Twelve days ago, on May 3, I edited the first sample chapter I had written for Earning Freedom for the fourth time. I could tell from the reaction in Carole’s voice that she did not like it so much. I read it to a friend of mine here in the prison and he asked whether I would write more about my personal background in subsequent chapters. I told Justin that I did not intend on doing so, and I could see in his face that he would have liked to have read such details.
That Sunday morning, I went to my locker and pulled out some notes that Carol, one of my mentors had sent from a previous manuscript. In those notes, Carol called for the same details. I resisted her suggestions then and that led to my suspension of work on the manuscript.
On that morning of 3 May, however, I began to feel uneasy with the sample chapter. That was what prompted me to start again. This new version that I completed on Tuesday is much more personal. I tell the story in the first person, active tense. After completing the first draft, I felt grateful to my wife, to Justin, and to my mentor for inspiring me to write another version.
Since the new sample chapter is different, I also had to write an entirely new outline and book proposal. I began that work yesterday morning and after many hours of work, I’m glad to have finished it this evening. The best news is that both my wife and my friend Justin loved the new version, and I like it much better as well. Once Carole types it, I’ll edit it one time, then send the 70-page document to Carol, my mentor, for her reaction. I hope to submit the new proposal to Jim, the literary agent who represents my work, by the end of June.
With these new drafts of the sample chapter and proposal for Earning Freedom complete, I’m somewhat free until I receive typed pages back from Carole next week. She has told me over the phone that Joan Petersilia would like me to expand the chapter I wrote for her upcoming book and written instructions may come in tomorrow’s mail. George Cole, another mentor, has sent word through Carole that he would like me to write a chapter for his book, American Corrections, and I look forward to receiving more news on the conitrbutions I can make. My writing schedule will be full through the end of this year.
I began my work this morning at 2:37. At 6:00 I broke for my exercise. I ran 10 miles and followed with 300 pushups. My tally is now 1,357 miles over the past 153 consecutive days of running.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
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