As I mentioned before, I have written a book about a man named George Wheaton. He was my paternal grandmother’s great-grandfather. I want to share what I’ve learned in the process of documenting his life and attempting to publish it in a book format. I started around the beginning of 2021, and I finished a final draft by the end of 2022. It’s ready to be published, either by one of the academic presses that are reviewing my proposal or via the self-publishing route. Now that I’m in this waiting period, I am reflecting on what I’ve learned in the process – what I wish I had done differently and what I think I did just right. Here are the first 7 that I’ve come up with.
I wish I had…
…made a flexible timeline based on considerations of tasks that need to be accomplished. I had imagined arbitrarily that I could finish the book in a year, but I didn’t properly account for the time demands associated with activities like ongoing study, gathering additional information and support material, travel requirements, and consultation with other colleagues. I also didn’t budget for fatigue, illness, and good old-fashioned lack of motivation. Make a timeline, and be as realistic as possible.
…prepared a book proposal on the front end. An author would write a book proposal explaining to potential publishers the reasons her book would be marketable and worthy of their investment. When I first started this project, I had decided that going through a traditional publisher would be too time-consuming and overwhelming, eliminating my need for a book proposal. However, after being urged by my editor to reach out to some academic presses, I had to write one. Ultimately, I found that writing the proposal was really beneficial in helping me understand my objectives and my audience. The takeaway is that, regardless of your overall publishing path, writing a book proposal might help you organize your thoughts about your work and its intended impact.
…asked for permission in real time from the people providing information I cited in my book. I didn’t realize that I needed to get formal permission from people to include interview material, access to DNA results, photos, etc. I thought that a verbal agreement was sufficient, but there are specific forms that can and should be used to cover the necessary bases. Even if an agency you’ve contacted gives you their form to sign, you still might need to have them fill out your own form.
…documented my sources all the way along instead of at the end of my journey. It’s always such a pain to me to do citations and bibliographies. In middle school, we learned MLA style; in college and grad school, we used APA; and in the genealogy world, we use the Chicago Manual of Style plus Elizabeth Shown Mills’ Evidence Explained. It felt like too much, so I just procrastinated, which is my very best bad habit. On my next project, I definitely will write my citation as I find the necessary sources, and I hope you will, too..
I’m glad that I…
…sought a broad understanding of the publishing process. I used online resources (e.g., Reedsy) and read books that explained my options for publishing (e.g., traditional, vanity, and self- publishing), editing services, and other aspects of a pretty complex process. Online forums are great for finding freelancers to provide editing, design, and other services, and I do plan to use them if I end up self-publishing.
…maintained contact with my genealogy buddies, established new connections at my local library’s writing group, and tapped into my talented friend circles. By sharing my new endeavor, I got much needed advice and ideas about tools, resources, and freelancers. In fact, one of my colleagues helped me do some research and also pointed me to an editor; I even found an artist friend to design my cover.
…edited and re-edited. I think my book is better than it was when I first finished it because of multiple edits, not only by me but also the others I invited to help me. My husband and oldest daughter reviewed parts of my manuscript, and my stepmother reviewed the whole thing. Also, I hired a freelance editor/author who did a “soft edit” and who has turned out to be a great mentor. In sum, editing is like getting a medical second opinion; it can help you understand and refine your writing efforts and clarify the steps you take to create a valuable product.
The Wheaton Book Project has yielded plenty of lessons for aspiring authors like myself. To re-cap, here are some of those lessons: be sure to make a realistic timeline; prepare a book proposal; ask permission to use information before you document it; prepare your citations as you identify the sources you need; educate yourself about the publishing process; access your social network for ideas and resources; and edit and re-edit. I hope my reflections help you to improve your writing processes!
The Genealogy Griot 