An EXCLUSIVE Peek Inside WU’s First Book: Author in Progress
By Therese Walsh | August 2, 2016 |
The Writer’s Digest team and I are in the last stage of pre-production for Author in Progress. We’re reviewing final pages, doing a last nip-and-tuck before those pages head to the printer and then the stores. I thought I’d share an annotated Table of Contents (TOC) with you today, which will reveal a few of the book’s surprises.
James Scott Bell has written a fantastic foreword for us, which I was just able to preview yesterday! Thank you, Jim!
The xxx’s circled in purple above mark the spot where page numbers will eventually appear. Otherwise–wouldn’t that be fun? A game of ‘guess the page!’
I shared the Introduction I wrote with you a while back, but for anyone who missed it, you can read that HERE.
The Community Conversation header, also circled in purple, marks the first of a series of five special essays. Not only are the essays themselves tremendous, but they’re followed by expansive comments by some of WU’s most engaging and thought-provoking commenters. Big thanks to C.G. Blake, Vijaya Bodach, Paula Cappa, Valerie Chandler, L.J. Cohen, Ron Estrada, Tonia Marie Harris, Natalie Hart, Barry Knister, Donald Maass, Barbara Morrison, Bernadette Phipps-Lincke, Thomas Henry Pope, Alisha Rohde, Susan Setteducato, Mike Swift, Dee Willson, and Grace Wynter for participating in this truly unboxed initiative!
A further twist to the Community Conversation essays: When you purchase the book, you’ll have the opportunity to link to these same articles on WU and join the conversation via private QR codes.
Some articles have special headers. The duet of articles above, by Jael McHenry and Catherine McKenzie, features a debate of sorts between two perspectives– should you or shouldn’t you try for an MFA. Below, you’ll see another–a debate about plotting v. pantsing, featuring Anne Greenwood Brown and Ray Rhamey.
You’ve probably noticed the section breaks. Author in Progress is broken into seven parts, which I believe represent the seven stages every writer should go through when writing a book. They are:
PREPARE
WRITE
INVITE
IMPROVE
REWRITE
PERSEVERE
and
RELEASE
Part Three, INVITE, is one of my favorites. Receiving feedback is crucial to evolving a writer and a book.
Oops! I found an error here: WU contributor Brunonia Barry was listed as a guest, which I whited out before Bru noticed and reached out to ask if I needed to tell her anything. ;-) I’ll report the glitch back to Writer’s Digest. Little things like this are common in the end-stages, and emphasize the importance of reviewing final pages with your publisher. Even with half a dozen smart people reviewing pages, there are bound to be a few mistakes.
Also circled in purple, you’ll see a new essay category, Eye on the Prize. These articles show you how and why the same skills you learn throughout each of the stages as a not-yet-published author repeat as a published author, in ways that might surprise you. They’ll also suggest things you could or should do as you work on your novel, that can help you once you’re published. This particular article, by Sarah McCoy, features great outtakes from an array of published authors: Melanie Benjamin, Matthew Dicks, Karen White, Jane Green, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke (who write as a team), Benjamin Percy, and B.A. Shapiro. (Other published authors appear in a few of the other essays, but I have to leave some surprises unspoiled, right?)
In the coming weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase several of these essays as advance mini-books, which will be made available on Amazon.com and through Writer’s Digest’s website. These mini-books contain essays by Porter Anderson, Kathleen McCleary, Ray Rhamey, John Vorhaus, and Heather Webb. (The full essays will also appear in Author in Progress.)
I’m thrilled to feature two guest essays in Author in Progress. Our first guest essay, by Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware, is a must-read article called Tired Writer, Take Care. It’s filled with brilliant advice that can help exhausted and sometimes disheartened writers from falling victim to scams.
Just because you’ve finished the book doesn’t mean you’ve finished the journey. Articles in the final section, RELEASE, feature Allie Larkin, our second guest (and former contributor) M.J. Rose, and Sophie Masson.
[You can see a somewhat enlarged version of the Table of Contents here, by the way: AIP TOC (002)]
Oh, you guys, I can’t adequately convey how proud I am of this book, and the incredible team that gathered for the effort. I have the pages in front of me now, and I’m just beyond happy with them. Every essay is great. Every essayist delivered. It’s a moment, for me, for WU, and hopefully for you, too, once the book is published. Speaking of — you knew I’d include some pre-order links, right? You can find Author in Progress on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound. It has a soft-release date of November 1st, though many will receive pre-ordered books in mid-October. Consider, too, adding it to your ‘want to read’ shelf on Goodreads.
Thank you to the entire WU team for your incredible support for this book. Write on.
p.s. If you’re interested in receiving an ARC of Author in Progress to review on your writer-centric website, please send a note to me via our contact form. Please include your name, the URL of your site, and a description of your site’s primary audience. (Need an ARC primer? Ironically, Jael McHenry posted about ARCs just yesterday.)
p.p.s. If you’re as excited about Author in Progress as we are, please help us spread the word by sharing this post! Thank you!
Therese Walsh (she/her) co-founded Writer Unboxed in 2006 and is the site’s editorial director. She was the editor of WU’s only book, Author in Progress, and runs the Writer Unboxed UnConference.
Her second novel, The Moon Sisters, received starred reviews and was named one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and Book Riot.
Learn more about Therese on her website, and sign up for her newsletter to be among the first to hear about any new projects.
Thanks for sharing this news. I can’t wait until the book comes out. Let me add my deep thanks and gratitude to all who contributed to this book.
