Time seems to get away from me and there's lots going on. Right now I have two priorities - some committee work I'm engaged in at one of my lodges, and Volume III of Noah's Quest. I am pleased to report significant progress on NQ V3 and I'm on track to send it to the publisher by July 1.
First, I have the working title that I just released on the website on the "Noah's Quest" page. Check it out while you're here! (Click Here to go to "Noah's Quest")
Second, I am finishing the first full working draft of the book. Again, many may think "really? Five months in and you don't have a draft? Here's how my process works - the first full draft becomes the actual story of the book. It is in the first draft that I decide what to include and keep, what is unnecessary, what is the correct order for storyline actions, and what I want to discard. The first full draft will be the raw version of the full book together in one draft.
Third, I expect to begin the second draft early during the first week of May. The second draft is where I will start at the top and do a full edit and an initial polish, review the theme and flow, and catch the first level of grammatical errors and disconnects. From there, it will go to the third draft.
In the third draft, I will prepare it for the eyes of others. Formatting, a "text-to-voice" reading to confirm the flow and grammar, and final decisions on story line. The product that comes from the third draft is the Peer Review Draft which I will send to my team of three reviewers. I ask two brothers to review every volume, and I pick a different brother each time to serve as the third. The Peer Review Draft goes out and I allow a month for their reading, feedback and Peer Review edits.
The fourth draft is the Peer Review Edits where I address anything that comes back from the peer review team. I incorporate their input and any final ideas or changes I want to make. Depending on what they suggest, this can be a lengthy process.
The final "production" step is the final "text-to-voice" review using a text reader to listen to the book. This is where I find the final grammar problems and confirm the story details and the flow. Then it's a matter of adding in the externals like "About the Author", "Dedication", etc. Once all of this is finished, it's off to the publisher.
Once the book hits the inbox of the publisher, "Perfect Ashlar Publishing", it takes its place in the line he is working and when my turn comes up, he works his publishing magic on it and it hits the street.
That's where we are right now, way back at the completion of the first full draft. It actually will move fairly quickly once I finish the first draft and I plan to be at and beyond that point around May 1st or 2nd. Again, my goal is to send the book to Perfect Ashlar by July 1.
Now, for something of a surprise. I've sent the draft of a second "non-fiction" work to the publisher and I'm hoping this next book, "In and About the Lodge" will hit the streets in May. This book is a collection of several of my articles and blog posts that address how the "lodge experience" fits within the overall masonic experience. When I released "Guard Well our Craft", the main purpose and the highlight article was "Freemasonry in a Changing Culture" and the other articles supported that theme. In "In and About the Lodge", the main article will be "A System Called Masonry" that addresses how the various parts of our system work together to improve the man - IF he engages the full system as it is designed.
So, yes, it's been a few minutes since I updated my various blogs and online FB groups and hopefully this post provides the explanation!
Travel well my brethren and continue your reach for the light!
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