We’ve mentioned our book project a few times recently, so it felt like the right moment for a full update on where we are in the process. Our previous post two months ago covered how we got the deal and the earliest stages of writing, but now we’re deep into production and have plenty more to share — and this time we don’t have to rely on photos of Burger for illustration. Sorry, Burger.
At the time of our last update, we had handed in a roughly 160-page outline and were coordinating design details with our publisher. The book will collect roughly 250 ideas for “showing your home some love” — everything from small art projects and quick tweaks to larger makeovers involving paint and furniture. Our publisher, Artisan, was deciding whether to keep a Fall 2012 release or move it to Spring 2013. We pushed for the earlier date and they agreed, which meant accelerating the schedule considerably.
- In just two weeks — which included the Christmas and New Year’s period — we turned our finished outline into a full manuscript. It was intense, but we focused and met the deadline.
- After submitting the manuscript, our publisher read it closely and we braced for heavy edits or rewrites.
- Surprisingly, she sent it back without major structural changes, and it then went to a copy editor for grammar and punctuation checks before returning to us with notes.
- Last Saturday we received a hard copy of the manuscript with the publisher’s edits and the copy editor’s notes marked in different colors. Our job was to use the blue pencil they included to respond to questions, accept or reject edits, and make final tweaks. The printed packet was single-spaced and single-sided, totaling 375 pages — heavier than we expected, but easier to read and catch errors on paper than on a screen.
- We dove in and worked through it. The packet was due back to the publisher by yesterday, so we overnighted it on Saturday. Sherry stayed focused for two straight days handling most of the editing while I watched Clara and did kitchen and household tasks during naps.
- After roughly 16 hours spread over two days to read through all the edits, we filled gaps and rewrote sections to clarify certain projects, then returned the revisions to the publisher within the deadline.
The manuscript is only one part of the work. In fact, it’s probably less than half of the total effort. The bulk of our time has shifted to prepping for photo shoots that started just recently. Here’s what’s been happening on that front:
- From the roughly 250 ideas in the book, about 100 will be photographed, another 100 will be illustrated, and the remainder are brief tips that don’t require images. So roughly 100 projects or sets need to be completed and staged for photography — a massive undertaking.
- We held off on doing every project early on because we wanted to avoid working on items that might later be cut. That meant we had about 30 days to complete the remaining projects, so nights over the past month often found us painting, sewing, cutting, and shopping to get multiple projects ready at once. Some projects were completed ahead of time and are waiting to be shot, which has helped.
- We’re not tackling this entirely on our own. The publisher hired a producer to keep the schedule organized and someone to help source supplies. That’s been invaluable: sometimes it’s faster for us to pick things up personally, and other times we email our helper to secure an item by a specific date so we can prep it for shooting.
- We also have a professional photographer to make the projects look their best. Although the team helps with logistics, we still choose items, execute the projects, select rooms to shoot, and style the shots — which keeps us very busy.
- Because our book budget is modest, we’ve hunted at Craigslist, thrift stores, and borrowed items from local shops (with permission) to stay within budget. That constraint is actually refreshing: many of the projects are low-cost — under $50, under $25, under $5, and even some freebies — which fits our DIY approach and should be helpful for readers who want budget-friendly ideas.
- Our house has become a workspace: half-finished projects are scattered around because we need progress shots, thrifted furniture is piled in the sunroom awaiting makeovers, fabric and frames are stacked on the dining table, and paint cans dot the floors. It’s chaotic, but in a productive way.
- We’d love to reveal every detail, but the publisher wants the projects to remain a surprise until release. Still, here are a few teaser images and glimpses at the work in progress.
- Right now the guest room stores finished projects, the dining room holds in-progress work, and the sunroom shelters items we can’t touch until we shoot the “before” photos. Below are a few shots of those areas as they currently look.
- The photography marathon will run about three weeks, with shoot days roughly 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., four days each week. Much of the work will be done in our house, which will operate as a temporary photo studio for the month. We wrap just before traveling to the Portland Home & Garden Show, so February will be full-on production.
- We’re hosting a small crew in our home for most of the month. They’ve been great so far, and we’ve already completed many “before” shots so we can move on to painting, upholstering, and finishing the pieces. It’s energizing to get things rolling, and we can’t wait for the book to come out so we can share the full process and all the projects.
Update: Many readers have asked what will happen to the finished projects. We hope to hold a charity auction or giveaway for some of them (shipping logistics are still undecided), others must be returned to lenders or shops, and a couple particularly sentimental pieces may stay with us. These are extra projects — not designed to permanently live in our house — so they’re a fun chance to experiment with color, fabric, and texture.
We apologize if responses to recent comments have been slower than usual; balancing the blog, the book, and family life has been a juggling act. Despite the craziness of the next few weeks, we’re grateful for the opportunity and excited to share this journey. Anyone else hosting a crew for weeks at a time or sitting on a pile of secret projects? We want to hear about it — or just tell us how chaotic our house looks.
P.S. Fortunately our little one sleeps through the night most nights, which gives us key stretches of time to get things done. You can see her sleep routine over on Young House Life.