I'm WRITING A BOOK!

 

Hello there dear readers, dreamers and pumpkin eaters. 

That's right. I went there. 

So big news, at least big news for me. I'm writing a book. 

Why are you groaning? 

Seriously. I'm writing a book. 

Now don't look at me that way. I know my history with daily challenges, 30 day challenges and other such challenges has been....hmmm....how should I say this?

         Sucky. 

Yeah. That's a good word. Sucky. 

But I'm serious about this one. 

I have the outline all done. I'm working on the manuscript as we speak....er type.....read? Seriously I am. I am all the way to chapter 2. 

I can feel your judgment. Stop it. 

For those of you that don't know me that well....which is probably most of you, I want to fill you in on some of my personal history. 

Oh don't roll your eyes at me. Just hear me out.....er....read me out? Seriously what the hell do you say in this situation. It's bugging me! 

ahem. 

Anyway, ever since I was a little girl I have been obsessed with story telling. My head was always in the clouds much to my mother's chagrin. She wanted a beauty pageant loving, softball playing, charming southern belle of a daughter. Instead she got a video game playing, comic book reading, head in the clouds geek. 

Eventually she came to accept me for me. Thanks Mamma!

So through time I started writing to get all those people and their stories out of my head but I never thought about actually getting their stories published....until now.

I'm trying to decide if I should self publish or find a publisher to help me out. Of course self publishing is more work and is a bit more of a headache but, its cheaper, thanks to modern day technology. You can self publish on Amazon for little to nothing. The problem is getting people to discover your book. That's when marketing comes into play.

Now, you don't have to be a marketing genius, although it does help, but you do need to know at least some of the basics. 

What? 

No. I don't know the basics yet. I'm still learning too, so that's why I've decided to document my writing process and trials and tribulations for posterity. That way if I make any mistakes, you and I both can learn from them.

But Stevie. Another challenge?

                               Ok yes. My history with challenges has been iffy at best but I think I can really keep up with this one. I have been writing everyday, but to make things easier on myself, as I am a very busy mom, wife, and illustrator, I have decided I am not going to be doing a daily update.

I will be updating once a week. So every Wednesday or Thursday I'll be letting you guys know how everything is going and what I've done to get this book written and rewritten, beta read, edited, and finally published.

I have been reading a fellow blogger and already published author's page and she makes a very point. Make goals.
She makes a goal for every quarter or three months for those of you (like myself) that didn't know what a quarter was.

Every three months she makes a series of goals to accomplish in that time. It could range from personal goals such as "eating healthier" or "exercising more" or "Lose a certain amount of weight".    It could also be professional goals. "Write 4,000 words"  "edit manuscript down to 100 pages" all the way to "find an agent and editor".  So I'm taking her example and implementing it into my own life.

So from now on until this book is published. I am making goals and completing them.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always believed that if you want something so badly you can taste it, you can see it in your mind's eyes, and you can feel it in your soul, it will eventually come to be.

It will come to be. I will be a published author, I will be an illustrator for children's books and I will be a storyteller.

What are your goals?
What are your dreams?


I hope you accomplish them.
Just keep your head up and remember that failing is ok. If I fail, I learn. Failing is only a detour on the map to success.

So good luck to both me and you.

Now, back to writing.

Up, UP and AWAY!