끊임없이 상상하는 일

아주 많이 존경하는 한 출판사 대표님이 있다. 투고자였던 나에게 처음으로 "글이 참 좋네요."라고 얘기해주신 분이다. 훗날 누군가 "작가의 꿈은 계속 놓지 않고 살아왔던 건가요?"라는 질문을 한다면, 아주 고집스럽고 멋있게 "네! 저는 단 한 번도 꿈을 포기하지 않고 도전했습니다!"라고 말할 수 있으면 좋겠지만, 사실은 이쯤에서 그만두어야 할까 생각했던 적이 한두 번이 아니다.

재미난 것은 그렇게 슬슬 때려치워야겠다.. 하는 생각이 들 때마다 출판사에서는 희망고문을 안겨주듯, 때로는 약을 올리듯 긍정적인 피드백을 주었던 것이다. 이건 참 사람 돌아버리게 만드는 일이다. 아, 이제 그만할까, 싶다가도 이런 긍정의 피드백이 오면, 어쩌면 책을 낼 수도 있을지 몰라! 하면서 계속 투고를 하게 됐던 것.

그러니 앞서 이야기한 한 출판사 대표님의 긍정적인 피드백이 아니었더라면, 진작에 글이고 책이고 나발이고 그만두었을지도 모른다. 글쟁이는 자기 글을 좋아해 주는 사람에게 끌릴 수밖에 없는 노릇이라 그 후로 나는 이 출판사 대표님에게 무한의 존경을 품게 된 것이다.

출판사 대표이면서 또 글도 무척이나 재밌게 잘 쓰셔서, 이분이 나에게 건네주었던 말이나 쓰신 글을 좋아하기도 한다. 이분이 하신 말 중에 유독 마음에 간직하고 있는 말이 있는데 그게 바로, "책을 만드는 일은 처음부터 끝까지 끊임없이 상상하는 일" 이란 말이다.

책은 상상하는 일!

저자 역시 원고를 출판사에 보내고는 나름의 상상을 한다. 본문 디자인을 상상하고, 표지 디자인을 상상하고, 판형과 글꼴을 상상하고, 책의 두께와 가격을 상상한다. 하지만 초보 글쟁이와 전문적으로 책을 다루는 편집자가 상상하는 책이란 다를 수밖에 없다.

특히나 아는 게 많이 없는 미천한 내 머리로는 상상에도 한계치가 있다. 이런저런 책의 꼴과 형태와 모습을 상상하다가 본격적으로 출판사와 작업을 진행한다. 편집자와 디자이너의 상상력이 더해져 원고는 조금씩 책의 모습을 갖추어가는데, 그러니까 나는 7 정도를 상상했던 게, 출판사에서 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되어 돌아온다면, 어엌, 역시 내 상상력은 미천하다, 편집자님 짱짱, 최고최고, 리스펙리스펙 하면서 감탄을 하게 되는 것이다.

책은 끊임없이 상상하는 것.

그게 원고 교정의 내용이든, 디자인적인 측면에서든 내가 상상해왔던 것보다 좋은 결과물이 되어 갈 때마다, 또 다른 상상의 세계로 접어든다. 아! 이거 이거 책 엄청 잘 팔리면 어떡하지!!!!!!!!!!!! 하는 것은 가벼운 농이고, 미천한 제 상상력을 반성하게 됩니다.

책 나오려면 아직 멀었는데, 제가 상상했던 것보다 책이 많이 예뻐지지 않을까, 마 이런 생각을 하며 결국 오늘도 기승전책광고였던 것입니다.

책 나오믄 많이 관심 가져 쥬떼염.