Ok…we’re done, almost
One year ago I started inviting youthworkers into a project that I was convinced would help other youthworkers through desperate times. After a long year or working and waiting, the project is officially in the hands of a proofreader. It’s been edited very well by Doug Davidson, and editor YS graciously handed me at the beginning of Leave a Footprint. Doug has really weathered my weirdness on this project. It’s got this great cover, designed and mulled over by the crack staff at YS.
We worked with about seventeen different youthworking writers to put together a really encouraging project. And, while the book isn’t officially completed (no book is until it’s on the shelf, in my opinion) proofreading is close enough to done for me to start celebrating. After cleaning up anything the proofreader finds, it heads to design, then a final look see, and then it’s printed.
Here’s a few things I learned along the way…
• Be careful about how you invite to write and who you invite to write. I got lucky, but at times this past year I was aware that I needed to tread delicately about some issues with some writers.
• Be careful what you promise to an author. I naively promised payments nearly immediately upon completion of the chapter. That was a huge mistake. What if someone backed out after payment? What if the chapter didn’t make it in? Turns out, everyone involved in the project is completely top notch.
• Let people write their stories and stay out of the way. There were a few moments in this project I wanted to step in and write the story for someone. I didn’t, bit my lip and let them write. They said what they needed to say way better than I could have.
• Work way ahead. Which is something I did on this project. I started way earlier than I needed to, and it paid off in the end. We had plenty of time to edit and reshape without completely blowing the deadline.
And, one last note. I’d do another one of these in a heartbeat. Without question. I loved managing the project. I loved working with the authors on the project. I loved dreaming it up. I pretty much loved the entire thing.