So... I've got 2 days left to finish my first book.
That is... there's two days to go until the target date that I set for myself about a month ago: 22-02-2022
( or, for those countries who like to mix up numbers, 02-22-2022 )
***
I wonder if I am going insane ( not unlikely in the era we're living in ), as I keep hearing some kind of zooming in my left ear or, to be more precise, in the vicinity of my ( head ) hair, as if there's a tiny mosquito buzzing around. It only seems to happens when I type, though, and when my head is in a certain angle. Perhaps it's Mrs. Mosquito - one of the characters in my book ( and a possible future book ) trying to tell me something. No matter what, it sure is distracting. I'll push through it though.
Yesterday afternoon, I cut my left index finger on a rusty nail. It bled heavily and hurt quite a lot but I eventually managed to clean it and bandage it and the bleeding stopped.
FYI: I am left handed but I type with two hands.
This freak accident didn't stop me from finishing my book.
In fact, I spent many hours on re-re-editing my stories.
Then, yesterday night, while taking a shower, I felt a strong urge to replace 1 of the 22 selected stories. I* did*, afterward, and thereby added a story about Mrs. Porcupine ( another Mrs. ) to the book.
I am glad I did this, as she's kind of cute and the story that was replaced by it felt like it didn't fit in and it had felt like that for many weeks now.
In the 10 or so hours that I spent, yesterday and the day before, I managed to (re-re)edit all 22 stories, for ( hopefully ) the last time.
Yesterday, I discovered an email in my inbox about perfectionism. I should probably read that as this character trait is bugging me even more than all the ( Mrs. ) mosquitoes and the buzzing in my left ear
even more than the chainsaw sounds outside, right now.
[NOTE TO SELF: Go read that email on perfectionism]
I have to remind myself that my upcoming book is gonna be a first edition print. And, as #2 ( no, not that number 2 - although I have to go to the toilet right now to get rid of my breakfast and coffee ) is my favorite number, there might very well be a 2nd edition in the near future.
Long story short:
I should be proud of myself!
I have done a lot of work in the last month or so. Yes, I only decided on this exact book, about a month ago, as described in 22 Stories of Hypersensitivosaurus and other animals
Let's forget about the two years and two months prior to it, when I started on my first Hypersensitivosaurus book ( National Novel Writing Mont 2019 ). Just kidding! Let's not forget about that. It led me here and I tend to take interesting routes - outside of the paved ones - so it's pretty much a metaphor for my life.
Alright, I guess it's about time to make lunch and then get back to finishing my book.
Aside from one last spell check ( if I can muster the energy to read through the 10,000 plus words, one more time ), the only thing left is the final lay out
I did my best with my basic formatting skills. This is really not my favorite part, nor is re-re-re-writing )
and writing a prologue and editing some details like a copyright symbol and disclaimer.
I'm so very close to the finishing line that it's almost exciting ;<)
P.S. The screenshot of my cover image is a nice reminder of my audience. I think the stories aren't meant for one single age group and I like to think that that is what storytelling is all about.
P.P.S. As you might also see, the book is dedicated to my parents. I'm so happy my father is still alive, as he has been close to leaving this planet several times, starting in 2009. Also, my mom has always been one of my biggest fans and supporters.
💗