FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH
IT IS TIME FOR
INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP
To find out more about this group,
visit:
(The Ninja Captain)
at
at
October!!
Wow, just where has this year gone!
I have achieved quite a bit this month. I have released my second book in The Protector Series, celebrated my first year anniversary as a Blogger. My first book has been published for 12 months, I also celebrated my own birthday (but I am definitely not going to reveal my age!) and I am at the moment enjoying my very first long service leave from my day job.
So you would think that I would have nothing to be insecure about, wouldn't you?
Wrong!!!
I am feeling insecure now because I have learned so much in my first year through connecting with all of you, that I think I need to re-publish my first book. I know I could do a better job of it! I didn't even realize this was possible until just recently, when I found out that a typical author resubmits their work an average of four times in the first year after publishing!
Well that will be my first job next month.
I have received such wonderful support from all of you with the launch that I also feel insecure about whether I have helped enough throughout the year to support your releases and blog fests. It is very hard to get around to everyone's websites as much as I would like as I have a full time job where blogging, facebook, twitter, tumblr and any other social networks are banned! I really don't know how Alex achieves this amazing feat! He really is an outstanding person.
Ah now, there's another insecurity and I wish to say sorry if you think I have neglected you at any time!
But, before I start to depress myself and all of you, I would like to say thanks. Thanks for the kind words and support throughout the year and the help you have all given me in my continuing journey to improve and achieve my goals.
In appreciation of your kindness please follow this link for your chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of my new book or a free book cover design from my illustrator!
42 comments:
Saying hello from IWSG. Congrats on your blogoversary! I think most of us have thoughts about wanting to revise something we'd previously written.
nice blog:D
http://beautyandfashion-makeup.blogspot.com/
Carolyn, you haven't neglected or failed to support me! And the joy is in celebrating YOUR achievements, not mine.
Hmm I have mixed thoughts about going over the same book again (especially FOUR times). I'd just write the next one knowing that it will be better than the first. (Although I am currently re-writing a lot of short stories to submit again after several years - but that totally different). You could fall into a trap of always writing that first book and never moving on... and yes, I've got a book that randomly gets worked on, although it's not - and never will be - published. Just a thought.
Visiting from IWSG. :D
Congrats on your blogiversary, and your 2nd book! Woot-woot!
You definitely aren't failing to support your fellow bloggers! It can be hard to balance everything, and you're doing a great job.
As for reworking your first novel, that is the nice thing about self-publishing. You can change things to make it better as you grow as an author. :)
It's tough to balance the demands and commitments of keeping up a blog with a busy life and STILL make time for writing. Just remember that it's not a competition! Do what you can, and more importantly, do it because you want to. It's all good in the end! Writers probably understand that balancing act more than any other group of people.
Good luck!
Well said! It's groups and communities like this one that remind us that we're not alone on this crazy adventure. My post today talks a bit about those negative, discouraging people that Mark Twain called "small people," and how you have to just step right over them and carry on without a moment's thought. The ones that help and support you are the only ones who matter. Writing is one of those things that sometimes make you feel like you're in your own world and taking this thing on alone--but it's empowering to find out that there's a LOT of us out there, and we all face similar adversity in this thing.
Good luck!
Carolyn, you just have to do what you can do. Any of us who've attempted this writing-blogging thing for any amount of time should be understanding of that. (I know I am! I feel like I'm on the computer way too much as it is, and I barely get to 1/3 of my blogging friends every week.) We all have a different threshold for what we can dedicate our time to, and how.
For example, I've tried writing shorter blog posts just so I could post more often. I sucked at it, so I went back to blogging the way I wanted (speaking my mind, and sharing my writing thoughts), which just tends to be longer posts, not as often. I'm mostly aware of the people who read my blog posts, and I don't worry about how often people comment. Mostly because I read all the time, but don't always get to comment myself. (I read a lot of blogs on my phone, & it takes an act of Congress to leave a comment that way.)
