Over the past 25 years, I drafted five books but never published. When my kids moved to adulthood and my job moved home, I had time to finish them. This one–The Quest for Home–is the final of those five:
A treacherous journey across two continents, a ruthless traitor, and unexpected salvation.
Based on a true story, this is an unforgettable saga of hardship and determination, conflict and passion. This is a Hero’s Journey as early man spreads across Eurasia, and survival — or extinction — is the prize. My hero–as befits a thriller–is bigger-than-life and regularly does the impossible. Which is good because nothing less than the future of mankind is at stake.
With a planned publication of Fall 2019, here’s how I’m doing.
- I finished the final rough draft (not even close to the final draft) and am now wordsmithing, which should take a few months. Wordsmithing is where I look at words and phrases and decide if they’re the best to communicate what I want to say. It’s like looking at a landscape through a straw, seeing only a tiny bit of the entire picture. For me, it is a massively effective approach to editing my stories. I often come out of this phase thinking I may actually have written something wonderful. I use a lot of word lists for this ( that, this, was, still, so, began–words like these) and found great ones over at Ronel’s writer’s blog, Ronel the Mythmaker, and Kate Johnston’s writing blog.
- I’m putting together preliminary marketing materials–just enough to get things started. I’m a few months away from ordering the cover.
- I’m also thinking about changes I’ll need for this book, as the second in a series. Deborah Jay has a wonderful list of 10 things to pay attention to.
- Unlike one-and-done novels (books not part of a trilogy), I don’t have to tie up all the loose ends in this book. I have Book 3 for that. As I write, I’m taking note of those dangling unfinished pieces so I can wrap them up in the final book, In the Footsteps of Giants.
- I set up Book 1 in the Crossroads trilogy, Survival of the Fittest, for print book sales as well as Book 1 in the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, Born in a Treacherous Time. Using Amazon’s print-on-demand service was easier than I expected, though tedious. Anyone have feedback on this?
Question: I’ve seen many digital books start paragraphs with only 3 spaces rather than 5. Any thoughts on this?
Another question: Which tagline do you like better:
Five tribes. A dream. An unexpected friend and a deadly traitor.
A treacherous journey across two continents, a ruthless traitor, and salvation from someone unexpected.
I appreciate your help!
Click to be notified when The Quest for Home is available.
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the Man vs. Nature saga. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for TeachHUB and NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, The Quest for Home, Fall 2019. You can find her tech ed books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning
Thanks for the shout-out 🙂 I like the first tagline better. As for Amazon print: their expanded distribution is worth looking into (I can get print copies from my local online stores, so I’m happy) — and less of a financial investment than IngramSpark if you’re trying out new things.
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Heartflet, Ronel. I get a lot from your advice. I haven’t heard of Amazon’s expanded distribution. I will have to check on that.. Thanks!
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When you create your paperback with KDP it is on the page where you choose pricing and territories.
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Ah. I think I missed that. I’m going to check.
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It’s hard for me to get used to the three-space indentation. It looks so odd. But I prefer reading print books anyway! I like the first of the two taglines–I can sense the conflict better in that one. Thank you so much for mentioning my post–I’m glad you found it useful!
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Your blog is always useful. I’m so happy to have found you.
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I didn’t know some ebooks weren’t indenting as much. I prefer the 5 spaces. Why make it only 3 spaces just because the novel is digital?
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It took me a long time to notice. First, I considered it an anomaly. Then, I realized everyone did it. Sigh.
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I think there should be one set of standards to cover both digital and physical books. But I bet someone will find a reason, no matter how flimsy, so that digital is separate from physical standards.
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I prefer 3 spaces, or maybe that’s what I’m used to 🙂 And I like the first tagline. Shorter is better, and it really draws me in.
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Thanks for weighing in, Debra. I am so behind on the spaces. I’m glad I finally noticed!
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Hi, Jacqui. I really like Sarah’s idea (comment above) of mixing the two taglines. Next, as for paragraph idents, the three spaces (or the space taken by an em dash) is the professional format. Never us a tab; rather set your paragraph style. Here’s a link that may be helpful https://self-publishingschool.com/how-to-format-book/ 🙂 Sounds like another awesome prehistoric fiction work is moving right along. Have a great weekend!
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I’m clicking over to that link right now. Thanks, Bette!
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Great tips and how-to’s ! 🙂
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I think I’d like to mix these two taglines as follows:
A treacherous journey across two continents, a ruthless traitor and an unexpected friend.
Just a thought. 😉
As always, I’m so impressed by how fast you’re working. I feel always a bit like a snail compared to you! 😂
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I like that, a lot. I’ve grabbed it and am going to see what I think this evening (after it percolates). Thanks, Sarah!
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My pleasure, Jacqui! Have a lovely Sunday!
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Both your taglines are good but I prefer the second one because of two continents and salvation from someone unexpected. I like the idea of having 2 continents as setting – a promise of vicarious travels and someone unexpected adds a lot of suspense.
Good luck in your preparation. I admire your work ethic. 🙂
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That’s a good point, Carol. Hmmm… How to integrate the two…
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Hmm. I don’t think I’ve read enough ebooks lately, but I think three spaces is common now. And I have to say I like Sharon’s combo of the two taglines; I like the second better, but then again the first is good, too, so a mashup seems logical. So much to consider, but at least you’re in the revision stage!
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I think you used 3 spaces? That among other books got me thinking I needed to update the formatting in my books. What font did you use?
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The ebook setup was done by my publisher, so I don’t have answers for you. 😦
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Congratulations on finishing the final rough draft 😀
I prefer more spaces to start a new paragraph, it makes it clearer and easier to read, I think! I definitely like the ‘Five tribes’ tagline best 🙂
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Thanks for the input on the tagline. The five spaces–I almost never see them anymore (though I’m reading an Indie right now that has them). That’s what caught my attention. I’ve also seen 1 which was annoying.
