This is so true for me. I always feel like I'm on the brink of doing something great. I feel like I have a pretty good brain, a desire to be successful, the will to work on my craft and improve my writing to a professional level, and enough ideas to last me until I'm dead. But there's this inner voice that constantly nags at me:
You can't do it.
That's a stupid idea.
You don't have time.
Etc., etc., etc.
But lately, thanks to the Badass books and just trying to stick to my word of the year, GROW, I've decided that I'm starting something on my Editor-911 site on Sunday or Monday that I've been kicking around for years--a series of blog posts (that might become a book) titled something like:
How NOT to Become a Famous Author
or
How to Stay Unknown and Make No Money as a Published Author
or
How to Be Unsuccessful as a Published Author
Now this might sound crazy to you. But I often wonder about the DUMMIES idea guy and how he went to his publisher and said something like, "I suggest we publish books with DUMMIES in the title, which is actually calling the readers, DUMMIES. These books will become household items. We'll have all sorts of titles."
I'm sure he was laughed out of a couple of offices. But...well, I'm sure you've seen the yellow and black books. It was a success. People loved it. These books are funny and useful and make you feel smart, actually.
So in my career as a published author, I feel like I've done just about everything wrong that you could. So although I hope my idea is funny and makes people laugh, it will also have some real lessons for writers to learn and to help writers get published and market their books successfully. These posts will be like: here are all the mistakes I made. Now, don't do this, and you will be successful.
Why am I writing about this on The Muffin if I haven't started yet? Because I want to make myself do it. If I write this promise on here, I will, I swear, I will start this series, and am REALLY trying to write one post a week. Because I'm a badass, and I'm done lying to myself that I can't do things that other writers successfully do, such as blog a book and follow through on good ideas.
So...what have you been putting off and not doing because you didn't believe in yourself? Let us know in the comments below, so we can encourage you to stop putting yourself down and start living your dream.
7 comments:
Margo--We definitely do lots to prevent ourselves from getting published. Things like letting a manuscript collect dust rather than submitting it... not ever finishing a piece... not taking risks like speaking to an publisher when we encounter one at a conference... It's far "safer" to wallow in our "what is" than to worry and fret and dream about our "what could be."
You are definitely a bada$$, the baddest bada$$ editor I've ever encountered.
I'm putting off finishing my beginning. The first lines, the first page--that's what hooks the reader. If I can't get that right, I'm sunk. However, I'm determined this manuscript becomes a book, so I have to brush off my self-doubt and get busy.
I'm sure your posts--"Don't do what I did"--will make writers connect... and hopefully they will get nudged into action, too.
Margo, I always read your posts. If you do write such a book and a publisher produces it (or, better yet, you self-publish) I will buy it in paper form. Lots of times authors offer ebook for their paper book sales for an extra dollar, and if you do that, I'll get it in both forms and read it.
As writers, we tend to take aim at our foot and then start shooting until we hit it. Sometimes, once we've hit it, we shoot again and prove we can hit it twice! So yes, I'll read your book on what NOT to do. Feel free to show this note to your chosen publisher if he doubts there's a market for it. My email is TomCrepeau3@aol.com and I'm one of your subscribers.
-tc
I love titles like the ones you suggested. I often choose a book by its title and would be interested in reading a book with a title like this.
Yes, we are the ones holding our self back. This year I want to make an audio book of humorous stories. Because like you, making people laugh is one of my talents.
I used to get those Dummies books, take a sharpie, and cross out Dummies and put "Cool Person". :)
Remember I wrote the post, "How NOT to Write a Book", so I obviously love this idea! :) I think yours would be hilarious and helpful!
Writing a book is definitely something I've put off for years and submitting my work. I'm actively working on that with the Butt-Kickers accountability group. I said I'd submit at least one essay per month and squeaked in at the deadline a couple days ago. So I'm starting to chase my dreams!
Btw, You ARE a Badass! =)
I've been putting off a lot of things for years because I just didn't feel like I was a "good enough" writer. I like to tell myself that because I'm not "classically trained" no one will ever want to publish my work. I'm at the point now where I don't give a crap what people think, LOL. Actually, that's not true. I do care. I care enough that I've spent the past 10 years writing and rewriting, writing and submitting short stories, pitching articles, networking and hopefully building up a solid set of credentials. I also have this dream of creating a podcast and I'm getting ready to participate in a podcast development competition at our local NPR radio station. I'm determined to be a BADASS, and I agree that you are, too!
Sioux: I know you can get those first lines done and start sending your work out. You might feel comforted knowing that most authors hate their first pages and struggle over them! :)
TC: Thank you so much! I appreciate the support and kind words. Best of luck with your writing. And I totally agree that writers seem to be their own worst enemy!
Theresa: What a fun idea! I would love an audio book with humorous stories. I love listening to funny stuff when I am driving on long drives.
Ang: Thanks! I don't remember that post, but I will have to look it up. :) I'm proud of you and all the butt-kickers. It doesn't matter even if you just squeak by, as long as you meet the goal. I finished my novel on December 31 but it still counts!
Renee: That is so cool about the podcast. You should definitely do it. :) BTW, I will be returning your first pages tomorrow--that's my goal and I love that you revised them according to Save the Cat!
Love your titles! I would read one of those in order to put off writing!
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