Dear Me: Publishing a Book was HARD, now enjoy it!
(I don’t normally write this type of post, I’m usually too busy trying to be perfect, and work hard, and be better, or something to that crazy extent. I am always about trying to create content that is personable and also helps the people who are reading this. But, it’s been 5 days since my book came out on Amazon, thanks to Solstice Publishing, and it’s time to enjoy the fact that I made it through publishing a book. So here it goes… )
Dear Me: Don’t Forget To Remember This Moment
The night before my book was set to be released, I was up late trying to get one more step ahead. I am constantly pushing to be more; sometimes to the point that I feel like I’m going to break.
I had to actually take a second to remind myself to give myself a chance to enjoy that I had published a book that was coming out the next day. I had to tell myself that the fact that I had written 300 odd pages, and that a real publisher had wanted to sell my book was a HUGE FEAT.
This was the thing that I had been working towards during the five years that I had been writing my book, this was what I had always dreamed of. I have always wanted to be able to call myself an Author, and now I officially can.
Dear Me: Remember this is an Accomplishment
I have a problem with accomplishing things, because I forget to actually live in the moment and enjoy it. I look back and can list off this great range of accomplishments that I have achieved, but I constantly look forward to what is next. If I could remind myself one thing about in this process, it is to remember to enjoy the fact I am now an author, and not to be little the accomplishment of publishing a book.
We live in a world that is highly competitive, which is great. It pushes everyone to go beyond their comfort zone and get out there to be happy. But in some ways I think this competition almost becomes against ourselves. The moment we achieve one thing, the minute we want ten more.
That is why, as I write this, I think I need to remember most of all to enjoy this accomplishment, because it might be a once in a lifetime achievement. People dream of writing a book, and I think it is possible for everyone. I’m writing a second now, and I know I’ll finish it, but publishing your first book only happens once.
Dear Me: It Doesn’t Matter if EVERYONE Hates It
One of the scariest parts about publishing a book is the fact that it feels as though you are putting a piece of your soul into the world. I put years of blood, sweat and tears into writing my book, and now it is out there for people to rip to shreds. In many ways, I don’t care. I wrote something I was proud of. But when you become so vulnerable by displaying your art, you also feel as though every opinion is a direct arrow to your heart.
So, as the reviews start to come in, remember, you did something amazing, and don’t give a f*** about what people think!
You are one smart human with so much common sense. Keep sharing your experiences; they have great value to those who want to grow.
It sounds like publishing one’s first book is more of a private victory than a public one–and that’s regardless of how it’s received. You’ve given good advice to any artists trying to put themselves out there!