging role in coaching the youngest members of Jersey Spartan AC, at least temporarily. I love coaching so it’s no real hardship.
And I’ve got to find time for tackling modules 6 – 23 of the course which will give me my higher qualification in throwing i.e. shot putt, discus etc.
All of which is a bit introspective and uninteresting for readers – my apologies. But I suppose it’s my version of looking ahead to 2013 and what’s on my plate. Now if someone would just do my full-time job (I get to keep the salary) then I’d be fine.
Now I have a week’s break, using up some of my 2012 leave entitlement backlog. The first thing I need to do is to catch up with my favourite bloggers, sadly neglected recently. I get so much enjoyment and inspiration from them that I’m looking forward to that.
Back On The Rock 
You wrote most of a conversation I had today with a fellow writer. I have a book in me wanting to get out, I am finishing up a management consulting designation and teaching two courses on the side, I just joined an on line running forum to help keep me motivated (although today I hurt) and I can’t find anyone to do my full time job but give me the pay check. 2013 sounds blissfully busy for us both, don’t you say?
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Hey Lisa, looks like we’re on the same road; I wonder if it’s the right one or whether it’ll turn out to be a dead end. How do you hurt by joining a running forum 🙂 Looking forward to watching your writing/running progress in 2013.
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Wow, finishing your third novel and so many writing plans in place. I am both impressed and a bit envious, since I’m still just toe-ing the starting line! Bravo and good luck. Isn’t January lovely, the way we can make these lists for ourselves and feel confidence that having made the lists, the rest will naturally follow?! Well, some of it does in fact come to pass, and there’s also the serendipitous unknown. A hopeful New Year ahead.
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Oh yes Jane, January is paved with good intentions. ‘Fine words butter no parsnips’ is one of the oldest and truest idioms in the English language. I hope I’ll be able to look back on this post in 12 months time without too much cringing.
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My advice is to continue to be paranoid and check everything before it goes off to the printers. At work I always make the final changes before I send the latest issue to the printers – it makes me feel like a control freak, but I’m amazed at what people miss when they proofread or what they ‘accidentally create’ when they amend typos. As for how many times you can proofread one piece of work – it’s possible to completely lose count. Just remember that soon, even if you’ve missed your deadline because of factors outside of your control, you’ll feel over the moon when it’s gone to print. And just to say that the slavery novel sounds really intriguing – as does the short story collection.
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Thank you Laura – your advice is slowly sinking even into my thick head. There’s only one person that will suffer for a badly produced book and that isn’t the editor, typesetter, proof reader or anyone else, just the author. It’s actually been a very good lesson in several respects, not least of which how easy it is to get typesetting wrong. MS Word has made me lazy.
Big year for you Laura and I’ll be looking out for you, good luck!
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What thick head?! Well, remember that an author can recommend services or discourage others from using them. Fingers crossed it’ll be a big year – who knows what will happen though. And thank you for all your support – I’ll look out for you too. Good luck back at you, not that you’ll need it! 🙂
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What a bummer about the book, Roy. It’s so annoying when that happens. I do POD so if there is a mistake I can easily fix it (without it being in hundreds of books!) Best of luck with the next proof!
Sounds like you’ve been really busy. Keep up the good work 😀
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Indeed Dianne, it’s probably the last time I go down this particular road – my nerves can’t take it any more. Fortunately there’s no time pressure so I can afford to take deep breaths, be rational and patient. Thank you and every best wish for 2013.
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Wow, Roy, that’s quite the schedule! Do what you can and enjoy it. Fingers crossed on the next proof …
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Thank you Deb, everything crossed.
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Well, I can’t wait to read Tess when it’s ready for action!
The finishing touches on any book are definitely the most stressful. And, I’m not sure if other writers are like this, but I’ve heard actors often can’t watch their performance on screen…I can’t bring myself to read my final work once it’s out.
It’s an odd thing to be sure. I tried reading some of it, and I got terribly anxious, bickering internally over the whole dang story, second guessing myself and ready to run for the hills. Ah, but starting a new book is blissful compared to the rest…gotta love that naive honeymoon period. It almost makes you forget about the marital problems that will come down the road.
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That is so true Britt. I still love one of the chapters in my previous book though and guiltily read it again every few months, don’t tell anybody 🙂 I suppose if you can’t like your own work (and I like Tess) you can hardly blame others for not liking it.
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