On August 18th sophomore English teacher Matt Litton published his new book and offered to share some insight on the eighteen-month process of bringing an idea to the bookshelves.

      Litton says, “Most publishers are not as interested in your writing initially as they are by your idea – unfortunately you have to sell them on a marketable concept first.”

       Before even beginning to write the first line, Litton had to pitch his idea to Tyndale House Publishers and sign a contract.  After that, he received an editor and a timeline for the manuscript, with whom he spent three months sending his writing back and forth between.

         Litton recalls “When I finished with my editor we had been through close to six ‘passes’ on the manuscript.”

          After the final draft was completed, Litton had to promote his book through interviews on radio and writing op-ed articles, as well as being invited to speak to audiences about his book.

         Although some of live interviews have been “pretty intimidating,” he feels “very lucky to get to experience some of this stuff at least once.”

          Though being a writer may sound like an idealistic way to make a living, Litton sees the publishing process more as a learning experience and an outlet for creativity than an opportunity for fiscal compensation

          “I believe that unless you are Stephen King – most writers cannot afford to do it as a full time profession” Litton says.

         Litton hopes to apply what he has discovered about the publishing process and writing to his teaching at MHS.