Hey, Friends,
Have you noticed instead of chatting about the weather, that you and your friends, family, or colleagues are now talking about where you are at in your COVID-19 vaccination schedule and any associated side effects? Years from now we won’t be discussing the spring blizzard of X year, we will be remembering the season of vaccinations. It is so surreal!
I’m still surprised that I could launch my first novel during the pandemic, because I had procrastinated for sixteen years prior. Let me tell you, I’m darn good at procrastination! And I wonder why my son’s blow off their homework... I didn’t mean to put off revising my novel and publishing it for sixteen years. It just happened. I did some amazing things...like birth two sons - Chet (16) and Finn (14). I had significant life events that put writing on hiatus - my dad died, we moved from Phoenix to Minneapolis, my marriage ended, became a single momma for many years, met my hubs, planned a wedding, bought a house, traveled here/traveled there...I found excuses and more excuses to put off my dreams. I recognize I went through some stressful times, and sometimes it’s necessary to shelf the extracurriculars for self-preservation. And TBH, much of the hesitancy was disguised as a fear of failure. Fear of the unknown. Would my book be a flop? Would reviewers give it 1 star? If I don’t put my work out there, no one would ever know that I don’t know what I’m doing, right?
Looking back, I wished I would have read more instead of binge watching all of those Hallmark movies or insert Netflix shows here. I read about one book a month at best for my book club each month. When I read books now, especially if I really set time to read, they read like a movie or TV show with all the drama that I like to watch. I’m bummed I didn’t take more time to read during the time I
S L O W L Y revised my novel. I could have studied other authors’ styles and structures. I would have potential lists of comparable titles that publishers, agents, and others ask for when reviewing authors’ manuscripts. “They say” to read voraciously as a writer because then you learn the market, competition, what sells, etc.
Stacey’s Suggestion: If you’re a procrastinator like me, don’t have the mental attention right now to write, or are a new writer and don’t know where to start, then just read. Reading is a terrific way to escape and procrastinate until you’re ready!
Let me know if you have any book suggestions that I can add to my TBR pile for when I want to put things off some more. ;-)
Thanks for stopping by! Check back for more of my path to publishing. Sign up for my monthly-ish newsletters under “Contact”. If you want to email me directly, contact me at stacey@staceypotterauthor.com . I love hearing from you and meeting new people!