Urban Ministry Live And Unplugged: The Publishing Process

Friday, September 8, 2023

The Publishing Process

My latest book has had an interesting journey. I thought I would offer some insight into what can happen when publishing a book. It is a new metaphysics, which I describe as "the concretization of abstract concepts". Through a special technique, I turn abstract concepts into a simple narrative—covering the subjects of language, reality, ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy, history, science, mathematics, meaning, holism, and God.

• It all began when, on 1 Jan 2022, the book's synopsis appeared to me in a picture
• I wrote this up on 4 Jan 2022, and put it aside, beginning again on 2 January 2023
• On 23 Apr 2023, I approached a major publisher, suggesting a "Super Simple Metaphysics". Yes, they said, send it
• I engaged B. Ann Moore as my artist—using visualization software to give her the idea. It was about a month until the first pictures arrived
• But her African copy shop didn't do the publisher's resolution! We used a smartphone camera instead
• I submitted my work to the publisher on 29 May 2023—my 63rd birthday
• I received an offer of publication on 9 Jun 2023—in publishing, stunningly fast, called a "hot project"
• I delivered my completed project on 1 Aug 2023: text, illustrations, editorial, marketing
• But now Google denied the art department access to the illustrations. I re-delivered 2 Aug 2023
• Blackouts in Cape Town made it a chore to get those illustrations through—intermittent 0.8 Mbps upload speed, and 0.4 GB illustrations!
• Now my manuscript failed its "entrance exam", a format check—I had used artificial intelligence on Holy Writ!
• On 3 Aug 2023, my cover (pictured) was rejected. But it was accepted in concept. This was good
• I sought various endorsements. Wow. I received the finest endorsements, both for who wrote them and what they said
• I sent one endorsement back to a well known novelist: not good enough. She said ... goodbye!
• I used artificial intelligence to copy edit. It was ruthless! I had to restore the human touch
• I started work with the publisher's typesetter 23 Aug 2023
• But there were First World vs. Third World software issues. My work for the typesetter was rejected three times!
• I submitted a short index 31 Aug 2023—proof that my narrative was a metaphysics in disguise
• My book was now sent to the managing editor for a final check. Just the cover design to come now ...

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About This Blog

I have spent ten years in suburban ministry, twenty-two years (total) in urban ministry, and seven years in country ministry. My involvements in ministry continue, now reduced.

There are a few reasons for this blog: 1. To help people form a picture of what ministry is about -- in particular urban ministry -- not least seminary students who may be destined for urban ministry. I have found that the image and the reality may be far apart in academia. 2. My experience in ministry may be (and, in fact, often has been) an encouragement to other ministers -- alternatively, a cautionary tale, as the case may be! Many notes of thanks have been recorded on this blog. And 3. Friends have simply told me how interesting reports of ministry are.

This is not a "parochial" blog. Only a tenth or so of readers are local (in South Africa). Outside of my home country, this blog is most read in Europe and North America. Russia is no. 4 on the list, and there is some interest in Muslim nations. At one point, this was the most authoritative Religion blog in Southern Africa (I now do not know how it is ranked).

With all of the above in mind, the purpose of this blog is simply to record urban ministry "live and unplugged", in the form of accounts. This blog is not a "church blog", but a "ministry blog". For the most part, I don't intend to share my views. The emphasis is the experience of ministry and the various events that surround it.

A definition of “live” is “actually being performed at the time of viewing”. A definition of “unplugged” is “without amplification or modification”. However, see my Posting Policy below.

Posting Policy

This blog may be unique with regard to its degree of transparency about urban ministry. Many people have written to me to say how they cherish the help they have received through this. However, this means that special attention needs to be given to confidentiality in particular. I use the following guidelines for posting on this blog:

I apply the following questions to posts: Are they posted in good faith? Are they balanced? Are they compassionate? Are they informative about ministry? Do they help one better understand a problem or issue?

I consider a post to be unproblematic if a person's identity is unknowable in the post, if the facts are public knowledge, or if a change of particulars (name, place, date, and so on) will truly protect privacy. If I consider that anyone who was not involved in an incident would recognise those who were, then I do not post. If a post could compromise the safety of those I blog about, then I make a post safe, or I do not post.

I believe that these measures should enable me to continue to be "open" about urban ministry while not compromising privacy.

In 2013, ninety percent of the posts on this blog were removed. I then put the question of the freedom of the blog to the South African Human Rights Commission. The position is this: if a post is legal, it is legal. Essentially, all of my posts were OK. There is freedom of expression in South Africa.

Having said this, if any post should even cause discomfort, it will be removed from this blog immediately. This has always been the position. One does need to contact me for that, best through an e-mail or a blog comment, and I prefer to see a name on it. The post will be put back up only if there would seem to be compelling reason for it. It is hoped that there will be the assumption that I wish to address any discomfort satisfactorily, compassionately, and efficiently.