Between 2018 and 2024, much of my free time surfing the net involved wanting to learn about the publishing industry. I watched webinars, researched, and even went to a few talks and workshops. I'd been saying I was going to write a book for years, but wanted to be sure of the path, so I spent more time doing my due diligence than writing.
In early 2024, I went to a workshop for a publisher about an hour away and felt as ready as I've ever been, so I chose to work with them to write my first book. My initial thought was that I'd just write it and have it published by the end of the year. Easy peasy.
I have wanted to be an author for the majority of my lifetime. From the beginning years of being an avid journaler as a teen, I knew that I wanted to write a book. The idea came to me when I wrote poetry, deep emotional thoughts, and just talked to my paper with my pen as if communing with a trusted friend. I loved writing then as much as I do now, so again, easy peasy.
Now, In 2020, I submitted my first book proposal to Hay House. It was a fabulous learning experience and, if I'm honest, quite a disappointment.
I wrote a twenty-page proposal, with a very thorough outline, based on their guidelines, and was beyond excited to submit it. I knew there was a possibility that I wouldn't be considered, as I was submitting along with hundreds (likely thousands) of others who were up against the same deadline for consideration. I never received any reply, not even a rejection letter, but here's why it was valuable...
1/ My book was way too long. Upon reviewing my own proposal, I realized that I had a seriously long book. In fact, I realized it was a series of books, not a single endeavor.
2/ I hadn't done enough research on how publishing works. There are three primary paths (probably more) that an author can choose from to get their message out to the world. I wasn't aware enough of the others.
3/ I wasn't ready to write the books yet.
Back to early 2024, when I found that readiness. I felt I had done enough research, I chose a publishing path, and started typing, still having this mindset that I'd have a book out by the end of the year.
Boy, was I in for more education!
I was working full-time with my hypnotherapy practice and membership. I was recently married and really like spending time with my husband. I have family that I love, an aging body to love on, and a great commitment to sleeping 7-9 hours a night. I loved writing, so I didn't really think I would be committing too much additional time to my already full life. I felt it would be a wonderful way to spend some of the time that I used in honor of self-care.
Then I started the process.
I wrote for hours on end. I took breaks for a few days at a time, sometimes a week or two. Then, I realized I wasn't even halfway through the first draft of the manuscript and I'd been at it for about three months. The clarity of the commitment to writing a book was greater than I had anticipated.
I initially had this idea in my head that "I'll get my first book out this year." However, I hadn't written a book before, so I didn't know how many steps there were, how much was involved, or what to expect from myself and all of the souls that are a part of the process.
It was in mid-November of 2024 when I finished the first draft. I submitted it to my publishing team, and about two weeks later, I received my first notes from the developmental editor.
Now, I'd been eagerly anticipating the notes and suggestions from this first part of the editing process, but what came next was the truest awakening of the process.
As I read the notes and began to make the recommended changes and enhancements, I realized that I had a great deal to do to improve the book and really align the structure, definition, and core message. It took me three more months of adding, deleting, reorganizing, and restructuring before the next developmental edit.
Sidebar: For those of you who may be curious. There are three types of editing that are involved in completing a book manuscript.
1/ There is a developmental editor who helps with the overall organization and structure of the book as a whole.
2/There is the copy editor who ensures that the writing itself is well done. This is about sentence structure, avoiding redundancy, and ensuring consistency in how you write numbers or other aspects of the manuscript. In other words, they just help ensure you have it cleaned up before it goes to editor three, which is the proofreader.
3/ The proofreader is the final stage editor and they are there to dot the i's, cross the t's, and make sure the commas, spelling, grammar, and punctuation are all in place to the letter.
The book went through three rounds of developmental editing, and I can't offer enough gratitude to the woman who helped me here. What an amazing mind and eye for an overall book.
Here I am writing page after page, chapter after chapter, and how they all fell together wasn't what I was thinking. I was just writing my ass off... This phase of really seeing the big picture of the book was truly invaluable. I'm sure that many other authors agree as they reflect on the developmental edit stage.
Now, by the time I have this fully developed manuscript, I'm acutely clear that I'm way beyond my original hope for a book that would be published in a few months. I stepped into more research and learned that many authors take years to finish a manuscript. How I missed this in the original research is beyond me, but I was in the know now.
In my commitment to have the book out by the end of 2025, I put a few things on hold. I slowed down with various offerings that I was working on such as online courses, my newsletter, and a few other projects that I hope to get back to in 2026. I focused on managing what was in front of me. I still had my busy client schedule, my cool hubby, my family time, and my commitment to good sleep. I'll admit there were a few nights that I lost sleep overthinking about a sentence or a conversation with an editor, but I balanced what I could.
Now, once the book is through all of the final edits, there is an interior layout. This is where you choose fonts, headings, and how you want the book's interior to be designed. There are about 7-10 different aspects to this that I would have never considered before. Throughout all of this has been the cover design. I went back and forth with the very gracious publishing team to determine the title, image, font, and overall look of the book.
At some point, we had to discuss the actual launch date. I wanted it to be published in 2024, remember? So, I was impatient along the way and have to praise my publishing team for putting up with my questions, pressing, and moments of "Karen-ness" along the way.
But guess what?
We are here!
It is by no means my own personal accomplishment. This was a significant team effort. I may be the author, but to give credit where it is due goes to the entire list of people, from the developmental editor, copy editor, proofreader, and most of all the publishing company owner and her primary head of operations. These two ladies put up with a ton of conversations from one very curious author who wants to know absolutely every detail about the process from writing to layout to distribution. I am truly grateful to them all for this amazing education and experience.
As I go through this final stage of launching the book into the world, I'm learning even more. The most profound lesson at this stage is that this is an ongoing process. I may have a desire to sell tons of books on the initial launch date (October 21, 2025), but I also realize that this book is going to be available for years to come. I can update it, revise it, and it may evolve even still.
What a cool realization. I may have, wanted this book to be "done" and out into the world, but what I know now is that this part is actually just the beginning.
My hope is to help others with my story, to impact people who may need to know what was possible for one person whose life was saved by getting picked up hitchhiking by the right guy. My hope to speak, teach, or offer insight through other doors that this book may open is limitless.
As I write all of this and conclude this blog, it occurs to me that one of the components of this process I glazed over is the emotions that come with this process. I have experienced imposter syndrome, fear, anxiety, worry, and, in moments, a level of frustration that caused a glimpse of giving up. On the flip side of that is the aspect of me who has never given up. I had someone tell me I have grit, and I do! My love for helping others through my story and my own path of healing is the greatest love of my life. I am proud of the book and with or without rave reviews, I am so grateful to have shared my story for the world to read. I'm nervous and a bit intimidated, but the excitement is stronger. If I save one life of an addict or alcoholic who sees themself in my story, it has been worth every tear that was shed. I'm tired and my aging eyes force me to take breaks, but I can't wait to do it all again for book two!!
