Mid-Year & Getting Nowhere Fast

June is already drawing to a close and I don’t feel like there’s much to update you with.

We’re past the midpoint of the year and my New Year's Resolutions are still left hanging in the air, suspended somewhere between ‘almost there’ and ‘nowhere near’.

I’m ashamed to say that this month I have been shockingly and embarrassingly unproductive. I have no excuse. Yes my actual real work has been really busy of late, yes I’ve had family down to stay (hoorah! About time too, in yer face Covid!) and yes it’s been (slightly) better weather so I’ve been out and about more often, but I should be making more of an effort. At this rate my ‘holiday read’ will be published at Christmas.

Front Cover Complications

The excitement of choosing a professional to design my front cover, dwindled a little when the designs that came back were not quite right for my book. This is by no means the fault of the designer. The designs themselves were marvellous and she gave me everything I asked for, I guess I’m just one of those annoying clients who say ‘ there’s something that’s not quite right, but I don’t know what it is.’ Working in Interior Design for my day job I hear this a lot and believe me those clients are the worst. I am now that client.

Our next option was to try photographic covers rather than the previous illustrated ones, but she hasn’t sent anything through for a while so I think she’s given up on me. I can’t say I blame her.

Formatting, Fonts & Fiddly Bits

There is one cover that I came up with on my own as a mock-up when I was playing around with a few ideas. It’s one that I keep coming back to, and ironically, a couple of my friends prefer that one to any of the others. I’ve put it on my phone as a screensaver and it’s now become so familiar to me, it may just be the one I go for. All I need now is someone to help me with the formatting, fonts and fiddly bits, so I think that will be my next avenue to explore.

The Proof is in the Reading

Instead of spending the cash on cover design, I am considering hiring a professional proofreader. As usual, I’ve been immersing myself in numerous podcasts and blog posts where I heard it said that if there’s one thing you should pay for (other than cover design, developmental editing, etc) it’s proofreading. If someone doesn’t like your story or your voice, that’s one thing, but if there are typos, that’s unforgivable. I will therefore send a request to some proofreaders on Reedsy and see what prices they come back with.

Hopefully, by the end of July, I will have lots more exciting anecdotes and encouraging updates to regale you with (but don't hold me to that). See you in July!

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