Patience, persistence, compromise

Just three of the many qualities that come in handy when you are trying to get published.

Patience and persistence to put rejections; of which there will be many, behind you, bite the bullet and start all over again: - new agent, new requirements, new standard rejection letter (if you're lucky!) 

Then there's compromise, doing it differently.  I once had a Tarot card reading that told me I needed to get a move on with my novel.  If I didn't my book would still be published in around twelve years time but it wouldn't be what I wanted it to be.  That was twelve years ago.  After raising children, training in a career as a yoga teacher I now find myself about to embark on internet publishing.  It isn't what I really want.  What I want is to see my book in paperback on a shelf in Waterstones, it's what I've always dreamt of.  But at the same time I want to get on with other stuff.  I have ideas for a sequel, more novels and short stories and quite frankly I'm not getting any younger.  I could mess around with the first novel for months, years even I'm sure.  I need to let it go, to move on.

It's close to crunch time now.  Close to the time I unleash my little masterpiece on the public and I'm worried.  Because I'm doing it on my own I worry that I may not have found all the errors, even though I've had it proof read.  I'm happy with the structure and the plot but have I got all the time lines right?  Have I cross referenced everything?  When you have a book published in the traditional manner the editor does all that for you.  

I'm frightened too that people won't like it, will find fault with it, or worse still will laugh at it.

No book, not even a best seller is without its critics and a fair few of them still have odd mistakes in despite countless rewrites.  I guess one has to develop a very thick skin. 

Nevertheless I promise I will publish my book over Easter  

Walking Inspiration

Following on from the Novel Thinking blog post 'Negative outlook' I must recommend walking?  It's free, available pretty much anywhere and you never regret it after.  It's a way of meditating for those of us that find it difficult to sit cross legged on the floor for hours (and me a Yogi too - shame!).  Meditation is about clearing the mind, ceasing the chattering monkey.  Once the mind is clear it's open to receive inspiration and new ideas.
Lovely mornings like this one are good. The sun is bright. The birds are singing. There's a dusting of frost on everything. The morning invites you to join it, to be part of it. 
And who knows what you might find.  I came across this gnarled old tree trunk and it set me thinking; "How did it get to be like this?" "What sort of tree was it originally?"  "How long has it been there" "What things has it seen?"
Moments like these inspire and ignite the imagination.  So step outside and be inspired.

Going for it!

Yep - I'm self publishing.  I'm joining the pioneering ranks of the Indie Author.  Can't be doin' with being rejected or just plain ignored by agents anymore - I'll do it myself.
I've taken advise, tweaked, restructured and cross-checked.  I've read 'How to...', 'Who to...' and 'What not to...'.  I've put my manuscript through proof reading and now it's time to format and upload. 
At least I'll be making some headway in getting my book 'out there'.  I know it will take time.  I know it will require marketing and promoting but I'm gonna give it my best.  It will be good to let this baby go finally so I can work on the sequel.
Watch this space...