Writing Fears: Choosing To Self Publish

Self publishing has always been in the back of my mind, since I started writing. I met a lot of writers who are indi publishers and I’ve always admired their courage to take their writing into their own hands.

I think what has stopped me was I’m from the old school of writing wanting some big publisher to say they loved my book and give me a big check to publish it. Yeah I had that dream for years.

As I learned more about the business, I found out why a lot of people were publishing their own books. Mainly they didn’t want to sit and wait on someone to tell them their book was good enough. They believed in their work and was willing to step out and let others make their own judgment.

When you’re dealing with fear, stepping out is the last thing you want to do. You want to keep telling yourself, someone will buy your book. What you’re not telling yourself is that they won’t buy it if you don’t finish it or if you don’t submit it. For years I was that girl saying I’m writing, but not saying I’m not submitting.

I was scared to death to submit my work.

This weekend I realized I was scared to death to self publish it too.

I’m working with a business coach, LaTara Bussey and she said to me, LaShaunda you been working on this book for a while. You need to set a release date. My mind screamed, “are you crazy, no way”

It was easier to say I’m working on a book, than to sit down and schedule my book release.

Am I really ready to put myself out there?

Am I ready to see my dreams come true?

Yes

I’m still scared but I’m not going to let that stop me.

September 9th is my release date.

OMG I just wrote the date.

Pray for me because I’m starting a new journey in my life. I’m afraid but I’m holding on to the Lord’s hand this time. He will guide me every step of the way.

FEAR – get out of my way. I have dreams to work on.

Stay tune, this journey is interesting. Next week I’ll tell you what not to do when you thinking about book covers.

Why did you choose to self publish?

Writing Fears: Choosing To Write

We all have choices. We can choose to watch t.v. every day and not write. We can choose to hang out with our friends every weekend and not write. We can go to the gym or do other things and avoid writing. We can talk on the phone until the wee hours and not write.

These are the choices that we make. As a writer you have to make the choices that are best for you when it comes to writing. You have to decide what is important and what is not important when it comes to your writing. Then you have to schedule a timeframe so you can write.

I’m trying to do better with my own choices. I have let the outside world take over when it comes to my writing. Because I’m not published I sometimes feel like what’s the use I’ll write when I feel like it. However I can’t get to publication if I continue with this attitude.

I have to put myself on a schedule so I can learn what deadlines are and how to meet them. When I do become a published author there will be times I don’t want to write, but I will have to and I no longer have the excuse of I don’t feel like it to back me up.

The procrastination has to end. I have to write. This year one of my goals was to write twice a week on this blog. I wanted to get into the habit of writing on a schedule.

I also created a calendar for working on my manuscripts and its working for me. I can finally see an end. When I didn’t have a schedule it felt like I was writing in circles.

I do have choices and this time I choose to write.

What are you choosing to do that’s getting in front of your writing?

Writing Fears - Letting Someone Read Your Manuscripts

Fear 2: Letting Someone Read My Manuscripts

You can’t get to published if you don’t let others read or critique your books.  You have to step out of your comfort zone if you want to move forward.  It took me years of I can’t do that, to letting someone other than my mother read my manuscripts. 

I will recommend finding someone you feel comfortable with and who reads your genre.  You want someone who gets what you write to read your manuscript. I have a few horror stories about critique partners who didn’t get my writing and sent me into writing comas for years.

I good critique group will tear your story apart but will also help you build it up into a book you can be proud of. You have to develop thick skin when it comes to your writing because there will be times when someone reading your stories will not like them. Don’t take it personal, learn from every critique and grow as a writer. Don’t think your stuff is so perfect you can’t improve it.

Yes I suffered from the there is nothing wrong with my book disease a little bit. I think every writer thinks their work is perfect when they first start, however if you plan on continuing to be a writer, you learn that you grow with each manuscript and that means making mistakes and correcting them.

This year I'm focusing on editing the books in my closet, which means a lot of critiquing. I've put on my coat of armor. I'm ready to learn what I need to do to make these books into publishable books.

I’m moving past the fear and moving toward critiques.

Stop by next Tuesday for more about my journey on getting past the Fear.

Did you have a problem with letting others read your manuscript?

What did you do to move past your writing Fears?

