Publish Eve

I’ve had a lot of awesome experiences over the past year or so getting White Dove ready for publication.  So, on the eve of its official debut (though the eBook has been flying off the digital shelves this week–wow!), I thought I’d recount some of the most awesome moments of this final push to publish.  So, for everyone out there toiling away at their first novel, let it be known that not only is there a light at the end of the tunnel, but the journey through the tunnel can be pretty cool too.  Here are some of this year’s highlights.’

1.) Videos with the Kiddos.  As many of you know, White Dove was a Kickstarter campaign.  Editing and publishing on your own dime can be pricey.  But it’s also not something that you can skip if you want a professional final product.  About a year ago I began the campaign, and I let my kids be the stars of my Kickstarter video.  They loved it.  All of them were little hams.  And the older ones got really interested in the project.  They talk about writing their own books all the time.  And they do–on a weekly basis, using ridiculous amounts of construction paper.  I even ceded my dining room table to them for their creative space.  It is the best use of that old table that I can imagine.  (Let’s be serious, it’s not like we ever dine.) 

2.) My awesome village. I have long considered myself to be one of the luckiest people on the planet because I have always absolutely loved the people that I work with.  They make me laugh until I cry, they support me, they work their tails off.  But, as I went through this project, I was floored by just how supportive they were of me and this goal.  It was incredibly humbling. And it wasn’t just my colleagues, but it was my whole community (past and present)– I couldn’t (and still can’t!) believe how wonderfully supportive my village has been over the past year.  I can’t wait to return the favor.  (Thanks guys!)

3.) Getting the results from my first beta read.  As many of you know, it is really hard to put yourself out there for critique.  It’s exciting, terrifying and humbling all at once.  Getting the responses kind of felt like opening the response from a college when you were waiting to find out if you got accepted.  But in the end, the beta read experience was so positive that it gave me the energy to address the myriad of edits that the manuscript required. (And there were a lot… but that’s a topic for a whole different blog series.)

4.) Something from nothing.  I think this has been the best part about the past year– where there was once nothing, there is now something.  That’s a pretty cool experience.  All of those in-between moments added together made something. Those little moments in-between all of the other crazy parts of life are not lost– they live somewhere.  And that’s pretty cool. So, when it feels like the work never ends, be sure to stop and enjoy the journey.  It might actually be even better than the finish line.

Until next time, keep scribbling.