The Morphology of Writing
Morphology: the form and structure of an organism or its parts. I first learned the term while studying biology, but it applies equally well to writing. As I continue to write, I am constantly amazed at the changes occurring in my book and in me.
Consider my first editorial review, which ended almost as quickly as it started. I handed the book to Tina, my wife, and asked her to tell me what she thought. Within the first couple of chapters, she had a lot of questions, the main one being, “What’s the purpose?” That was a good question!
In response, I wrote an Introduction to the book. She loved it! The Introduction brought the book to life (see the biology reference?) but also necessitated that I restructure its parts. Rearranging the parts led to a new title with more universal appeal. My elevator speech no longer elicits blank stares, and I can see where this fits in the broader conversation in church and society. I love it!
Hidden in Plain Sight
The new title is “Hidden in Plain Sight: How to Win in the Game of Hide and Seek with God.” The basic premise is that God is much more easily found than we have been led to believe. But to find Him, we need a clearer picture of what He looks like, how to search for Him, and where to find Him. Once we know the answers to those questions, we will be masters at finding God.
I explained all of this to a good friend recently. His response was profound. “And then what?” That’s a good question! We’ve spent so much time looking for God that we didn’t ask, “What will we do with God if we find Him?” Without giving too much away, the book’s final chapters zero in on the answer. As it turns out, the game isn’t over once we find God; it is just beginning!
Publishing
Now that my first manuscript draft is complete, I need to figure out how to get it published. The options are overwhelming!
I will submit a proposal to several traditional publishers, but I’m not putting a lot of faith in the outcome. They look for published authors with large audiences or established credibility. Few authors get picked up by traditional publishers.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, many authors will publish their books independently. Self-publishing tools are increasingly effective, but there is a steep learning curve. This led to the rise of hybrid publishers, who act as general contractors. They provide the “subs” (editors, designers, illustrators, marketers, etc.) and the expertise, but they expect to get paid for their efforts. I’m leaning toward one of these options.
Target Audience
One of the hybrid publishers I met with challenged me to clarify my target audience. I assumed it would be easiest to market to people inside the church because I speak and use their language in my writing. My experience so far, however, is that people on the “fringes” of the church or completely outside the church seem more open to having the conversation. That makes sense. People on the “inside” feel like they’ve already found God; they don’t need my help. But those who are still searching because they haven’t found God in the teachings or ministries of the Church are ready to have an open dialogue about finding God.
The morphology continues. The more I learn about writing and publishing, the more I am challenged to understand the individual parts of writing, publishing, and following God’s calling on my life.
Leave a Reply