Writing my first book

[mirth]

I've wanted to write a music theory book for some time and finally decided a couple weeks ago to just do it and not wait. I only have 1 chapter left out of 15 total. Of course the real work is about to start with the editing process, and I need to add musical notation to the book, but it has been going really well.

I decided I would write 1 chapter a day. The chapters have ranged from 2000 to 5000 words per chapter. The topics cover everything from negative harmony to harmonic superimposition to triadic chromatic concept to 12 tone concepts and 3 concepts I developed on my own.

What this book is not:

This is not a lick book, it is a concept book. I have found there is a major black hole in music books that pertain to advanced harmony that aren't just lick books. I hate those kind of things, I get nothing out of them. I'm much more conceptual, so hopefully this fills some kind of niche.

As I was writing the 12 tone chapter last night, I was pretty amazed at all the ideas I had collected over the years, and honestly could probably write 4 more books on the subject, but I feel I should at least do a video series on these.

I decided to write the book for a variety of reasons, but one of the biggest being that of legacy for my kids. I believe we've talked about it before, but I think that if one day my kids ever want to know how my brain works on these kind of things, here is a good explanation.

I haven't completely decided from which "person" I should write this book. Part of me wants to make it very academic and the other side wants me to make it personal opinions, so at this point I've kind of mixed both. I'll decide once I start editing it.

At first I thought I'd write it as an EBook, but as I've putting it together, I think it's more than that. Also, with the amount of information and size of this book, it is much more than your garden vareity 15 dollar guitar book. It is way closer to a text book, and I would think it should be priced at at least 25 dollars, just for the huge scope it encompasses, but honestly, with current textbook prices I could see it be priced higher (though I wouldn't want to). However, in the ebook world, from the writers perspective there is not much difference in income from a 9.99 ebook and a 25 ebook. Because of the way Amazon does it's royalty structure. I think pricing it at 10 bucks though makes it seem less worthy or something. Anyways, it is not about money, but something I've been thinking about. I also will probably send it to a few publishers just to see what they say. Who knows.

Anyways, what an experience, I really am enjoying writing. I think I could get used to the thrill it is giving me.

[Infinite Ego]

good for you. yeah, I write every day and do enjoy it as much as reading. good luck

[mirth]

Thanks! It is definitely enjoyable.

I finished the first draft and now starting the editing process. About 32,000 words, still need to write out the musical examples (music manuscript). But moving along well. I was really happy with the stuff I got together.

[Infinite Ego]

It's a never-ending thing for me. I'm currently working on books 6, 7, 8, and 9 simultaneously LOL

[mirth]

That sounds like something I would do, haha. I have the idea for 32 other books (I wrote down every one). There are at least 5 more I'd like to try and do before 2019. Some are much shorter than others though. Completing the first draft has given me a lot of confidence that I can get things done when I put my mind to it. (I always knew I could in music and engineering, but it hasn't always transpired in my creative endeavors oddly enough).

Any insight on the publishing world? I'm going to start pitching to a few places after I get through the first round of edits. I'm happy to self publish, but if I can even get some angry letters, it will likely fuel my fire more, since I tend to have the opposite reaction to criticism, it usually makes me want to "prove" someone wrong.

[Infinite Ego]

Well, I work strictly in the academic world and, in that, a highly niche domain where I kinda know everybody so it all works, as you might suspect, by reputation and who you know. I would connect with other authors you admire and see if they can get you connected to one of their editors. The editors at publishing houses are the guys and gals that make it all work. What almost never works is just sending a prospectus out of the blue. You need to know somebody who can open the door for you.

[mirth]

Good tip. Thanks!