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IWSG - What Was I Thinking!

This is my Insecure Writers Support Group post for March.  
For more information about the group, see the bottom of this post.

Alex's awesome co-hosts for March are:

MJ Joachim, Elsie, Elizabeth Seckman, 
and Julie Flanders!

Please stop by their blogs and say thank you.


Publishing a debut novel is one heck of a ride. One minute I'm reading Susan Kaye Quinn's Indie Author Survival Guide and feeling like I'm twirling on top of the mountain shown on the cover, and the next, I'm pulling my hair out, trying to understand ISBN barcodes and trim sizesall the while biting my nails, waiting for the beta feedback to come in. 

Gah! I must've been temporarily insane when I took this on!


But then, the crisis of the moment passes, and I imagine what it will be like to hold my very own book in my hands. Even if I never sell a single copy to anyone but my mom, it'll be worth it. :)

What's your insecurity o' the week?


A cover teaser is planned for the last week of March, a cover reveal for the first week of April, and the book release is set for early May. If you're interested in boosting your cosmic brownie points, feel free to add your name to the no-obligation sign up.  


Come Back
Western Historical Romance (1850s)
Adult / New Adult




IWSG is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. It's a monthly bloghop that offers a safe haven for writers to express their feelings and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. It's also a venue for offering support, both in the form of comments and positive posts. Writers of all kinds are welcome. 

We 'meet' the first Wednesday of every month. If you're interested in learning more, click on the link above. And don't be intimidated by the size of the group. We're not expected to visit everyone on the list. 

Comments

  1. We writers are insane, or we find a new profession. I remember the confusion of trying to put together my first book and now laugh at the end result. As long as you keep moving forward, you're headed in the right direction.

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  2. I agree with Steve, keep moving forward. It's what I tell myself. You ahem loads of WIPS going on too, which is much better than my plan of publishing the first in a series without the second and third ready to go. Good for you. X

    shahwharton.com

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  3. I just talked about it on Kelly's blog as well... The fact that I can't get through the rewriting phase. But like the others say, if we move forward, we'll finally get there :)

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  4. I know you will sell copies to people besides your mom, although what a thrill it will be for your mom to hold your book in her hands! :) I'm excited to take part in your reveal and release party, can't wait.

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  5. I find it stressful enough trying to balance the story requirements - for instance giving the characters time to talk while keeping the story moving quickly. I don't know if I'd be able to cope with the admin and art stuff as well!

    Good luck with the rest of the preparation process.

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  6. If you're planning a new author head shot, make sure you get it before you pull all your hair out!

    Come Back is awesome. And I will happily suggest it to all my friends.

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  7. Believe me, it's worth it!
    Did I sign up? I'll sign up again just in case.

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  8. Oh geez, I can only imagine!! It's going to be so worth it, though - and you will totally sell much more than one copy! I'm heading over to sign up now...

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  9. Can't remember if I signed up to help already. If so, ignore the duplicate. :P

    Congrats on the progress.

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  10. I love the mini-Alex ninja guys. So cute.

    I think we are all a bit insane. I believe it helps us write better =)

    Thanks for the shout out and good luck!!
    Elsie
    AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge
    co-host IWSG

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  11. Don't forget to keep writing your next book while all this is going on. You can always sleep next year!

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  12. Signed up! And I think we're all insane in one form or another so why not get a book (or two or more) out of it? ;) Excited for you and your debut novel. No matter what happens, be proud of yourself and what you have achieved. Congrats and good luck with the book!

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  13. Insecurity of the week? Well, as you saw, rejection, but it's okay. I'm almost all better. :)
    Good luck with your book, sounds really exciting. Yes, must be thrilling. One's very own work, out there for the world. Let the readers be the gatekeepers, indeed. In the end, they are the real judges anyway, the ones who count. I will certainly come back to follow your progress.
    Wish you the best of luck.
    Silvia @
    SilviaWrites

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  14. Best of luck with the turmoil of emotions!

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  15. I think most of us writers are a little insane. That's part of the fun. :)

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  16. I admire anyone who works their way through the process. I think it's incredibly daunting, even from the little (very little) I know about it.

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  17. Busy girl! Good for you. I'm editing my book coming out in June and getting ready for the launch of another coming out in May. *head bang* What happened to just writing? lol

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  18. I don't think I could ever self-pub because it's too much expense and too many details for me to figure out, so I bow down to anyone with the courage to take the leap. Good luck!! :)

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  19. Good luck with all that. I don't even know what a trim size is. I hope you...picked the right size?

