It Takes A Village

Do you all remember that book from the '90s? Something like It Takes a Village to Raise a Child? Don't worry, this isn't a parenting post...and I have to admit that while I remember the title of the book I never did read it.

Anywho.

We're about to be in the middle of Renovation He!! here at Casa Knight. We're (finally) redoing our verysmall main bathroom, we're adding privacy fencing to the backyard, and you know a hot tub isn't going to be far behind that fencing, and we're also considering expanding our driveway just a smidge (3ish feet) because whoever own the house before us apparently only had those teeny-tiny cars that you see at amusement parks. RadioMan's truck looks kind of comical parked on it.

This week the fencing contractor arrived to measure our back yard, and then the plumbing peoples dude arrived to measure the bathroom (and said, in a surprised voice, 'hey, this is a small bathroom.' I had an I Told You So moment). And then we had to go back and visit the flooring place to make our final choices and check out the cabinet makers to determine the size of the vanity, and make yet another decision on the fencing because we forgot to say which fence topper we wanted.

And I started thinking about that book. It Takes a Village...to do renovations.

To write a book, even.

The initial idea, of course, comes from me. And then I swing it by my agent. And then I'm writing, and while I'm writing my agent and editor are talking contracts and lawyers are going over contracts, and then contract signing day comes, and I'm still writing. When I finish, the book goes off to my editor, who sends it to a first reader and a copyeditor. I start on revisions, I fill out art fact sheets and even more people get involved - cover artists and back cover blurbologists, and another set of copyeditors, and somewhere in there I'm whining in my Coke to my writing buddies that I just can't do it...I can't finish...this book will never be right... But, of course, something magical happens in the midst of all that village making madness. That first kernal of an idea blossoms, and the idea isn't just an idea...it's people, and those people have their own village that is madly scurrying around them and it's all coming together.

I'm in those beginning stages now, with the first book in a brand-new series that I'm super-excited about. And I'm talking to my writer girls, and I'm typing madly on the keyboard, and my agent and editor are encouraging me to push the boundaries...and I think this is my favorite part of writing. Because it really does take a village....

Comments

  1. Oh, I love this! I was using my village the other day--and you were a real good builder, Kristi. :-)

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    1. *blushes* Tossing out ideas is part of the fun! Thanks, Liz!

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  2. Kristi - great post! I've heard it said "many hands make light work." Not sure if a writer's work is any easier with the village, but at least we know we're not alone! :-)

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    1. That knowing we're not alone thing, it's so important. We may not all be in the same office sharing cubicles, but we're just an email away. Thanks, Ava!

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  3. I love knowing I have a village there when I need it! Great post, Kristi!

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