2014 WORD - FEAR

This year I chose the word Fear as my word of the year.

I’ve decided to conquer the word in my life. I’ve let it stop me from pursuing my dreams and I’m no longer going to let it rule of my being.

I will write about my fears because sometimes if you talk about them you can get past them.

1st fear – Not good enough

I think this fear popped up with the first rejection and it continued to grow as I continued to write and submit my ideas. As a writer you don’t know if anyone will like your stories until you let them read them. For years I kept my stories in the closest. The first book I wrote for years because I didn’t have a clue about submitting. When I was stationed in San Diego I found found a copy of Writer’s Digest at a book store,  that began my lessons on learning to write. I learned you had to submit to be able to get published.

I submitted a query letter to Harlequin, this was the time before AA romances, so I was sent a form letter saying they weren’t looking for these type of books. I was devastated and that’s when the first fear crept in.

Looking back at this I can say the good thing about this rejection was that it made me move to the next book. An idea about another story popped in my mind and I spent many evenings and weekends in front of my word processor.

Fear can stop you from trying new things and I’m thankful I didn’t let it stop me from writing. The words continued to come even though I was worried they weren’t good enough.

I will admit this fear is still inside, but I’m learning to get past it.

Do you ever feel like your words aren’t good enough? How do you get past the fear?

How To Conquer Your Fear Workshop

I noticed my highest post for January was moving past fear.

I wanted to share with you a workshop I signed up for last month.  It helped me a lot in identifying my fear and ways to move past the fear.

LaTara Ham Ying will be hosting a new class and I wanted to share the link with you.  If you're having problems moving past the fear this is the workshop for you.

How to Conquer Your Fear - http://www.latarahamying.com/how-to-conquer-fear


I gain so much from this class, and I hope you will too.

Moving Past The Fear

Part of my moving past my fear was letting someone else read my story. I asked two friends to read it. Both are editors, so I value their comments.

The first one read it in one night. She loved the story and the main characters. OMG. My sagging ego needed to hear that. She agreed it needed some help to make it shine.

My second friend agreed to edit it, so I’m in the editing stage. Next month I will start the revision stage. I’m excited and nervous to see what she has to say. I’ve told myself, I can handle the criticism because it will make my story a better story and that’s what I want.

As I go on this new journey in my life, I will keep you posted. I’m so ready to get past my fear and see my dream of a book with my name on the cover come true.

How do you move past your fears?

FEAR The Four Letter Word

Sunday our pastor asked us to find prayer partners and pray with them. I’ve never had a prayer partner before. I didn’t move when he first said get up and find someone. I held on to Sean who was asleep in my lap. The Spirit said, ask Angie. I glanced over at her and she hadn’t moved. Did she have a partner I wondered. The Spirit said ask Angie. This time I moved, with a sleeping baby in my arms. Angie was a good prayer maybe I could learn something from her. I asked her and she said, sure, she and I would be partners with another young lady. Veletta (I’m sure I’m spelling her name wrong). I tried not to panic, Veletta is an excellent prayer. Her prayers always send chills through me.

The four letter word showed up. What had I done? I’m not a public prayer. I can pray in my head and in my heart, but to pray with two other women. What would I say? Would they see I was a fraud? I teach children church and I can’t pray out loud.

They called me Sunday night, I wasn’t expecting it, but I stepped passed the fear and confessed I didn’t think I could pray and to my surprise they said they didn’t feel they were great prayers either. OK, I think I can do this.

Veletta prayed and she hit some points in my life, I wondered how did she know? Tears pricked me eyes and I was glad I had two prayer partners.

Monday I researched praying in public. Basically it said to get out of self and let God. I can do that. So when my partners called me last night, again I stepped around fear and prayed. I can’t even tell you what I said, but I know those words came from the Lord. I let go of self and let God. I prayed in public. I prayed for my partners and it felt wonderful.

I thought about FEAR and how it has controlled my writing. I was afraid to step around it and let God. Last night I learned a valuable lesson in life. I’m stepping around fear, get behind me. I’m letting go of LaShaunda and holding on to GOD. I know he has great plans for me and its time I stop letting FEAR get in the way of his plans.

Are you letting FEAR stop God plans for you?

Hold on to my hand and let’s step around fear into our blessings.