After four years of research and writing I am pleased to report that my manuscript on memory and the battle of the Crater is finished. There are a few things to touch up before I send it off to the publisher next week, but the bulk of the work is done. It’s been quite a journey and a learning experience. I am under no illusions about the process between the submission of the manuscript and its eventual publication. First, the editors at the press must decide if they really want it and then it will be sent out for peer review. This will no doubt take some time and I expect that I will have to make changes in response to their comments and concerns.
Still, it does feel good to be finished with such a big project. I feel just a bit lighter today.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations, Kevin. I can imagine the load that has been lifted off of your shoulders.
I recently revisited my seminar paper (the 40-50 page original research paper that history undergrads have to do) because someone else who is working on their own seminar paper wanted to borrow mine to see how I did it.
At the time I finished it (which was less than a year ago), I was very proud and satisfied with the final product, as was my professor (he even suggested I try to get it published).
But when I re-read it recently, I thought it sounded horrible! Sentences were awkwardly structured, arguments made in a clumsy fashion, parts that should have been elaborated were short whereas parts that should have been short went on forever, etc.
So I guess my advice would be to severely edit the manuscript before you sign off on it! As much as you’ll probably want to send it away to the publisher and be done with it, make sure you are absolutely sure that you are satisfied with every sentence before it is immortalized by the printing press.
Of course, no matter how hard you edit it, you are still going to read it later and not be satisfied with certain parts. But it’s always a good idea to minimize that aspect of it.
Kevin,
Congrats! I very much look forward to its publication, at which time I will advance it directly to the top of my reading list.
Marc
Kevin,
I look forward to the publication of your work on the Crater.
Congratulations,
Josh
Way to go, bro! Expect a six month wait before you hear from the press. Now get to work on your next project.
Congratulations, Kevin. It’s a great feeling, isn’t it?
Eric
As well you should, Kevin. Walking on air. I greatly look forward to reading it when published. Cheers!
Congrats Kevin…
What a way to finish the year! I am really hoping this will be published.
Hi Everyone, — Thanks for the kinds words of support. It’s nice to know that a few people might actually read it if/when published.
Mark, — I’ve got two more projects in the works. The big one is an edited collection of letters and an analytical essay on Confederate military executions. Hope all is well with you.
Congratulations-good way to wrap up a year!