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Completed at Last

August 16, 2018 by Bob Kelly

“Be yourself and your readers will follow you anywhere. Try to commit an act of writing and they will jump overboard to get away.”

~ William Zinsser

As I was just saying, (OK, it was way back on May 25), preparing a book proposal “can be almost as difficult and time-consuming as writing the book itself.” Now, nearly three months later, the only change I’d make to that statement would be to delete the word “almost.” Thanks in large measure to the late and great William Zinsser, the deed is finally done and my proposal is now safely in the hands of my literary agent.

I always get a bit sheepish when I use that last term; it seems a bit pretentious. But I don’t know any other way to describe Gary; that’s what he is – my agent. He’s been representing me for 20-plus years, and does a great job, but whatever he may have earned as a result of my meager output has been miniscule indeed.

It was a great relief to finally transfer the proposal from my desk to his, although the process of attracting a publisher can also be time-consuming, so it’s much too early to start celebrating. I started working on the manuscript more than a decade ago, and the story I tell in it is even older. The book’s working title is Sheltered in the Shadow: And a Man Called “Tremendous.” I’ll tell you more about it in future posts.

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  • ► 2019 (2)
    • ► January (2)
      • Shot Down by Amazon!
      • Thoughts for the New Year
  • ▼ 2018 (59)
    • ► December (1)
      • Happy Birthday to Jesus - and Me!
    • ► November (4)
      • The Power of Questions
      • The Apostrophe Protection Society
      • Listen to Your Writing
      • Change of Address
    • ► September (8)
      • Leaving Readers Dangling - and Confused
      • Strategic Incompetence? There's a Word for It!
      • Watch Your Language!
      • Getting His Words Mixed!
      • Logophobia - and Other Diseases!
      • The Straight Scoop!
      • The Joy of Lex
      • The Proofreader’s Role
    • ▼ August (6)
      • Schmoozing? Or Losing?
      • Celebrating Bad Writing
      • What’s Up?
      • Feeling Unappreciated?
      • Completed at Last
      • A Must Read – Times Two!
    • ► May (7)
      • Favorite Words
      • Preparing a Book Proposal
      • Quintessence – Part 2
      • Quintessence – Part 1
      • Resources for Writers
      • The Power of the Tongue
      • “Reasons” not to Change
    • ► April (8)
      • Paronomasia? Say What!
      • The Biker
      • New Books
      • Condoughlences
      • Tax Time
      • A Sense of Humor
      • I’m Glad You Asked
      • National Humor Month!
    • ► March (9)
      • Play Ball
      • Banished Words
      • The "Fighting" Irish? I Object!
      • My Friend Patrick and Me - Part 2
      • My Friend Patrick and Me - Part 1
      • Opening Lines!
      • David Wins - Again!
      • Three Strikes and You're Out!
      • How Readable Is Your Writing? (Part 2)
    • ► February (7)
      • How Readable Is Your Writing? (Part 1)
      • Writing: The Preposition Position
      • Words: Loaded Pistols
      • Twenty-six – That’s All You Get!
      • Want to Write That Book? What's Stopping You? (Part 2)
      • Twenty-six – That’s All You Get!
      • How’s Your Deportment?
    • ► January (9)
      • Why Do We Quote?
      • Down with Literacy
      • A Little Bit More
      • The Ghostwriter’s Role
      • ‘Tain’t What You Say!
      • Adjectives and Banana Peels
      • Note Worthy
      • Painting Word Pictures
      • Words – A Love Affair
  • ► 2017 (3)
    • ► December (3)
      • New Year’s Day – a Vial Experience!
      • The New Year
      • The Reason for the Season!

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