Of Birthing Books and Babies by Jo Wanmer

 

A baby begins with a lone egg. 

A book begins with the beginning of an idea, just like a seed in a womb. Fertilization, a sperm or a boost of another idea or concept, pushes the writer to start to grow and develop the seed. Expectantly, we begin to create something for others to absorb.

A baby in the womb develops quickly. By the end of the first trimester it even has individual fingerprints and, if a girl, more than a million eggs stored in her ovaries. (babycentre.com) 

Our books' skeleton's form quickly too. Ideas are noted, and the plot develops. Characters start to come to life. The work of growing the plot word by word and then adjusting it takes the bulk of our time.

After a while the book, which the author thought was their creation starts to take a life of its own and make its presence felt. It can  demand its own way, just like the baby within a womb grows without the mother determining sex, size or features. The mothers role is to nurture and protect the little life. 

The most important task for the writer is to keep tapping those keys, to keep the document growing.

As the baby grows, the mother prepares for the day of birth. She plans for a total change of  life and gathers everything a baby would need. Similarly, a writer prepares to launch their book into the world. There are so many things to do to complete a book. Endlessly we edit and then check again. A social media presence must be built to welcome the baby, for without readers we strive for no reason. Marketing, choosing one cover, and then another, gathering responses from beta readers... The list goes on when all we wanted to do was write a book. Like mothers, many first time authors don’t understand the effort needed to successfully push a book into the world.

The big difference between birthing a paper (or digital) baby and a flesh and blood baby is gestation time. I was sure I could write a book and see it published within a year. Some can I know, but not me. Some have shorter gestation times and produce a wonderful volume. Others bring their book forth before due time…and it struggles to live.

A few years ago my granddaughter carried twins, but they decided they only wanted 28.5 weeks to grow in the secret place. For ten long weeks they were nurtured, fed and cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Their short cut didn’t save them any time and put themselves and their Mummy and Daddy through a lot of stress. Thank God they are now strong and healthy two-year-olds.

A book born prematurely often needs similar care and attention, even to the point of edited versions being reproduced later….or sometimes the book simply fades away.

The first time I participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) another author was posting her progress on social media, detailing the adventures of her heroine. She completed her 50,000 words within the allocated month of November, edited her work over night and then published it on Amazon the next day. I'd read so much about her protagonist that I down loaded the book to read. It was worse than a premmie book. It was deformed and ugly.

How important to carry our book until it is fully developed and to garner as much help as we can from the writing community, who are always keen to help. Editors and line editors are our lifeline. My first book had its own midwife, a title I bestowed on my best friend. She read every word (multiple times) and gave me advice and feedback throughout every stage of development. Even then my books need expert help from editors and mentors.

Then of course there are those of us who carry a book for a decade, or who simultaneously carry two, three or more manuscripts, all with different due dates. Those books are in danger of being aborted, especially when there is a lack of attention by the writer.

But as with all pregnant mums, eventually, despite the discomfort and the ups and downs there is a birth. As painful and exhausting as processs is, ultimately the result is beautiful. And the brand-new book is released and can go all over the world, to bring pleasure and inspiration. 

So can I encourage you, as I encourage myself, to stir up the gift that is within you? Continue to grow and develop the thing of beauty that the Lord planted in your heart. Then bring it forth in inspiring beauty.

Have you a hidden book developing within? I'd love to hear your book-birthing stories.

Jo Wanmer is first of all a mother to many people and a mother to several writings. She has two books languishing in the womb and another in seed stage! 

Her book, 'Though the Bud be Bruised' was birthed ten years ago and was well received. She also has many published article and short stories. Her article 'Mum meet my mother', was a winner in the Stories of Life competition in 2021