‘Write a Book’ They Said…

‘it’ll be fun!’

I remember sitting in a coffee shop with another author friend as we listened to classic 80s songs over the sound system and drank mochas. Each of us concentrating on our computer screens or discussing how we were working through the scenes we were writing that weren’t cooperating.

After about two hours, she looked at me and said “Why do we do this?”

“It’s fun. We’re having fun,” I replied.

It’s become a joke between us for almost fifteen years now. But in all actuality, that was the fun part. I love discovering my characters as they reveal themselves. I love figuring out how to work in an emotion, adore when they have conversations back and forth in my brain. I write my stories down because it is, in all reality, fun.

What I didn’t expect was the business side of writing. Now, way back when in them olden days when I started doing this, self-publishing wasn’t a thing. So, I tried the traditional route and bought the fancy paper and envelopes and lots of stamps and researched agents and publishing houses with an actual book. I had an agent, briefly, but they couldn’t sell the book and we parted ways.

Now, with self-publishing, you’d think it’d be a little easier. I mean, sure, the actual putting a book or ebook up online is easier. I love playing with the formatting and designing the covers. I love when I get that package and pull out the physical representation of what my brain pulled out of thin air.

But as an introvert? Putting myself out there to slog my book? That’s the hard part. Figuring out the ever-changing algorithms on social media? Yikes! Standing in front of a stranger at a table with my pretty books and saying, ‘buy this! I think you’ll like it.’ makes my heart race and my palms sweat.

Right now, I’m at this last phase of my new release, Helplessly Hoping (coming out on Wednesday, May 29th) and it’s scary as heck to do it again. I’m at the ‘how do I get someone interested in reading this?’ phase. The ‘I have to hock my wares’ phase. The ‘I am scared to death someone is going to point and laugh at me and tell me to stop pretending’ phase.

But you know what? Like a mother looking at her child, when I look at the author’s copy sitting on my desk, I grin. Scanning a few pages, I remember the struggle I had to get those words on the page and dang it, I’m proud of it. I believe in the story and like a parent, I’m going to do whatever I can to help make it a success.

I’m at the tail of Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller. One chapter, ‘The Box,’ he talks about success.

… anything that you put your mind to, you can achieve in YOUR OWN WAY. All it takes is determination, courage, and the will to try.

My books, regardless of how many I sell, are an achievement in my own way. Putting myself out there, as imperfect and scared, is an achievement in my own way. Writing all of this down for everyone to see the doubt and insecurities… you get the picture.

‘Write a book,’ they said …

I did.

Several.

And for everyone that’s supported, beta’d, critiqued, reviewed, and encouraged… Thank you!