You know how my blogs are always really funny, or really profound, or really both? Isnt’ that great? Don’t you just love that?
Yeah–that won’t be happening today. In fact, this right here is the only blog I’ll be posting today. Why, you ask? (You did, too. You know you did. Don’t deny it. I felt it.) Because today I have got to spend some time working on an outline due for a book that’s due later this year.
Explain more, you say? Okay. A publisher buys a book, right? Except they don’t buy the whole book, because it’s not written yet. What they buy is the proposal for a book that you sent them; they buy, basically, the idea of a book.
For that idea–and for the (mondo-hairy!) contract you sign all about how that idea will eventually become a book that will come out at such-and-such a time, and so on–you, the author, get (yay!) paid by the publisher. Usually, “upon signing,” you get one-third of the total amount the publisher is going to pay you for that book; that is, you get one-third of your “advance.”
A little bit later, you have to turn in an outline for that book. (Actually, that outline is usually part of the initial proposal–but we’re doing this particular book in a different way.) Once the publisher okays that outline, you get (yay!) paid again, usually the second third of your Major Simoleans.
Finally–months later–you turn in your completed manuscript for that book. Once the publisher has okayed that mss., you get paid the rest of your money. And you’re done! (Except you are sooooooooo not done. But that’s a whole other … universe.)
Point being: I’m working on the outline, for a book that’s already been sold, that’s due this Monday.
Monday!
Wish me luck. Please.
Oh–and talent.
And a vigorous work ethic.
And all kinds of brilliant insights that I articulate with creatively stunning clarity, humor, and compassion.
So, come on now. Get busy wishing me those things!
Hey. No one said being my friend was going to be easy.
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