Thank you for being a part of it, Chris! The community conversation sections bring a new dimension to the books that I think our readers will love.
Very much looking forward to reading this book. It will be so nice to take on retreats and such when I’m unplugged.
Thank you, Vijaya, for being a part of this!
I’m so freaking excited! My stomach flutters when I see the names of all my friends. I can’t wait for the book release and UnCon.
Thank you, Val, for being a part of this as well! I’m doubly excited for November.
There’s only one word that will describe this book: Epic. And it’s difficult to adequately describe the one-woman powerhouse that brought it together and made it so epic. She’s truly a wonder… Hey, new nickname time? I think so. Great job, Wonder T!
Thank you, V, especially for all of your early encouragement during the conceptualization stages for AiP. You’re a writer-friend’s best cheerleader.
Can’t wait to hold this in my hands!!
I can’t, either! Thank you, Susan, for being a part of WU’s community conversations — in the book, and so often here on WU. You are appreciated!
I’m always so proud of this WU Tribe and am busting my buttons over this book. Thank you to all the wonderful contributors who have over the years helped me along this journey in various ways. Mama T., you are a revelation of character and grace. I can’t wait for this book.
Thank YOU for being a part of this, Tonia. I’m so glad your voice is in these pages, too!
This is looking so fantastic! I can’t wait to hold the finished book in my hands and read the whole thing, plus see all the formatting and cool, clever little extra features. What a special project you’ve nurtured, Therese!
I can’t wait, either. The design elements are really something. And there are a few surprises not shown in the TOC. Thank you for being part of this, Annie. I absolutely LOVE your essay; it’s one of my favorites.
Awesome.
Thank you for all the wisdom you brought to this book, Don!
Fine job, T.! It’s already on the “want to eat” shelf in the breakfast nook of my imagination. Will trill its treats on Twitter.
Ha! Love you, Tom Bentley.
It looks seriously substantial! Well, done, all. Therese in particular.
Thank you, Juliet! It was a team effort in every way.
Therese! SO much of the credit goes to wonderful you. I cannot imagine how much time you have spent on this beautiful baby. Huge congrats to you!
Thank you, Sarah!
This is awesome. In the true sense of the word in every way. I’m so looking forward to this book. Writer Unboxed has been my Kryptonite defense against all the Resistance I encounter when I dare to put stories on the page. And now I’ll have a book to read and to keep handy whenever I start to doubt and second guess myself. I agree with Vaughn, on your Super T. nickname. Because Therese, you’re a superhero in my book. One that wields a pen instead of a cape.
You guys are the best. Thank you!
You clever people, you, using the full table of contents as a marketing device. I’m hooked–even though I already have a surplus of writing books and thought earlier I would pass on this one. You guys have closed the deal.
Isn’t it drool-worthy? I’m glad you like it, Anna!
I’ve had my copy pre-ordered since February, and now–like everyone else–can’t wait to get my hands, and eyes, on it. Just think, all these new essays at one time, instead of one per day! I feel like a kid who’s just been told they can have the whole cake. (Don’t worry, I’ll still make my daily visit to WU. I’ve learned so much here about writing, about myself–even about the grandchildren I’m writing for.)
You can have your cake and…read it, too? Or something. Thanks for your excitement, CK!
Wow, the book just gets better and better! I was already looking forward to it, but now that I see the full table of contents I’m blown away by just how MUCH material it covers. Delightful. And so many familiar names…I kept smiling as I read this post. It’s like you’ve managed to bottle the Unboxed magic, Therese. :-)
Can’t wait for my pre-ordered copy to arrive!
I keep saying it’s like a love letter to WU. :-)
So excited!
This book looks so practical and interesting–and with its many contributors I enjoy, there is really only one problem I see: I must wait until November to buy it!
Can’t wait to read:)
It looks so great! There will be copies for sale at the UnCon, right? (asks the procrastinator-at-ordering)
Yes, there will be!
This is huge.
It’s like a “We Are The World” for writers!
Haha. You know? It kind of is! Love it.
Aahhhh it sounds so cool and I can’t believe I get to be part of it. I had no idea there would be interactive elements. I should have known there would be some nifty, unique thing. We are UNBOXED, after all! ;)
I’m so excited about the interactive element. So. Excited!
Woot woot! So cool!
Dee Willson
Author of A Keeper’s Truth
Humbled to be included. Grateful for the journey. Excited for the end result.
Oh, my, my, my! I’m sitting here literally trembling with excitement. I saw this over the past few days on social media but wanted to wait a couple of days to spread the news so it would trickle out instead of in a deluge that may be lost on anyone who wasn’t online that day (heck, I’ll be sharing this a few times on s.m. :) ).
Thanks so much for allowing me to be a part. It was such an honor! And a joy. Things have been crazy hectic and seeing this laid out and coming to fruition is filling me with such happiness.
It all looks so good. Great concept. I can’t wait to get my copy. I preordered (a long time ago) and hope it comes in before UnCon. But I’m leaving super early, like, the end of Oct., so I don’t know. I’m going to do some visiting on the way.
Congrats on this. You really are something special, T. <3
Anyway…sharing…
Thank YOU for being a part of this, Mike! And, yes, you should definitely get it before UnCon. You should get it sometime in mid-October.
Can’t wait to get my hands on this, Therese!
I have it mind as gifts to my writer’s group as well! Wishing you great good luck with it!
Gillian
Thank you so much, Gillian! I hope you love it as much as I do.