06-26-24:  Got the edited version of the manuscript back yesterday, they gave me tons of good feedback. They didn't seem to think that I required the full-boat 'special needs' editing package, but i'm sure that I approached that fine-line more than once. I developed some very bad writing habits in the ten years or so since I worked in office environments, and now people with very good writing habits (and a fondness for proper rules of grammar) are helping me approach reality. I'm used to working in rough-draft mode with most writing endeavors, and most people can read -- and comprehend -- my posts just fine, and most of them even appreciate my no-nonsense writing style. But to push ideas out to larger audiences it seems that making the compromise to write with adherence to certain standards is necessary, and stubbornness/ego must set aside. The idea of the book isn't to try to make money--I'm cozy to the fact that I probably won't make my money back on this first ISBN--the idea of the book is to pass along useful information to as many people that will benefit from it. I might actually do another non-fiction book next that's unrelated, and maybe that one will be the resume-spoof, that one will probably sell more copies because it will be somewhat entertaining, and be more humorous in nature... but helping folks draw closer to reality, and point them toward 'self actualization', that's a greater priority than a funny read that might sell more.

  So, next step... get cracka-lackin on the clean draft, and apply as many editorial critiques as necessary to make it read like something that people are willing to spend some money on, and not feel bad about doing so. There are other chores that i'll have to consider, other parts of the publishing process, but the editing changes is the biggest part for me right now. Applying editorial changes isn't very hard work, it's going to be more like an alt-tab marathon than anything else... but, the hard part is to resist making too many more changes. There are a few reasons as to why I want to keep the word-count low, but the low word-count is a self-imposed challenge/obstacle in communicating everything that you want to communicate in one book... so the real challenge is to not add anymore info, because you have to stop one book somewhere, and follow-up books to the 'H3 to 3:3' series will be the vehicle to communicate additional and relevant information.

  Today is gorgeous outside, it's going to be a bit hot and humid... not sure what it's like outside where you are, or what you'll be doing with your day, but i'm going to be alt-tabbing like an over-caffeinated maniac, burning-up the keyboard. Enjoy your day, be blessed, and bless others... now get outta my way while I fix a mug of coffee, and assault my laptop with all of the booger-hooks... cheers. -- ct

  06-20-24:  it's the twentieth, and only the first time in June writing... weird man, weird. I had shoulder surgery ten days ago (nothing too nasty), and have enough motion to type so long as my arms hang naturally by the sides. Not much to say really, my mycology experiment didn't go very well -- contamination! It sucks to go a few months on a new endeavor only to have it spoil before fruit production... it's a blow to the ego to not have things work correctly the first time, but persistence usually pays off with these matters. I'm not used to working in contamination-free environments, so i need to reconcile that weakness if i'm to progress.

  Not thinking about much lately, i did a zillion physical things leading up to the surgery, and then shut-off everything remotely physical since the ninth. I figured that would help stimulate some more topics to write about once i was finally still for a bit... nope, not at all. I want to see what the editors do with the manuscript before I begin the next in the series... I guess i've been anxious about getting their version back. The returned script will generate a ton more work on my part, and worried a bit about the workload. Also hoping that it isn't an exercise of vanity, if the book doesn't sell i'll never make any of the money back on it, so there is a leap of faith that never feels comfortable. The content is a solid outline, but i was inspired to write it after becoming increasingly frustrated with the pace of a leader-guided group recovery-centric series... but I more or less condensed the theories down to something that an individual could use at a much faster pace. It's already helped a few people that proof-read it for me, and it's already inspired someone to start writing too, so those early fruits ought to be good indicators, yet anxiety beats the positive... it's a shameful condition.

  I've also got two other manuscripts that are unrelated to the series, I might pick one back up and see if I can get cranking on it before I get the other one back from the editors. The non-fiction one (resume-based) should be easier, it doesn't require a ton of creativity. Then, there is this other thing... ministry... i'm contemplating enrolling in a master's program even though I didn't complete any undergraduate studies. I should be able to get accepted, and keep up with studies, but not sure how I would pay for it, the VA doesn't fund 'religious studies' programs, so there's a bunch more to consider. But looking at programs is still a decent starting point, and that's where i'm at. It partly seems like another exercise of vanity, I don't need a degree to serve God, made it fifty-something years without one, but it feels like now is the time to pursue religious studies... seems like it's time to step things up a bit.

  Anyhow, I've got a great mug of coffee in front of me, and it's now captured my attention... so toodles, be blessed, enjoy your day, and make the most of potential opportunities to make the world a better place. -- ct