The ability to revise and edit after publication is a really cool side-effect of digital publishing. Even if the story doesn't change, the ability to update covers, etc. to match the times/trends is pretty awesome. We should probably all take advantage of that more.
Congrats on such a successful year! Don't worry about your fellow bloggers, we all understand.
I think we all look back on our first book and think the same thing. It's part of growing as a writer. All we can do is keep going and writer our best.
Carolyn, you're AMAZING... I love all your posts and am so excited/proud of all of your success!!!!
Congrats on the anniversary! Those are great achievements.
Allison (Geek Banter)
I can well understand writers wishing to rework their early stories as they improve their skills, but I hadn't realised many actually did it after publication. Guess there's always something new to learn.
If you have learnt from your earlier book then you should be proud of that fact and use your new found knowledge and confidence to move forward to the next. Good luck.
That is nice to know Cynthia. Makes me feel as though I am not the only one.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment.
You always say the right things Alex.
Yes, I suppose that is one way of looking at it.
Thanks for the comment and the follow Jackie.
Thanks for letting me know this Cherie. Yes, I think I will go back over Book One and make some needed changes.
Wow, all of that in one year, what a whirlwind! You've done amazingly well in that short a time. Good for you!
Congratulations to you on all your success and good luck with your new goals! You can do this!
Yes, it is good to know you are not alone. This IWSG is one of the best communities to be involved in. Reading other peoples feelings about their hurdles and the issues they overcome as writers, are so very encouraging and uplifting.
I am so glad I became involved.
Thank you for the comment E.J., it is helpful to know I am not the only one who feels this way.
I wish I learned that I could re-edit and change things a lot earlier than I have, oh well!
Thanks for the encouraging words Crystal.
Yes, that is true too, Ciara.
Thanks Morgan.
Thank you Allison.
Nice to meet you Patsy. It is amazing what you learn as you read other peoples posts on the web. Especially for a group of people like this one.
An interesting thought Suzanne. Thanks for the visit.
A lot of authors go back and re-edit their first book. Much easier to do now with ebooks.
Congrats on your two books.
I share your insecurities, Carolyn. And I don't know how Alex does it as well. It's not always easy to visit everyone every day AND get writing and editing done on top of all that.
Have fun with the next stage of your writing!!!
Hugs
Thanks so much for the kind words Ali.
Thanks for the congrats L., nice of you to drop by.
Thanks for dropping by Lynda and for the encouragement.
How sweet of you Carolyn to worry about all of us and to offer such a lovely gift. We are all crazy in our lives and we try to do the best we can to help our fellow writers. At times we can and jump right in with a banner waving. Other times, life is just INSANE and we can barely keep up with breathing. It's all par for the course. The Journey...
What I enjoyed most about your post today was that you still want to improve. That is SO admirable. I believe we should keep learning, growing, and teaching every day. Chang is good for the soul. It keeps us alive and open for new and exciting experiences. Even the bad ones we learn from.
Relax and keep doing the best you can. That's all any of us can do ... Unless you're SUPER NINJA Alex, of course. LOL.
Add me to the list of quaking in Alex's shadow! No idea how he is able to dedicate so much time to blogging/visiting and have two published books. I'm working on it, though!
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
No apologies necessary!! I'm guilty of not moving around cyberspace fast enough either. We do the best we can, right?
Thanks for stopping by Michel and leaving such a nice comment. I am with you as I too believe as we move through our lives we should never stop learning and sharing our knowledge with others.
Yes, he does a very good job!
Yes, I suppose that is all we can do! Thanks for stopping by.
I don't know how Alex does it either! I just have a couple of hours dedicated to blog visits each week, so I can't ever get around to everyone.
Oh my, don't feel bad! I see your comments all over the blogosphere, which means you're out there, doing your thing!! It's impossible for us to be everything. Here's a funny thing. I know I've seen you around, and now I can't remember where I first met you. She Writes? Alex's following? But for whatever reason, I hadn't signed up to follow your blog. *sigh* I am now. :))
Congrats on book #2!!
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