mythteller (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mythteller) wrote2006-09-25 11:21 am
mythteller) wrote2006-09-25 11:21 am
First Time, Second Draft
On Saturday, I dropped off the Second Draft of my first biography project. I met up with my client at a bakery, put the leather-bound book in his hand, and he swooned.
Whew. First hurdle met. The client was impressed and happy. I was glowing about that for hours afterwards.
But the real hurdle was the birthday supper. The subject and true recipient of the biography was to receive it on Sunday night during a birthday supper. Up to this point, he had no idea this was being put together. His reaction would determine whether this project was a success or not.
I spoke with my client this morning. Here's what he told me:
First there was confusion.
Then there was stunned silence.
Then there was stunned sputtering.
Then there was open weeping.
When he realized what the biography was, he was floored. He couldn't believe it.
Now he won't read it. Because it's a Second Draft, he wants to wait until it's done before he reads it. I'm going to get a final interview with him and just ask him questions based on each chapter in the book (family memories, political life, work life, etc.). Then I'm going to interview the sons and have each of them give his thoughts on his Dad. That will all go into the final chapter.
And then Gilles Vigneault has promised to write the Preface (he is an old friend of the subject of the biography). We need to get the family tree and more photos, but now we'll have more access to the family slides since we don't need to keep it secret.
The plan is to get the Final Draft done before the end of the month. But I am still glowing in my early success. Go me!
Whew. First hurdle met. The client was impressed and happy. I was glowing about that for hours afterwards.
But the real hurdle was the birthday supper. The subject and true recipient of the biography was to receive it on Sunday night during a birthday supper. Up to this point, he had no idea this was being put together. His reaction would determine whether this project was a success or not.
I spoke with my client this morning. Here's what he told me:
First there was confusion.
Then there was stunned silence.
Then there was stunned sputtering.
Then there was open weeping.
When he realized what the biography was, he was floored. He couldn't believe it.
Now he won't read it. Because it's a Second Draft, he wants to wait until it's done before he reads it. I'm going to get a final interview with him and just ask him questions based on each chapter in the book (family memories, political life, work life, etc.). Then I'm going to interview the sons and have each of them give his thoughts on his Dad. That will all go into the final chapter.
And then Gilles Vigneault has promised to write the Preface (he is an old friend of the subject of the biography). We need to get the family tree and more photos, but now we'll have more access to the family slides since we don't need to keep it secret.
The plan is to get the Final Draft done before the end of the month. But I am still glowing in my early success. Go me!
no subject
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no subject
And Gilles Vigneault??? HOLY CANNOLI!!!
How absolutely wonderful!!!
from Aengus
(Anonymous) 2006-09-25 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
Hoody hoo! (and all that...)
I'm so glad that the reception of the biography was so good. This bodes well for future projects. :)
no subject
no subject
no subject
Thanks for the encouragement! I hope that by next KG, I'll be so wildly successful that I'll be able to start camping a week early!
Congratulations!
Hugs!
Mark