Funding to take three-four months away from employment in order to complete the final draft of a novel manuscript.
Hello, potential supporters!
I am due to begin a teaching qualification in September, and am faced with a decision regarding the months leading up to it. I have been writing for the past five years, and have only very recently attained the level of technical ability that I am satisfied with in order to pursue publication.
I have very nearly completed a first, rough draft of what I hope will eventually be my debut novel. However, I feel that what I really need is a few months to really get to grips with the manuscript. The timing for such a break could not be better, with a teaching degree due to begin in September '15. And I am seeking crowd-based funding to keep myself at a very low income while I spend my days and nights at my desk, bent over pages and pages of the written word.
Recieving crowd funding, I will effectively be an employee, while you would be the employer. It is only reasonable for me to be open about the timeframe to which I will be working:
Upon completion of the first draft, the manuscript will be put away for around a week before a first edit begins. This will cover major plot/ subplot arc structure and characterisation. The manuscript will then be given to the lead beta-reader for feedback on plot.
A second edit will see dialogue and prose reviewed, while attention is again paid to plot and consistency in the world. The manuscript will then be shipped to 5 additional readers, who will provide feedback on plot - things they like, things they didn't - as well as prose, the overall themes etc.
I will then review the feedback, noting trends in opinion and using them to strengthen the novel. A final edit will cover things like grammar and spelling, with few major changes occuring. This process should take a few months, and will likely begin before the target is met.
Following final edits, agent letters and story synopses will be constructed and sent off. This will hopefully take me relatively near to September, and then it's a case of sitting back and waiting!
What's in it for you?
IF I am successful with publication, I will send out 25 signed copies of the book to 25 donators at random. Any pledges over £10 will receive an e-book short story - 'Dial seven for luck', and EVERYONE involved will be able to view regular updates, as well as a synopsis, and I will endeavour to interact and reply to any queries.
I can't think of anything else to say to convince you that this is a worthwhile cause. I can only ensure you that I take this writing very seriously, and fully intend to continue writing throughout my life. This is the first novel that I feel I simply HAVE to do, or I might well explode! I will be putting everything into this novel, and will not stop until I have been rejected by every potential agent/publisher.