There are a lot of SNAFUs when you're writing a book.
(SNAFU is military jargon. The clean version is, 'Situation Normal All Fouled Up.' I'll let you fill in the blanks on what the censored version is.)
I sent in the images to my editor. She sent back a list of images that had problems.
I panicked, got frustrated, and frantically emailed a friend for help. Said friend told me to calm down, that we'd figure it out.
Photos were finished today, sent to editor, and whew, thank goodness, they are okay.
Then comes another SNAFU.
Did a certain POW branch camp (one that was under the jurisdiction of the main POW camp) exist in this town or not?
One record says yes, another says no. The town is so miniscule that finding someone knowledgeable about said camp is like finding a cat who doesn't like its head scratched.
And then there's the indexing, which I haven't even started yet. Here's hoping there won't be any SNAFUs with this one, but I wouldn't be surprised if a few crop up.
Writing a book is like living your life, though. SNAFUs come up all the time. It's how you deal with them, how you react, how you move forward and work through them that matters, not the SNAFUs themselves.
Onward.
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All right. Enough with the down-in-the dumps posts. I realized that I had way too many of them in the past few weeks and I am bumming myself...
I know, isn't it amazing how writing a book is like a microcosm of life! I'm working on photos for a Wyoming student atlas I'm doing for work, and they can be so frustrating, getting them in the right resolution and format and getting permission etc etc. Phew!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how God works - I always wanted to be an acquiring editor for history books. Now having to deal with all the images issues and seeing what my own editor has to do, I have no desire to do it myself!
DeleteThat's a great analogy! Good luck with the SNAFUs, I'm sure you'll sort them all out.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fantastic site, I love all the pictures.
Got 'em all about sorted. Glad you like the site, Deb! =)
DeleteI can relate to this post! There will be many SNAFUs in writing a book but we move forward like you said the same as we have to in life. Hope you find the solutions you need quickly!
ReplyDeleteJust about got it all wrapped up. Thanks, Terri!
DeleteWhew! I'm sure I'll find out soon enough. I learned early on (before finishing my first mss) to keep a log book for each novel written. Have the facts laid out before you so you can refer back to them when the time arises. I print things off the internet then make copies to keep in that notebook. Trying to cover my bases, but we'll see how far we get. :) Best wishes to you, Melissa! :)
ReplyDeleteNow that is being organized! I need to work on that part of my writing - the organization stuff. Every time I write a novel I get a little better. But next time (if there is a next time) I write a nonfiction book, I will be a LOT more organized. I learned a ton in writing this one. :)
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