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I like Shari’s idea of the combo, Jacqui! Congrats on this phase of the book. Yes, you are a writing machine!
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I really like her suggestion. I’m rolling it around in my head, see if it sticks.
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I’m along with Mae Clair in going against the grain – I prefer the second. To me it flows more smoothly, suggesting the sweeping saga, although I’m also not enamoured of the ending – quite. How about ‘salvation from a unexpected source.’?
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I agree. If I pick #2, that ‘someone’ definitely has to go. Thanks for the suggestion!
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I like the first tagline better.
As to three spaces instead of five… I’m wondering if that might not be a flowing text thing. There’s so much about e-books that’s customizable (from the font to the print size) that it seems like that might be an option in a stylesheet somewhere.
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Interesting thought. Which could be Kindle’s doing. I don’t sell ebooks anywhere else.
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OH my word, Jacqui, you are an amazing writing machine. I can’t believe you are so far with the next book in this series. Well done.
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Well, it was solidly drafted so it’s not as much trouble as it would seem. But, the next book, Book 3–that’ll be a good year!
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I like the first tagline best I think. It has a flow the other doesn’t that is appealing.
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The vote is overwhelmingly for #1. I’m so glad I asked.
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Or a combination?
Five tribes. One dream. A ruthless traitor. Salvation from a stranger.
I think a tagline should pique a reader’s intrigue without giving away much.
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I really like that, Shari. Hmm…
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I like the flow of the second tag. I’ve noticed the 3 and 5 space indent. I think I’ve grown used the 3 now. I’m always relieved when I get the first draft done:)
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I too am used to 3 spaces, so much so I’ve switched!
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I like the first one Jacqui. Wishing you all the best for your next venture.
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Thanks, Balroop. That seems to be the general opinion. I’m glad I asked. I thought they were pretty equal!
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I like the first one – pulls me in faster.
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Excellent–thanks for weighing in, Andrew.
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I’m the weird one out on the tagline. I like the second, as it conveys a sweeping saga, although I think the ending perhaps could be made punchier. The first is good, too.
You are doing amazing things! As for the ident, the three spaces threw me for the longest while, but it seems to be the manner of production now!
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I agree (about the ending). ‘Someone’ has to go…
Me too–I thought it was a mistake, but then I see it everywhere.
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Congrats on your plans. I can’t answer your first question. I’ll say the first tagline is better but I really liked the second one too before I saw the first one. Good luck on getting published by this fall.
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Thanks for your thoughts, Natalie. Today, I’m working on removing some of the 850 ‘buts’ that infested my manuscript. Who knew???
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I like the first tag line better. The second one sounds too much like your previous book. There is no stopping you now!!
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That’s interesting feedback, Darlene. I was actually thinking of using the same tagline and figured that could be confusing. Thanks for your thoughts.
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Definitely the first tagline. And i’m going to try the wordsmithing thing, you’re sure getting more results than I am!
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Thanks, Jina. That helps a lot.
BTW, I’m just a few books away from starting your book. Can’t wait!
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oh? now i’ll be wondering!
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Hi. I prefer the first tag line. To me, it’s catchier.
Good luck with your projects!
Neil
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Thanks, Neil. I’m starting to think #1 will win. I’d actually been leaning toward #2 but that thing about being to close to our writing–that happens to me all the time.
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The smaller indent is a convention now. I prefer it. It’s easier on my eyes than huge chunks of white space dotting down the left margin. (And the paragraphs are still easy to see. The indent isn’t so small that it gets lost.)
As for your taglines, I like the first. It’s shorter and punchier.
Most importantly, congratulations! Finishing a draft is always exciting. Kudos to you!
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Thanks, Staci. I’m going to use the 3-space protocol for this book when it comes out. It’s about all I see now. I’ve seen 1-space but that it almost confusing.
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One space is way too small. Setting the indent anywhere between .22 inches and .3 inches seems to be good. (It’s comfortable for my old eyes, anyway.)
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You know I have all the confidence in the world as to your process and the what the end result will be!
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There are times it almost defeats me. So much seems wrong! This book, this edit–I’m pretty happy with the progress.
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Jacqui, have you seen the herbalist ad on your page? Please remove it. We are trying to get rid of these abusers of naive and uneducated people who can do so much harm. They may amuse others, but the people who respond to them are swindled.
Why do you make it so difficult to contact you? I typed in a reply and got a response “Please insert URL” after I had put one in.
Anne Taylor
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Darn (about the ad). I don’t control the ads so I’m stuck. And about the URL–that might be protocol for WordPress blogs. I see your name isn’t linked to a site so that could be why you had trouble. Apologies for that!
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All the best for the publishing journey! I like the first tagline: it is catchier, and has a better hook.
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Thanks, Damyanti. I really do enjoy the journey. It brings a lot of peace to my life. And I appreciate the feedback on the tagline. I’m starting to veer towards it.
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You are busy. What a fine role model you are. I’ve been thinking about composting my unfinished novel, but perhaps there are recyclable elements I should use.
I like your first tagline best. Good luck with all your projects.
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Hehheee–I like how you used ‘composting’ and writing. That’s a keeper.
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I think I like the first tagline, Jacqui, it’s more tight.
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Thanks, Jill. Since I like all of your book taglines, that means a lot.
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I think the first tagline – it has a better ring and is more memorable. 🙂
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Thanks, Lynette. It’s a lot like Book 1 and I’m starting to think that’s a good thing–another way to tie the novels together.
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