Which book have you read more than any other?
I’ve read my 300 page memoir/self-help, cover to cover, a dozen times. I saw it evolve from 151 pages to 224 and finally 300 pages. I did most of the proofing, with a little help from Laura, my editor. I picked up proof copies from the print shop, fine-tuning. I felt confident upon the book’s release. Creating and finishing the project was epic. My most substantial book, Topher Wins is also my only nonfiction work.
A dozen
Divided into twelve chapters, Topher covers my early childhood in Oz, my years growing up overseas, and later studies in Sydney. I unpack my IELTS results and dissect each Test component. My memoir has humour, nostalgia, and references. You will encounter Bret Ellis, Veronica Roth, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jose Rizal. I compare the length of Topher with other notable books.
Each chapter begins with a quote. There are laughter and jeers. Basketball and books. Movies and lectures. Tutorials and mentors. The release likewise includes three appendices. Two of my finest poems, first published on this website. A post about this anime show, which my whole high school followed. Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. For a change, the acknowledgements was at the front.
Laura described my Author’s Note as ‘word-perfect. Topher Wins is an invaluable resource for students and IELTS examinees, a ray of hope for those doing it tough.’
Above the norm
Publishing multiple books, let alone a 300-page manuscript, is no mean feat. Many people dream of writing books, but few finish them. So far, I’ve released a 64-page story collection, 300-page memoir, 112-page poetry collection, and 482 blog posts. That’s a prolific resume spanning a decade.
For Musings, my poetry collection, I made five drafts. Each one was revamped with mostly new poems. Being much shorter than Topher, it was easier to edit and proof. Both of them have plus covers. My memoir has the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Musings has three animals with autumn leaves and the sun.
Rare Air
My high school class has produced many physicians, lawyers, educators, accountants, registered nurses, and other professionals. No one else has published three books and counting, let alone one.
A family doctor has told us that he couldn’t score 7.0 in the IELTS. A manager from a government agency also told my mum that she can’t attain an 8.5 overall band score.
Most peeps balk at proofing. You must spot inconsistency, awkward phrasing, word choice, spacing, proper font, punctuation, spelling, fact checking, readability, and usability. Each sentence is important, every vignette matters. Clarity is crucial. You don’t want readers guessing. I likewise utilise my unique voice, which isn’t as accessible as Mitch Albom.
As my maths teacher wrote, ‘There are no shortcuts to success.’
‘Trust the process’
It took me four years to actualise this project. Four years, on and off, of writing, reminiscing, editing, and proofing. I got the ISBN, printing many copies. Altogether, I wrote 77,000 words. A trade paperback, it has coloured matte covers and the interior pages are printed on thick 90gsm paper. I sent copies to my dad overseas and others as well. They have my life story and memories of our high school journey together.
‘Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight and his punishment is he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.’ – Walt Whittman
P.S.You could purchase my memoir/self-help ebook via this link. It’s discounted by almost sixty percent.
