PLEASE DON’T MISS THE END OF THE BLOG WHERE I ASK FOR YOUR OPINION.
I suspect this is going to be the first in a series of articles based on the various dances I do as I work with different clients. I don’t mean dances pejoratively. Each writer is distinctive in communication style, intention for their writing, psychological (as well as temporal and financial) investment in their project, and vision for the outcome. So each brings a distinctive rhythm to our interactions.
This is indeed a relationship so, while I’m flexible and curious and encouraging, my own personality and experience contribute to how we work together. Dance in that sense. Which reminds me of dancing with girls in high school (I’m old enough that physical contact – and patriarchy – gave boys the “lead”) – some were like trying to steer a tank through a jungle, some had such minimal substance that they provided as little participation as a feather, some were an equal partnership of delighted embodiment.
I am just finishing up editing for a writer whose circles I had passed through, so we’d had some formal relationship before, and always positive. When a medical colleague of his whom I worked with some years ago suggested he hire me, he didn’t realize he knew me. As we approached the coffee house from opposite directions for our first meeting, he broke into a delighted smile. Good beginning.
Since then, the working relationship has been personal, pleasant, enthusiastic, and educational for him. He brought no preconceptions of what to expect from me, no experience of writing, nor understanding of the publishing process. Light as a feather dancer and completely receptive to guidance.
He gave me his manuscript, I marked it up and made the changes. In a few places I drew on knowledge that we both had which expanded his content. But he was clear about what fit his experience and what was too big a stretch for him to stand behind as the author. Imagination is delightful, clarity is definitive. Suggestion, explanation, cogitation, and agreement. We were graceful dancers.
We decided that self-publishing is most appropriate. I invited book designer Jeff Brandenburg into the process and offered to work with him, since the writer had no pretense to esthetics and my original training was in design – as well as being conversant with book construction. (Aside: in my elementary school, eighth grade was predominantly devoted to what was essentially a dissertation – but beyond the research and writing, we handwrote a true manuscript on 32 page signatures, illustrated the end pages, title page and chapter initials, then bound the book in suede. I still have mine if you want to borrow it. When I peruse it, I remember every challenge and emotion I encountered in the process. That was a relevant education! John Dewey inspired.)
While I was in the garden trying to photograph a butterfly for my last post, one happened to appear in front of a mass of Mexican sage in bloom. When I saw the purple and silvery green of the photo, I realized those were the perfect colors for the cover. I sent Jeff the photo and gave him an idea for how to work it (I’m InDesign ignorant – and fear for my well-being if I learn it: I can imagine it becoming addictive).
He sent back some samples and instead of trying to give him suggestions for tweaking by email and phone, when I was in San Francisco I sat over his shoulder and we refined it and emailed it off to the author. (At this point in the book development process, he’s no longer a writer – he’s officially an author.)
Then we called him to get his opinion. He really liked it, but wanted to ask his wife (whom I adore) – which was completely appropriate, since the market for the book is predominantly women, and so far we had only three guys on the team. She was adamant about how it did not work. And he saw her point and agreed.
We reworked to meet her specifications and all seemed settled. Until a couple of days later when I woke up with the niggling feeling that it was not attractive to the intended audience.
NOW, DEAR READER, PLEASE WEIGH IN: WHICH DO YOU PREFER? given that the audience is predominantly women who have lost weight, regained some or all of it, and are repeating the cycle. The title says it all. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR CHOICE TO david@davidcolincarr.com. If you have suggestions for tweaking, let us know.
Cover #1 
Cover #2 
Cover #3 
Cover #4 
Until next time, delight in the process.
Download PDF: DCC_Dances with Writers- Vision, Opinion, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Savvy #1