Introducing Our Writer Unboxed Book: AUTHOR IN PROGRESS (With Content That Will Blow Your Mind Then Stuff Your Brain Back into Your Skull)
By Therese Walsh | June 9, 2016 |
It is my pleasure to introduce you to the face of our very first WU book, Author in Progress! Isn’t it eye-catching and full of energy? I just love it.
I thought doing a cover-reveal post with a little something extra would be nice, so I asked my editor if she’d mind my reprinting the intro I wrote for Author in Progress, which reveals how the idea came to be, and why I believe this book is stuffed full of the very best secrets and fuel for not-yet-published authors. She agreed, and so here we are!
Over the coming months, you’ll learn a little more about Author in Progress, including a run-down of the book’s chapters. I’m ridiculously proud of this book, particularly because the essays created by our full slate of WU contributors are some of the best they’ve written — and you know that’s saying a lot, because when aren’t they fantastic? Author in Progress is already available to pre-order at all of the usual haunts, too, though the cover is slightly different on these sites; have a look at 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.
Without further ado: Welcome to the beginning.
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Introduction
After I got my publishing deal, the question I received most often from not-yet-published authors was this: How did you do it?
The pithy answer? You put your butt in a chair and write.
Don’t you want to punch that answer in the face? It’s like hearing someone with great hair say that she simply rolls out of bed in the morning and fluffs it a little. You know she has a cabinet filled with gels and sprays and various anti-frizz products, but she doesn’t want to share her secrets or admit to the mirror time required. She just wants you to admire the final product.
Well, butt in chair is only part of the story, and the least fantastical part at that. So let’s try again.
How did you do it?
I spent several years writing and editing a version of the manuscript that would become my debut novel, but it wouldn’t become my debut until after I gutted all of that polished prose. I tore the story to the ground and then built it back up with a new (more innovative) structure, new (shades-of-gray) characters, new (layered) storylines, and a new (stronger) voice. I finished the manuscript for a second time, and that version is what finally sold. The “formula,” in broad strokes, was this:
- Write.
- Receive feedback with an open mind.
- Improve myself to improve my story.
- Repeat.
These steps contained fine brushstrokes, of course, as well as dozens of additional questions: What do you write? How often should you write? Do you need to take classes, read books, get an MFA? What barriers might you face, and how do you overcome them? How do you receive feedback, and where do you find it? How do you process it all? Which changes do you—and don’t you—make? What if you want to quit? How long must you go on? When is enough enough?
The purpose of Author in Progress is to answer those questions. This book offers guidance for the evolution of your manuscript and for yourself as a writer. We’ll walk you through the stages every novelist must face, whether you want a traditional publishing deal or to self-publish, and we’ll introduce you to the stumbling blocks you might encounter before writing, while writing, when asking for feedback or seeking instruction, through rewriting, and beyond.
That said, this is not a book that will teach you everything you want or need to know about writing. Rather, it will keep you writing by validating your experience. It will help you develop the myriad skills you’ll need to work as a professional novelist and overcome the most challenging hurdles. Because unless you’re a superhero, as you travel the road with your story, you’re going to get weary. You’re going to feel defeated by, even betrayed by, the words. You’re going to wonder if your experience is normal.
I can tell you with 99 percent certainty that it is normal.
It’s our goal with Author in Progress to help you find yourself in the pages, home in on your current struggle, discover a comrade, and persevere. You’ll come to understand that many of us have been, or currently are, on the road with you. And you’ll feel less alone.
Writing a novel is as much a mental exercise as it is a physical and intellectual one. So we suggest that you consider a new rule, a bookend if you will, to butt in chair: author aware.
The author who is aware of the road ahead is much more likely to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry than one who stumbles blindly in the dark.
The author who is aware that other writers travel that same road sees that he is not lost, that she has no reason to feel hopeless, that they are among friends.
The author who is aware begins to see a pattern—how each book takes its writer on a similar journey, whether that book is her first or twenty-first—and gains comfort in those parallels while learning more lucidly from each step.
The team at Writer Unboxed has provided a guiding light on that well-traveled road for more than a decade now, publishing more than 3,500 essays and interviews about the craft of writing and the writing life. It’s our pleasure to shine that same light for you here, and it’s our hope that you’ll join us on our website and our Facebook group (staging-writerunboxed.kinsta.cloud/facebook) whenever you need to be reminded that you do not walk the road alone. So often Writer Unboxed community members say they read exactly what they needed to read, exactly when they needed to read it, on our site. We hope you get that sense time and again as you read these pages.
