By now, a lot of people already know that I’ve written a book, but it won’t hurt to say it again – I’ve written a book.
However, what a lot of people don’t know are the reasons why I wrote it, and the process I’ve been through to get to where I am now, which is in touching distance of launching.
Pregnancy Announcement:
First, let me take you back 7 years. I had been writing a blog for a little while called ‘Ellis in Wonderland,’ and was covering all sorts of different subjects, from rubbish drivers to reality TV. In May 2017, my wife and I went for our 12-week scan and needed an imaginative way of revealing that we were having a baby. So, I wrote a blog post and changed the name of the blog to ‘Dad’s the Word.’
Blog Evolution:
From there my blogs became a lot more targeted. I was writing about new pregnancy milestones that we were experiencing and then my adventures as a parent (which now stand at more than seven years and counting.) I then became a stay-at-home Dad/Freelance Copywriter/Business Owner, and my experiences became very niched.
I kept getting told that my viewpoint was unique, and I felt at the time that my newfound title of Stay-at-Home Dad was still somewhat of a taboo.
So, a couple of years ago a friend of mine suggested that I write a book, and I’ll admit it’s never something I thought of doing. As time went on though I became more and more convinced that I could do it. I had the knowledge, and the experience, and plenty of great stories, so I sat down and started writing.
Starting the book:
OK, I didn’t just start writing, I sat down and planned out different chapter names, thinking in chronological order about things like ‘When Do You Feel Like a Dad?’ ‘The birth’ ‘The First Six Months’ and eventually ‘Two Under Two.’ From there I started writing, and had to focus on it in mornings and evenings, fitting it around actual work, and ironically, parenting.
Within 12-18 months of getting started I’d written about 28,000 words and filled the 12 chapters. But what to do from there was unchartered territory. I could write, but I didn’t know what the next stages in getting it published were.
Self-publishing vs Hybrid vs Finding a Publisher/Agent:
I knew a few people who had published books before, so I asked around for their advice – A LOT – and it was during that process I was kindly offered by an editor to look at my first three chapters for free. That was great until she tore it apart, telling me (kindly) that it was too autobiographical for a self-help book and that the order could do with some work.
Of course, I sulked for a day or so before pulling myself together and realising the worst thing – she was right. It took me months to work through the book and rewrite my chapters so that they read more like a helpful book and less like an extension of my life/blog. I also made a list of publishers/agents and started contacting them with my work to see if they wanted to snap it up.
Where We Are Now:
Fast forward a few more months, and more than two years since I started writing the book, and I’d had a few rejections from potential publishers. So, rather than wallow I decided to push forward and go down the self-publishing route. And now, after receiving feedback from one of my best friends, my Dad, and Jess, I’m about a month away from launching my debut book.
The goal for me when I first became a writer was never becoming a published author, but soon I’ll be able to say that’s the case. And yes, I will share a more technical journey of what the journey to self-publishing looks like, but for now – it’s time to plan a launch event.