How scholarly work translates to the mainstream market.

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This article presents an interesting take on how mainstream publishing is viewed within some academic circles:

http://chronicle.com/article/You-Want-to-Write-for-a/230781/?cid=VTKT1

The author’s experiences mirror some of my own. I especially remember way back in graduate school, professors responded to anything that smacked of outreach to a general readership or audience like this:

goat

That’s a bit how I feel now, as I continue working on my copyedits, and I’m nearly halfway through the manuscript. Have I hit the right balance between historian and storyteller?

More on the author photo.

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I really liked this piece on having an author photo taken:

I don’t feel compelled to pose like a man, though. But if I were really good with photoshopping, I would find a way to have my head put on this outfit:

1950s fashion

Maybe I’d need to add arms and legs as well. Then there would be the problem of finding the right shoes…..

Back to the drawing board.

Copyedits, ongoing.

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I think I’m on day 5 now, and I’ve been through the introduction and four chapters. Even at this stage I’ve been finding (and correcting) some clunkiness in the prose. And I’ve found some passages that had to be rearranged. It’s going to be very hard to stop working on this manuscript.

However, on a lighter note, I saw the first peony blossom in the backyard:

peony 2015

Copyedits, Day 2.

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The thing I learned from the first day of reviewing my copyedits: time to move my place of work. No more comfy couch. I’m back at the desk in my study, otherwise known as the Eeyore room. The previous owners of the house used this room as a nursery. The walls are painted a light purple, and a Winnie-the-Pooh mobile used to hang on the wall. Weeks after moving in, we found Eeyore had been left behind.

day 2 Eeyore room

The wall color makes for a soothing environment, plus I positioned my desk so I have a view of Lake Michigan. The other bonus is that I get to look at the neighbor’s very lovely yard.

yard

I was a bit unnerved to find few mark-ups on this version of my manuscript. I always assume there is a lot more work to do. I know there is more work to do on the intro and first chapter. So I’ve suited up for the day, and off I go to work.

day 2 copyedits

Day 1 of working on copyedits.

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I’m starting off with a comfy setting.

copyedits

As long as I don’t fall asleep, I should do okay. I’ve got some good books scattered around for inspiration.

And I made sure to put on grown-up clothes. But let’s face it, for this kind of work, nothing fancy is required.

copyedits day 1

Between chapters (or pages) I’ll be getting up to walk the dog and/or get something to eat.

Back to it.