Had the external stitches out from my surgery (skin cancer) today. Was VERY painful as the stitches at the corner of my mouth were very tight. Still healing.
As a distraction from the pain, I started my book cover design. Should only take me a few days to complete it, using my own art. Then I need to do the ebook conversion. Then, I will be ready to publish (hopefully within a week).
0 Comments
It's been two years of hard work but I'm nearly ready to publish my memoir. Proof-reading was a bit tricky with blurred vision from side-effects of medications after surgery.
I've been plodding along with the finalising stages, including proof-reading a printed manuscript, then updating them in my digital manuscript. I keep wanting to tweak this and that but it gets to a point where it's 'done.' Tonight, I exported to a pdf for the print version of the book. Doing a mockup from ideas in my head for the back cover my memoir, Bipolar Courage: Are You Sure You're Not Autistic? The colours blend well. Of course, I will fluff around to optimise the images when I do the final files.
These were the two paintings most inspired by 'Maxwell' (the 'anti-hero' in my story). They're mentioned in the story. They're cut up now but I can always ressurect them. (Tip: take pics of your paintings). Started a mockup of a book cover design for my book. It's a mockup to try out some ideas in my head before I fluff around trying to get things just right.
I did it! Yay! Nearly two years of effort and I have written my third book. Although it's not quite ready yet, to release to the world. Just some final polishing, still underway.
It's a huge milestone, at the stage where authors would send to their copyeditor. Only, as an indie author, I am the copyeditor, proof-reader etc (a friend is helping out with the proof-reading). I've already been doing some copy-editing (improving readability etc, yet I want to retain my 'voice'). I'm quietly excited. No big parties, just a quick blog post from my room, which I will follow up with a gluten-free donut and ice-cream (spotted the donuts yesterday and couldn't resist). Just a quick blog post to download some thoughts in my head. I went for a walk today and stopped to take a pic of this bloom. I think it's a magnolia blossom. The buds are fuzzy. It's really important to get some exercise in as self-care, when working on projects like writing books.
I have only two more chapters to edit/re-write out of 31 for my memoir. All going well, I'm on track to self-publish it next month. I wanted to include a little bit about why I change my name, in case I edit it out (if I have way more pages than expected when do further formatting). If you're like me, and your mind either has a gazillion linked ideas, resulting in shutdowns (unable to think, feel, do anything), plus short-term memory impairments, then there are ways to capture things, to use creatively, later. Some ways are journalling and visual arts.
I decided to crack open a journal from 2018, specifically with September in mind. To see if there were other reasons I am quite set on publishing my memoir in September 2023 (so far, that is well within reach). September 2018 was when I painted Snowball, who became the cover art for my novel, Pet Purpose: Your Unspoken Voice. The painting helped me to focus on completing my goal. I self-published Pet Purpose in 2021. One of the great things about being an independent 'indie' author, is that I can choose my own publication date. With flexibility to move things around, if I need to.
I had therapy today (for PTSD). My clinicial psychologist asked, 'Why September?' as that's the month I'm aiming for. In this blog post, I'll give a few reasons why, with a little context. A very talented artist friend asked me if I'd intended for my fire goddess painting to be named 'Devine' rather than 'Divine.' I actually checked back and her name is definitely 'Devine.' She's mentioned in my memoir, now in the polishing stages.
I don't want to drastically alter the manuscript, so I've been writing some blog posts with additional linked information, for those interested in my creative process. The memoir I'm currently finalising, is probably way more accurate than a typical memoir, as I've spent a lot of time cross-checking my journals, vlog etc. I decided to cross-check about the origins of why I chose 'Devine.' I was editing a bit of my memoir, Bipolar Courage: Are you sure you're not autistic? The story is written and I'm two-thirds of the way through, polishing it, best I can. I was quite amused at my own writing, which I cross-checked with a video, as I wasn't sure if I'd lip-synched or sang along to a song. I laughed when I watched some of it back.
|
Xanthe Wyse('Zan-thee Wise'). Disclaimer: the author of this blog is not an expert by profession and her opinions should not be taken as expert advice.
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|