That’s it now then...
Well, on Wednesday I finally submitted the completed manuscript for ‘The Ninth Paradox’, or ‘T9P’ as I’ve somewhat bizarrely started referring to it. What’s next? Using the term ‘gr8’ in a text message? [Shudders]
It’s fantastic and terrifying to have finally sent it off; fantastic to have my life back after proof-reading for the last eon, but terrifying as I’ve done it all myself and I’m sure that there’ll be some irritating little typos that have survived my endless sifting.
So, vital stats time; it clocks in at 101,794 words and 532 pages. Surprisingly, proof-reading the second-to-final draft has highlighted my apparent fondness for the word ‘festoon’. I honestly don’t know how it happened, but it kept cropping up. Rest-assured, the final version is festoon-lite. Nice word though. Festoon.
Most of my recent waking life has been spent in a turgid hell of continuous page numbers, odd/even page headers/footers and other formatting delights. But now I am free, stepping into the sunlight, blinking at the brightness and the possibilities beyond. (What do other people do at weekends? Do I need to start visiting garden centres?)
As you may be aware, the book is being published as part of the Arts Council funded YouWriteOn.com scheme and will be available on this website and also via the major online retailers. So big thanks to the YWO folks and you can browse the work of other new authors on the link above.
All the best,
Jr
Sunday, 2 November 2008