To recap: Last Friday, our editor at New World Library set us straight that, in order to be the precious little gift book we all intend, 50 Ways to Leave Your 40s requires a total word count of 50,000, not the 100,000 cited in our contract. Oops! Wish that boilerplate detail hadn't slipped through a crack. Meanwhile, here Peg and I were, trying for months to figure out how to make all our fabulous material fit into a mere 2,000 words per chapter.
Now that push comes to shove and our new target is smaller by half, clearly we need to narrow our focus. We had done a lot of writing, of course, but thankfully not the bulk of it. The major loss comes in terms of time spent doing tons of research for the many "nuggets" that lie now on the cutting-room floor.
(heavy sigh...) Life happens. What'cha gonna do?
Onward! Upward!
We do still want your stories! But obviously, the name of the game will be "Expert Excerpts." (Say that fast three times!) We'll zero in on the strongest material, the most compelling experiences, the liveliest quotes. Don't just tell us what happened with you in the "leaving your 40s" passage. Tell us how the experience changed you. And pass on your best advice for others facing similar situations. Our book aims to be upbeat and humorous, even as it conveys some of life's heavier lessons, so don't be afraid to crack wise!
DEADLINE: September 30, 2006. Email sheilakey@newmexico.com. Include your real name, your real age, and the first name (real or not) you'd like us to use for publication.
Thanks.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Publishing can be a heartbreaking business. Good luck with the book!
Post a Comment