Welcome to the tribe. Write on.
Therese Walsh
Editorial Director, Writer Unboxed
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.
This couldn’t happen to a more deserving leader in the community. Writer Unboxed has been my go-to site for all my writerly needs ever since I discovered it years ago and thought it was India.
Congrats, Therese and Kathleen, as well as all the excellent contributors who have made this book the go-to book for any authors-in-progress’ writerly journey. They will see that, rather than finding a new route to India, they’ve happened upon Shangri-La.
I can’t wait to receive my copy — hopefully in October, seeing as though I pre-ordered. And I definitely want to take it to the UnCon and fill it with everyone’s signatures.
W00t, w00t!
Lovely, Therese. Your intro captures what I love about Writer Unboxed, particularly these words – “You’ll come to understand that many of us have been, or currently are, on the road with you. And you’ll feel less alone.”
In addition to countless lessons I learn through the posts and conversations at WU (and there have been many), it is the sense of family that struck me from the start and keeps me coming home. So thrilled to be a small part of it, and can’t wait to get the book and see folks at the UnConference this fall.
Cheers!
Love the cover, Therese, and the intro. Well done. There is so much myth, misunderstanding and plain bad advice surrounding getting published.
Author in Progress will correct all that. When you know how things really work, you’re not helpless. When you have company on the trail, you have hope. Others have been there before you and can tell you how it is.
Excited to hold the actual book in my hands, and to read it. Congrats, chief.
Anyone else feel like Therese is torturing us, telling us all about this thing that is exactly what we need and then making us wait 5 months to get it? I’ve really got to get better at the whole delayed gratification thing.
In all seriousness, this really does look like it captures exactly what I love about WU, and my writing and my life will be better for it.
Congrats to our fearless WU Leaders and Contributors. It’s a lovely, wide-awake cover and T., I heard your voice when I read the intro and feel that same calm I do when I come here to learn, or am in your presence physically. Well done. I truly believe this book is going to help so many writers out there, part of our fine tribe or not. Thank you for this.
I’ve been so lucky. Lucky to have discovered WU at the point in my writing journey that I did; lucky to have had so many of those serendipitous lessons just when I needed them; so lucky to have been a part of not just the WU team, but the community at large.
I’ve also been lucky enough to have been around when this idea was first born, and I said then that nothing like it exists, that it will become a vital and essential tool for those who discover it. The beauty of it is that it will be just what us authors-in-progress need, just when we need it – time and time again. And that beauty is born of its collaborative nature, just as WU is. It’s essential to the process of discovering ourselves that we are exposed to myriad voices and viewpoints. I’m honored to be one among so many great fellows.
In spite of the fact that it is a collaborative effort, none of it could exist without the dynamic vortex, the gravitational center of WU. There is no one else in the writerly world with the vision, empathy, humility, fostering nature, and creative energy to pull this off as gracefully and brilliantly as Therese Walsh has. Thanks, T, for being the sun in the WU solar system. The writerly world is brighter and warmer because of you.
That’s beautiful, Vaughn. Well said.
Thank you for these beautiful sentiments, Vaughn. And thank you, so much, for being such an important part of the WU team. It wouldn’t be the same without you.
I couldn’t agree more, Vaughn. Very well said!
Vaughn, you really are the bearer of the One Ring. (But it’s not that nasty one from Sauron, but one that gives off that warm, soft glow of generosity and spirit.) Good one.
What Vaughn said! Ditto! Thank you Therese and can’t wait to get the book!
This is such wonderful news. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to what appears to be an awesome book. Kudos to you.
“Butt in chair, author aware” — most succinct. The cover is great and I’m looking forward to having WU community in a book that I can sit out on the porch with :) Congratulations Therese!
Wonderful news! Can’t wait to read it. My local authors group will be very interested. Every success to you!
I just put in my pre-order! Writer Unboxed is one of my favorite writing-related sites, and I loved your panel at last year’s Writer’s Digest Conference. I can’t think of a more deserving group of people to have their messages and experiences shared with the world like this. :)
How exciting!
WU has become such an important part of my life. I can’t imagine going through my writing journey without the support and guidance from the community. Now some of that wisdom can be shared with a wider audience.
Excellent introduction, Therese! I’m proud to have been a part of the collaboration.
LOVE the cover. Love the colors. Love the open-me-up-and-read-me look. Congrats!!
This makes me so happy. :) Congrats all around!
Love the intro, love the cover, can’t wait to read this book.
