Louis Spector

I know it may seem like my book will never be finished, but I assure you—it will be. Like a fine wine, it takes time.

Each rewrite brings me closer to a finished, publishable book.  Rewriting isn’t just a step in the process; it is the process.  Every revision strengthens the story, sharpens the writing, and gets me one step closer to the final product.   

When I started this project in 2007, it was just an impossible dream—something I never thought I could actually complete but felt compelled to begin. At the time, I didn’t believe I could take on such a task without support or a professional writer to guide me. Unfortunately, most of the advice I received focused on how to shape my father into a larger-than-life character, fitting an image that had been created over the years. That wasn’t my goal. In fact, I didn’t even want to write about him; I wanted to write about overcoming obstacles and facing impossible challenges. I wanted to write about me, a person who couldn’t read or write at 14.

Frustrated and feeling like I took on more than I could handle, I put the idea of writing this book on hold. It sat in the back of my mind, collecting dust, occasionally nudging me to pick it up again.

A little about me: I’m a procrastinator. I put off today what I could simply do tomorrow. And the thing about “tomorrow” is that it never arrives. But in 2021, I woke up and realized that if this book was ever going to be written, it had to be by me—and me alone. It also helped that I was flooded with memories from my father’s passing that same year, pushing me to get serious about writing.

When I first started back in 2007, I was obsessed with making each chapter perfect before moving on. That left me with a towering stack of drafts—just for chapter one. By chapter three, I had twelve inches of pages, a novel’s worth of words, but no actual novel.  In 2021, I knew I had to change my approach. Instead of perfecting each chapter as I went, I focused on finishing a complete first draft.

By mid-2021, I had finally written all the chapters. Then came the rewrites and revisions, along with doubts and the realization that I was once again taking on more than I could handle. But my significant other, Frieda, wouldn’t let me quit. She also wouldn’t allow procrastination to settle into our home. I set a goal: finish at least four chapters a week.  Once the book was done again, I’d start over from chapter one, chiseling out all the imperfections.

Over the years, I’ve rewritten the book countless times. When I started, I wasn’t a writer. I struggled with spelling, structuring sentences, developing characters, and crafting realistic scenes. Writing the book became more than just telling a story—it became a way to teach myself how to write. I studied the craft, practiced relentlessly, and used every tool available. Grammarly helped me refine my writing, pointing out mistakes I didn’t even realize I was making. Then, in 2024, I started using ChatGPT—not to write for me, but to help me edit, cut down on redundancy, and sharpen my storytelling. It became my guide, teacher, mentor, and editor. It didn’t write my book—it showed me that it was possible that I could.

Now, the book is almost done. With just a few more tweaks, I’m finishing two or three chapters a week, making sure they’re the best they can be. I’m currently looking for a cover designer. Since this book will be self-published, every part of the process—beyond the writing—falls on me. It’s a long, exhausting journey, but a necessary one if I want to get this book into readers’ hands.

This is personal for me. Simply getting my book out into the world—that, to me, is success. How it performs? That’s irrelevant.

Just wanted to give everyone an update on where things stand.