I did it!
I decided to go ahead and publish my first book, Around the Next Corner, on Amazon Kindle. To say I'm excited is an understatement! I didn't really know how I would feel seeing my book out there for anyone to read, but it's pretty exciting! And scary.
Honestly, I've had thoughts of nervousness over the last few days about it.
What if no one likes it?
What if no one reads it?
What if it gets bad reviews?
The good thing is this: I know that I don't live in the "what if's" of life. I believe that God gave me this story to tell as a healing process for my own life as well as to help someone else. So, instead of thinking about the negative "what if's," I'm choosing to think of the positive ones.
What if this helps someone leave an abusive relationship?
What if this is used as a catalyst for forgiveness within a family relationship?
What if this brings even more awareness to domestic violence?
What if an editor or publisher sees it and likes it?
I didn't write this book to promote myself. I wrote it in hopes of helping someone escape an abusive relationship and know she could have a good life.
I hope a lot of people read it. Sure! But, more than anything, I hope Jesus is glorified through the story of Piper Phillips and her family.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Learning Something New
My sister-in-law made a scarf for my mother that she raved and raved over. Mom thought I should learn how to make them, so I got in touch with my sister-in-law and found out what kind of yarn she used. I went out and bought it yesterday along with knitting needles, which I have never been able to use. I tried to learn knitting when I was a teenager, but I wasn't coordinated enough to do it.
After going to college full-time for the last two years, and being done since December, I can feel myself feeling anxious. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm so accustomed to learning new things, it's been tough. And even though I started working six weeks ago for a CPA and have learned that system, I guess it wasn't enough for my brain. Or may it's been too much at times.
I thought I needed something to do with my hands that wasn't computer related. So, after I got the last two weeks' mail opened and sorted, and after I washed our sheets, and whatever else (I can't remember), I sat down with those knitting needles and yarn while watching the tutorial on youtube. And I watched it again and again. Finally, after watching a five minute video for over an hour, I thought I figured it out.
Until I let go of the needle, and all my work was ruined. Over and over again. And again.
It was so frustrating! But I persevered, and finally, about four hours later, I had a nice start. I put it away somewhere where no one will touch it, move it, look at it wrong, etc. :-)
The thing is if I don't pick up those needles and yarn again, all I will have is a "nice start." I want to finish that scarf well. It may not be perfect when it's done, but at least I know I can do it.
I think maybe the journey is just as important as the destination.
After going to college full-time for the last two years, and being done since December, I can feel myself feeling anxious. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm so accustomed to learning new things, it's been tough. And even though I started working six weeks ago for a CPA and have learned that system, I guess it wasn't enough for my brain. Or may it's been too much at times.
I thought I needed something to do with my hands that wasn't computer related. So, after I got the last two weeks' mail opened and sorted, and after I washed our sheets, and whatever else (I can't remember), I sat down with those knitting needles and yarn while watching the tutorial on youtube. And I watched it again and again. Finally, after watching a five minute video for over an hour, I thought I figured it out.
Until I let go of the needle, and all my work was ruined. Over and over again. And again.
It was so frustrating! But I persevered, and finally, about four hours later, I had a nice start. I put it away somewhere where no one will touch it, move it, look at it wrong, etc. :-)
The thing is if I don't pick up those needles and yarn again, all I will have is a "nice start." I want to finish that scarf well. It may not be perfect when it's done, but at least I know I can do it.
I think maybe the journey is just as important as the destination.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Helpful Writer Information
So, I've written this novel, and I think it's a pretty good story about family, domestic violence, and romance. I've been offered a publishing contract with a publishing company, but there is a fee. Everything I have read and heard from other people, companies, etc. have indicated that you should never be charged a fee to publish your work. They should be paying you.
In the Preditors and Editors website, http://pred-ed.com/pebw.htm, I found a helpful list of Book Publishers. In the entire alphabet, yes, A-Z, I only found 3 helpful websites, and only one was a publisher who is accepting unsolicited manuscripts... and only paper submissions. The other two were informational, basically. Good information, though.
I also read that you don't absolutely NEED an agent.
So, my question is this: How in the world do you get your book published? Many publishers are called "Vanity Presses," and many publishers are not recommended. I'm not interested in self-publishing, but is doing it on Amazon an option?
I'm not saying my novel is the best work of fiction in the world, that I think I am such a great writer that no one should reject me, or anything like that. What I am saying is this: domestic violence is a hot button topic in the world we live in, and it should be written about, if even in fictional form. I told myself that I would use the heartache and pain from that segment in my life to help other people, if at all possible. And that's what I want to do.
In all honesty, I'm really dealing with disappointment. I was hoping that it would happen!
I've always wanted to be a published author. And NOW is the time. I'm going to keep learning and growing, and I hope that one day, I can say it actually happened.
In the Preditors and Editors website, http://pred-ed.com/pebw.htm, I found a helpful list of Book Publishers. In the entire alphabet, yes, A-Z, I only found 3 helpful websites, and only one was a publisher who is accepting unsolicited manuscripts... and only paper submissions. The other two were informational, basically. Good information, though.
I also read that you don't absolutely NEED an agent.
So, my question is this: How in the world do you get your book published? Many publishers are called "Vanity Presses," and many publishers are not recommended. I'm not interested in self-publishing, but is doing it on Amazon an option?
I'm not saying my novel is the best work of fiction in the world, that I think I am such a great writer that no one should reject me, or anything like that. What I am saying is this: domestic violence is a hot button topic in the world we live in, and it should be written about, if even in fictional form. I told myself that I would use the heartache and pain from that segment in my life to help other people, if at all possible. And that's what I want to do.
In all honesty, I'm really dealing with disappointment. I was hoping that it would happen!
I've always wanted to be a published author. And NOW is the time. I'm going to keep learning and growing, and I hope that one day, I can say it actually happened.
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