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  20. I'm going through the process of getting my first full length novel published independently, but not for a few months. It can be daunting, for sure. Congrats on the new book coming out!
    http://lucindawhitney.com/

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  21. Congratulations, Melissa on your debut Novel!! I agree with Lexa, I couldn't afford to self-publish and the work involved is boundless. I wish you much Luck. And Yes I want to help!!

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  22. Congrats on your first novel. I am in the process of my third poetry book.
    I wish you well with yours, how excited you must be.

    Thanks for the comment, Alex did take me off but I do have health problems.
    I have arthritic Shoulders that need shots every six months which is due in a few weeks time , this few weeks it have been hell, plus I'm Epiletic also have abnormal cells of the cervix that can lead to the Big C IF NOT CHECKED. that was done on Monday. so this week have not felt my best,
    If Alex don't want me on his list I'll get it removed again.
    Yvonne.

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  23. Congratulations on having your debut novel published. It is frightening when there's so much competition out there. I was a wreck just putting mine on Amazon and not having a clue what I was doing.
    There's so much to learn as we go along. You'll feel better and more relaxed soon enough. It helps that you've already got your blog.
    We'll be watching out for "Come Back". I love romantic westerns. Perhaps Larry Levinson will make the TV Movie?

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  24. Hey Melissa,

    I wait for my cosmic brownie points. Your karma care package landed on my head. How about that for irony. Good luck with it all and hearty congrats.

    Also, thank you for being part of the IWSG aka "I Was Seeking Gary." Then I woke up.....

    Gary :)

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  25. More than your mom will be making that purchase, Melissa. You can count on it!

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  26. Bah, it is okay to be a bit insane, you'll get things done that way

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  27. I'll be in your shoes later this year!

    I think having the attitude that it's okay if only your mom will ever buy a copy of your book is so healthy. You know you'll feel proud of yourself, for sure. Good luck on everything!

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  28. Congratulations on your book. The first one is so exciting. The next one and the next are too. Best of luck to you.

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  29. It will be incredible feeling when you can hold your book on your hands. I imagine is something like holding your baby. And for you, sweet friend, I will be more than glad to join the party.

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  30. Congratulations! I'll go get on the sign up!

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  31. My insecurity of the week is critique - both getting it, for obvious reasons, and giving it, wondering if I'll be any help at all. Yeesh.

    But congratulations on your upcoming book! I hope everything goes ridiculously well. ^_^

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  32. Just think how much you're learning though! When you do this for the second time, it'll be old hat to you :)

    Hang in there!

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  33. Congrats on your work in progress. I just checked out the good reads link. Adding it to my want to read for later. I did laugh at the temporary insanity! I often think I must hit my head during sleep. Great post and can't wait for the cover tease!

    http://iknewiwould.blogspot.com/

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  34. The idea of having to go through all of that work to get a book published is a scary thought... BUT, I think it will be sooo worth it! Good luck with your cover reveal!

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  35. We all wanna make it and if I can actually get my Mom to read my book, it will be worth it. :) You can do it! I just got on the indie ride myself and it's a fun one! Difficult but fun!

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  36. I can't wait until your book comes out. :)
    What are my insecurities? Pff. I don't have any. :P

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  37. I share just about every insecurity you mentioned! lol!

    Hooray for release day coming up! You'll be selling way more than just one copy!!!

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  38. Yes, I do share all these insecurities.

    Congrats on the upcoming release!

    Nas

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  39. All of the insanity will be worth it! Congratulations and best of luck.

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  40. I do think that we writers can be total masochists sometimes - particularly the ones who self-publish. But I agree it's totally worth it. I know how it feels to get a printed copy of your book, though in my case they were both very unedited drafts I just used my free CreateSpace prizes via NaNo on. But it would be very awesome to see a nicely polished end-product in physical form! And one that's PUBLISHED. :)

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  42. All this sounds vaguely familiar - LOL. Must be an indie thing :)
    I'm going over to check out your signup, but not sure if I'll be able to do everything. I'm off in April, and have some things scheduled for May already. Will do what I can!

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  43. Forward is the only way to go! All the best!

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  44. Ooooh I am so late to the party. Congratulations on self-publishing your debut novel. I've been sporadically on your blog (and other blogs, too) and have missed all communications about it. I've been trying to manage my online time and in doing so I tend to miss some things that are going on.

    Also, I'm with you on the just wanting to feel your very own book in hand and even if you don't sell a single copy, it's still worth it. I totally agree. Rock on, Melissa.

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  45. Whoo, hoo!!! Wow, you're publishing! I'll definitely help out. I'll check out the list.

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