Book and Baby

The process of authoring a book, publishing it and then marketing it through online channels and bookstores is a thrilling one for the writer and can metaphorically be likened to parenthood. Having done both, with a six year gap in between, I can explain why:

1. The Planning Stage
   When you first come with the idea to write a book it is no different than when starting having this discussion with your spouse about having a baby.
2. The Let’s Do It Stage
   This is when you start writing the first sentences and making do without any contraceptives. As you start filling in the pages, it becomes more laborious and the longer it gets to see where the book is heading to the more uncertain you are about the outcome.
3. The What If I Can’t Do It Stage
   This is when your wife’s menstrual cycle keeps repeating itself like clockwork leading you to tear many pages and start all over again
4. The ‘Oh My God We Did It Stage!’
   This is when you eventually finish the book but you are still not even sure about its title yet. Is it a boy or a girl?
5. The Looking For The Best Doctor Stage
   This is when you start looking for the best publisher to take your book where you are sure it deserves to be.
6. The Frequent Visits To The Clinic Stage
   This is the editing stage – it’s invasive and frustrating but necessary
7. The Labour Day Stage
   This is the day when the book goes to print – Hurray! As you touch it and smell it you feel an overwhelmingly unsurpassed affection for the end product the minute you cast your eyes upon it http://bit.ly/1tpZPPV
8. The Family Visit to Hospital Stage
   This is when everyone turns up to see the newborn and you are standing there proudly exhibiting it to groups of eager well-wishers. Everyone has a good word to say http://bit.ly/1w525v1 and you are simply hovering above cloud nine
9. The First Nappy Change and Constant Crying Stage
   This is when you are not sure what to do next. Who said distributing a book or raising a baby is easy?
10. The First Day At Nursery Stage
    Having been able to stand on its own two feet the book is now ready to make its debut to the bookstores or on http://amzn.to/OxN3f7