Deborah Woehr

Prosperity - Draft Complete

This novel is by no means finished, but I’ve finally completed what I consider to be the final draft. Now all I have to do is polish the darned thing before submitting it to a professional editor. If there was anything I learned from compiling and editing the anthology is that I will never catch every mistake in this manuscript.

For now, I’m going to set this tome aside for what I call a “breather period.” Then I’ll start tackling the editing process in February.

In the meantime, I need to write up a synopsis (ick!) and a marketing plan. I’ve decided to self-publish Prosperity simply because there isn’t a huge market for ghost stories. Am I being a realist or a defeatist? I’m not sure.

All I’m sure of is that my goals have changed since I first started writing this novel back in 1997. I no longer obsess over getting traditionally published or making the bestseller list. Those things don’t matter to me anymore. I just want my stories to be read and enjoyed.

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9 Responses to “Prosperity - Draft Complete”

Benjamin Solah on 18 Dec 2006 at 1:56 am #

Congratulations, it must be such a thrill to get to the end. I used to get this thrill when I started reading big people’s novels when I got to the end. I imagine it would be something like that, only bigger.

I’m trying not to be blunt, but I think you’re being defeatist. Even if you’re open to going down the self-publishing road, I’d still have a go at shopping it around at the traditional places soon, even a small press. Just my initial thoughts.

deborah.woehr on 18 Dec 2006 at 7:00 am #

If I find myself enjoying what I’m reading, I’ll plow through until I get to the end. I wish this happened more often. As for my novel, I was happy to type “The End,” but I know it needs more work.

I respect your opinion. My husband agrees with you. I just keep remembering the experience one of my colleagues had with a major publisher. His manuscript sat in the “To Be Published” pile for two years before he was forced to pull it and submit it to another major publisher. That was three years ago, and his book still hasn’t been published.

Then there is the marketing aspect. Since I’ll be doing all that myself, I might as well go the self-publishing route.

fred charles on 18 Dec 2006 at 4:46 pm #

Good luck to you. I don’t have to tell you what a good idea it is to put it aside.

Good luck with your self publishing venture. I remember reading that ghost story you wrote for one of the tastes of darkness. I think it had something to do with either Christmas or a birthday. The twist gave me the willies. Put me down for a copy of Prosperity

deborah.woehr on 18 Dec 2006 at 5:01 pm #

Thank you, Fred!

Marti on 19 Dec 2006 at 3:42 am #

Congratulations! I am so proud of you! Thee are SO many writers that start a novel and NEVER get to the words “The End” - LOL! I can’t wait to read it!

I don’t see a problem with self-publishing it and still considering shopping it to agents.

Best wishes to you!

deborah.woehr on 19 Dec 2006 at 7:28 pm #

Thank you, Marti. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever finish. Now that I have a cover and a synopsis, it’s beginning to feel more real.

Benjamin Solah on 20 Dec 2006 at 2:05 am #

“I remember reading that ghost story you wrote for one of the tastes of darkness.”

Wow, people remember that thing! Sorry, I haven’t called for submissions for it for a while.

deborah.woehr on 20 Dec 2006 at 6:36 am #

You should revive that, Ben. It was a lot of fun.