Sometimes, You Need a Last Minute Do-Over
People in positions of power, such as authors and publishers, must be willing to make inconvenient choices
For me, writing happens alone. It’s an isolated and independent process. My ideas are transmitted through my fingers to my keyboard — a cold, lifeless companion that I adore. My teenaged gamer-children taught me about mechanical Kaihua Speed Bronze switches, loud and clicky with a tactile bump. Switches are what register the keystroke. Mine sit underneath specially curved ABS plastic keycaps, perfectly designed for dorky authors. The keyboard is a nostalgic, 21st century remake of the iconic seafoam green Hermes typewriter that so many famous authors used (Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, Patti Smith, and more). When I look at it, I feel like a writer; it’s a symbolic signifier of my professional identity.
I type the final word of each chapter and immediately email the manuscript to my editor, who responds in about a week with questions, comments, and critiques. I address every one of her concerns carefully. I work diligently to resolve any tension between her expectations and the integrity of my original vison. I never betray the muse in my mind. It’s true I couldn’t write a book without a lot of other people’s collaboration and support, but ultimately, it’s all about my words, my ideas, my creative expression. It’s mine.
The cover is a different story. It’s created through a collaborative process which includes designers, illustrators, marketers, executives, and salespeople. I have a lot of input, but a whole cohort of folks get a say in the final design. For my last book, The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World, it was effortless. I made a single suggestion: a photo of hand-cut colored construction paper, forming a pixelated image that looks like a child’s collage. The designer, Julianna Lee, came back with something better: a yellow pixelated crayon. Done. Easy.
