Some publishers give you advance warning. Many do not. As a struggling writer, after I submit one manuscript I move on to the next project, knowing proofs will eventually come. The thing is, I’m obsessive. When I’m in the middle of a project I can think of little else, thoughts of it leaking into other activities throughout the day. I’m in the middle of one such project, as I have been for at least three months now. Then the proofs came. If you write books you know that proofs always come with deadlines. You need to drop everything and prioritize them. I read many academic books with tons of errors, and I think I know why. If proofs come at an inopportune time, you read them as other required activities (I’m looking at you, 9-2-5) permit. For me, it’s difficult to let go of my present project. My current fascination.
The proofs for Sleepy Hollow as American Myth arrived yesterday. I’m excited for this book. I have hopes of reaching out to local magazines and pitching stories about the Legend this autumn. But I’m red hot into a new project. My mind is of an age where there’s no guarantee that I’ll remember precisely what I was thinking if I lay aside my present project for a week to read the proofs. Indeed, the last two weekends have been so busy with other things that I haven’t had time to watch any horror movies at all. Just yesterday I awoke at 4 a.m. feeling hopelessly behind already, a feeling that lasted all day. Then at 4 p.m. the proofs arrived. ( For context, 4 a.m. is late for me. I’ve been waking up later due to that pointless ritual of annual time changes which, like everything else, the government can’t seem to get right. In any case, proofs trump all.)
My time is extremely regimented. I had to drop all committee work at our local faith community because the meetings were all in the evening, scheduled for after when I’d normally be asleep. I wake early to write and read before the snowplow of the 9-2-5 throws me off the road for another day. Everyone who talks to me feels that they don’t have time for what’s important any more. The proofs are here and I’ll get them back by the deadline. I’ve never been late once told when they have to be in. My accountant tells me that anything that leads to royalties, no matter how small, counts as a second job. I hope this one sells well enough to make it feel like that. In the meantime, please don’t come knocking because I’ll pretend I’m not at home.