Ditto to everything already said above. Just reading your wonderful intro this morning gave me the juice I need to press on with the day’s work. I can’t wait for the rest of it! Thank you for your vision, Therese, and your great big heart!
WOOT WOOT!
Dee Willson
Author of A Keeper’s Truth and GOT
Omigosh, the cover is fantastic! I cannot wait to read everyone’s essays. And I am so honored and excited to be part of this. <3
Well done, Therese. Can’t wait to read it. Kudos to my fellow WU contributors.
Just preordered it from Amazon! Waiting until November to receive it will probably be as tortuous as the last couple of months have been. The constant berating for my obvious (to me) lack of skills, questioning my chosen path, and laying on the floor with the dog in an uninspired funk has been difficult, to say the least. I look forward to gaining some insight, as well as the knowledge that my struggles are not unique.
Congratulations Therese, Kathleen, and all involved with this book, which is sure to become one of those dog-eared craft bibles that sit on the bookshelves of thousands of aspiring writers.
As one of the lucky few who was aware of this project from the start, I am so excited to share the cover (which I love) with everyone I know today. I am so honored to be included as one of the authors.
Vaughn said it above, but this is worth repeating. None of this could have been done without Therese Walsh, who has poured blood, sweat, and tears into building and maintaining this community we all call home. You are all kinds of awesome, T!
What a terrific asset this book will be for writers. I love the style and the friendliness of the introduction. It reflects the style and friendliness I have come to enjoy at WU since I have been reading the blog regularly. It always assures me that I am not alone, and that is such an important thing for us who do labor alone at our keyboards. Coming here, is like getting together with my critique group. It energizes as well as informs. Thanks to the whole team.
Aww, Therese, you fibbed. You told me that the print version of Author would be on two stone tablets, modeled after what Moses brought down from the mountain. I thought we were going for publishing innovation here!
I guess we’ll just have to settle for the bitchinest [technical term] stuff from the frothy minds of WU, which ain’t bad. Thanks for all you’ve done with this—really looking forward to getting my grubby hands on a copy.
Congratulations. May your Tribe live long and prosper.
This is great! Congratulations all around!
Even though I am not writing with an eye toward publishing, I just pre-ordered a copy. I enjoy and appreciate the writers here–and I’ve learned so much from the posts and comments–that its my pleasure to support this community as best I can. WU has become as essential to my morning routine as coffee.
The end of that intro gave me chills! The reason Writer Unboxed is so special is not just the content, but the heart. Therese and the other wonderful contributors really care about the community and helping each other, and we can all sense that. I’m so very honored to be included — both in the community and the book. Fantastic cover, too. I can’t wait to hold it in my hands!
Your intro was enough to make me pre-order this also. I love the additional, “Author beware” to the tried and true, “Butt in chair.” All so true. You guys do a marvelous job at inspiring us all. Look forward to receiving my copy.
Yay for the reveal! Your intro built such anticipation, Therese, thanks for sharing it here. What a mountaintop experience for you and WU, opening who knows what kind of doors! Thrilled to contribute and eager to stand on that mountaintop and wave the Author in Progress flag! (Ahem…off to do a little preliminary social media flag-waving now…)
Hearty congrats for what sounds like a very promising and valuable tool. I am most definitely an “author in progress” and already have learned so much from those who contribute to this community. Thank you for all you do!
I’m releasing my book next month and I’m on board with showing your audience the cover and introduction. Providing free value to readers will always pay off!
Wonderful. Looking forward to this!
This looks so absolutely wonderful, Therese and everyone else at WU! I’ve been around the blog since it started and it remains my go-to source for terrific, useful, and cutting-edge writing advice. Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to get my copy.
So excited to get this in the fall. Hooray and big congrats to you!
Yay! I loved being a part of this. Great opening, Therese. Can’t wait until the book is out so I can read everyone else’s essays. :-)
Thank you for all of the support, everyone!
Huzzah! Therese, as one of the early crew of the good ship WU, I want to say how proud I am of you and what you do. A big heart, a quick mind, and all kinds of writing talent are just the beginnings of what makes you a writer’s friend indeed. YAYYYYYYYYY!
I think the thing I like most about the introduction — and the concept behind the book — is that it focuses on building writers rather than manuscripts. It recognizes that you aren’t gong to be able to write well until you grow into the profession.
Looking forward to the launch.
Therese–
I’m late to the party as usual, but let me add my congrats to you and to all those behind Author in Progress. As a writer AND as a reader, I am grateful to have Writer Unboxed as a resource.
Oooh! SO exciting!
This sounds fantastic. I can’t wait to read it!