Fear of rejection

I have recently read Kristen Lamb's blog. The subject was "The five mistakes killing self-published authors" and I have to, unfortunately, agree with everything she has to say regarding the subject. I wish I could disagree and shine a ray of light on the self-publishing journey I've been through but I can't. I have self-published two books and honestly I chose that route because I was afraid. I was afraid of being rejected and told that my writing wasn't good enough. I also really just wanted to get my feet wet in the business and this way my way of doing that.

I can say with conviction that even though I am not wildly popular, yet, I am thankful for the exposure and success that I have had. I have just finished my third book which is very different from my first two and am toying around with going to a traditional publisher. Kristen Lamb touches on getting your book ready and doing a lot more work polishing it up and shelling out your own money when going the self-publishing road and again she is right.

I am now on the hunt for a good editor and am willing to pay good money for someone to keep me on the straight and narrow when it comes to polishing the finished product. I read somewhere that you are never really truly done with your book until you have re-written it (or tweaked it) a minimum of four times. Now that sounds crazy and scary but it's true. Writing a great book or even just a good book doesn't happen like it does in the movies. Movies like Misery and Little Women show writers that churn out a book in a day or so and it's perfect...not reality.

If that were case, the New York Times would have it's hands full picking out which best seller they want to back. I also agree with Ms. Lamb regarding writing more. I am currently working on another project even though I have just finsihed a book. If someone out there figures out that you are the writer they want to follow, they won't be prone to do so if you only have one book to offer. My fourth book is in the works. I was talking with a wonderful writer, Carter Wilson (www.carterwilson.com) and he was telling me about defining one's work. This is something that I am struggling with. I am kinda the multi-personality of writing. I do poetry, young adult and scary tales. So now I find myself wondering...who am I? As a writer. With that thought in my mind...I will let you know when I make that decision.

Until next time...keep writing.