The list does feel never-ending sometimes, but it shifts. At first there are giant things like "write book" and "do edits" and "stop crying." (Only joking on that last one! (A little!)) But they eventually morph into their tiny parts, thankfully, since that's the only way big things get done.
But some things loop back and land back on the to-do list. Researching and deciding on a cover plan was something I thought I'd done already, but my first choice didn't work out and I had to find something else. It was a good lesson in lots of ways. Chief among them was about advocating for myself and what I thought I needed, and of course, championing the book itself.
From the outside, it's not such a big deal. I didn't like the direction the design was going in and felt uncomfortable in the process. But I took it hard. I'd been so happy at my progress, it felt like someone had tripped me at the finish line. But I found a better fit, where I could deal directly with the designer, and I'm not only more comfortable with the process, but delighted with the collaboration and the work so far.
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do all this. Many a book languishes for lack of a compelling cover, and while I think this route is very reasonable as these things go, I'm aware that not everyone can afford to even consider it. It seemed like I was being especially unreasonable but the truth is that promoting this thing will be possibly the biggest mountain to climb on this entire journey, and I neeeeeeed it to be something I want to show people. It needs, to some degree, to be something that sells itself.
And that's not to say I need it to sell. Again, very lucky on that score. I think the fact that I didn't need it to do anything for me is how it got done -- and how so much in LA didn't. Like, I can't make something good expecting that it will somehow save me. That's how a lot of people might find success, but I've never been able to make that equation work. For me, it's a matter of getting it seen, getting it in front of the people who might find value in it.
Anyway, all that to say, I'm really excited (again) and that much closer. I just got final proofreading edits back, so I will work on those while the designer works on the cover as well as the interior layout. I need to set up a launch date and I am researching marketing folks to help on that too. I think the book deserves more than I can do on my own. And hiring professionals is what grown-ups do when the job is outside their experience. I don't trust easily, and I'm obviously heavily invested emotionally, but It's so interesting to me how this giant, individual undertaking turns out to be something else entirely.
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