The Second Time Around
I was pleased to get my book out last year. It was exciting, scary and surreal.
One of the most vulnerable things about it was I knew the “defects.” I had never had the booked edited. I felt I was already behind in getting the book out; I didn’t want to delay the process any longer.
In other words I had procrastinated for so long I decided to accelerate and skip part of the process.
This is a way I behave. I’m pretty fasted pace, focused on the outcome but not necessarily the details. Of course I can be at times but this was not one of them!
Knowing there were grammatical errors held me back from promoting my book in more corporate environments.
So I decided to go back around and do what I could have done in the first place.
But what I found is I got the book edited at the right time.
In addition to the grammar, I had content changes I wanted to make. I had more stories I wanted to include (although the subtitle remains unchanged) and more insight to share, based on my talks and feedback I received.
I wouldn’t have had all that if I had the book edited in the first place.
Only a few people commented about the lack of editing. That’s probably because I was so upfront about it I didn’t give others a chance to say something!
The editing or lack of editing didn’t take away from the theme of the book. But it took away my ambition and determination in moving the book forward.
When I recognize something deters my ambition:
• I don’t have to beat myself up for trying to change the past
• I can change whatever it is it to get back into action for the future
• Or I can sit with it until I get bored!
So now its time to market the 2nd edition of my book. How do I get people who bought the first edition to buy the 2nd? Would people buy it because it’s been edited, 70 pages longer and easier to read because it contains the bold and italics it originally was supposed to have? Will people buy it for others as a gift?
I suppose I’ll find out!