The daily work of writing

Or really, what is it like to write (and publish) a book

So, you have a book contract. One big hurdle down, but many to come. What the process formally looks like depends on the editor and their preferred style. There are editors who are happy to receive a completed manuscript and edit then. My editor opted for batches of chapters every few months to keep pace and provide feedback along the way. A better option for me personally if I was choosing, but also a better option in terms of what research suggests as best practice.

It took me a while to get into the rhythm of writing and making consistent progress. I was writing while working full time. Although my day job as a research scientist affords a lot of flexibility – as long as I am completing research and preparing publications as required by project grants – I have some freedom about my working hours. So I shifted my day job hours earlier and settled to write in the later afternoons.

It sounds like smooth sailing. I had to fit a day job and a writing job into my days, so I weighed pros and cons and made a decision. Not really. It took experimenting. There is always more a scientist can do in their job and it was not easy to be disciplined to work on writing each afternoon without exception. But the first deadline came and I met it.

I was happy with Chapter 1 and I was happy with Chapter 3. But I knew Chapter 2 simply did not come together. All the content was there, but it did not flow right. I arranged it and rearranged it multiple times, but it was still … too complicated. If I did not have to deliver it by the deadline to my editor, I would have continued to fiddle with it. Luckily, I had the deadline, and sent it out.

Getting critical feedback with the first set of chapters could sound worrisome. Yet, it was not. I knew I needed help with Chapter 2. And I got it. Once I read what the editor was saying, it all clicked in the “yes, of course” kind of way. Sometimes we are too close to the work to see it with full clarity and be able to take a different perspective.

I had also started to work with a developmental editor. This was suggested by a colleague who recently had a bestselling book and by my agent. They were very much right. Developmental editor is another professional with experience helping with similar books who can be an unbiased observer. They can shine light on what the writer cannot see because they have been thinking about their content for too long and too intensely.

Being told something that is completely clear in my mind does not work or is too technical is not exactly pleasant. And yes, I admit that my first thought could be that something should be obvious. But if one experienced reader finds something less than clear, chances are other readers would too. Once I could sleep on it, I would ask myself what is missing and inevitably found new ways of talking about whatever topic was on the menu at the time.

The next deadline, I was two weeks late with one of the chapters. And the deadline after that, I did not manage to finish one of the chapters. I was writing through most of the Christmas holidays. I stayed home to write as my husband and son took a vacation for a school winter vacation (This was hard; they went to NASA and the Houston Rodeo). And I ended up breaking the promise to my son that I would take him to the Grand Canyon for his spring break.

Writing progress is a fitful thing. For several days I could write 1,500 words and they all sound like pure magic of making the ideas come to life. But then there are days when even 100 words barely make it onto a page. It is like hitting a wall. And then hitting it again and again, without it becoming any more passable. The frustration and doubt make it… difficult. The one thing that consistently helped was reminding myself that this state of creative block was temporary.

Ultimately, I had to move the manuscript delivery by a month. My friends and family seemed unanimous in thinking that this was not a big deal. Because in all the movies and TV authors are late in delivering their manuscripts. I am not quite sure whether that corresponds to reality. I was so exhausted at the end that I it did not occur to me to ask the editor.

I took my son to New York (consolation prize for missing the big promised trip) and resumed breathing as regularly scheduled. He asked me whether I was happy with the book. And at that time I honestly could not tell. Another instance of being too close to the work. My developmental editor was happy with it. I thought I was happy with it. It stood to reason to be satisfied. In reality, I was only sure of being relieved.

Once the editor reviewed the manuscript and I had a chance to read it in its entirety again after a few weeks off, I could honestly and with confidence say that this was indeed the book I intended to write. It was now written.

After the final set of reviews and edits, the manuscript goes through a thorough copyediting process, with another chance to make changes. I discovered that I like a few phrases rather excessively. It felt satisfying to catch and change them. And it did happen that several days after what was to be the final set of copyediting changes I had an idea for a new sentence that, I thought, very vividly illustrated the main lesson of the final section of the book. Very grateful to the copyeditor for squeezing in this sentence. Even if it was a single line, I thought it made a real difference.

And just like that, the book is done. The writing is done, that is, but the purpose of the book is to communicate and that is not done only in the pages of the printed copy. Now starts the process of getting the word out so that people who could use the book learn about it.

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