Back From Abroad (#1)
The first story from "Now That We're Here"
Since 2022 I’ve been telling everyone: “I’m going to publish a book this year.” Still haven’t done it.
What I learned, after doing research for a post last week, is that Tom Wolfe found himself in a similar predicament:
[He] wanted to write a novel but couldn’t get started. For eight months he sat in front of his typewriter: Nothing. So he called up Jann Wenner, the founder of Rolling Stone, and told him that he needed the pressure of time. Wenner took a look at his book’s outline and agreed to serialize the yet unwritten novel, titled Bonfire of the Vanities.
I’m going to do something similar. Over the next three months, I will enter into a contract with my paying subscribers:
Each Sunday I will publish fiction.
In February, I owe ~2,000 words each week. In March and April, ~4,000.
By May 1st, I’ll hit ~40,000 words—enough for a book.
After editing and revisions, I’ll publish the collection as a paperback before my birthday at the end of August.
Every paid subscriber gets a copy at no additional cost (i.e. the book is a part of your subscription).
The consequences:
If I miss my commitment once, every paid subscriber gets a year free.
If I miss it twice, every paid subscriber gets a lifetime free.
If I miss it thrice, the above + three paperback copies.
Note: For vacations and/or unanticipated delays, I will give myself two weeks off during this period that do not count as misses.
If this sounds compelling, please consider a paid subscription. I’ve also added a “Founding Membership” option where I’ll mail out the pieces at the end of every month, so that you can get a manuscript in your mailbox.
Onto the first story.
