book release anxiety
By myteek
@myteek (17)
United States
September 7, 2008 9:34am CST
For the past two years I have been working on a memoir (full time) and as of last week,it is now in print. I should get my author copies some time early this week. I am finding myself feeling two main things: overwhelmed and scared to death.
I feel overwhelmed by all the marketing and promotion stuff that has to be done; and I feel scared to death because suddenly I realize I can't edit it one more time and quite soon, anybody who cares to pay the price can buy and read this book. Wow. That is just mindboggling to me. Writing has always been a very private, very personal part of my life.
Most people celebrate publication of their book! Anyone out there go through these kinds of jitters and anxiety right before or around the time your book was made public?????
2 people like this
4 responses
@tutul0045 (2630)
• India
7 Sep 08
Hi myteek,
I like to read a lot. I like reading various type of books and know differant things. I believe nothing is better than reading a classic book. Naturally i have tremendous respect for writers.
As of anxiety, Yes everyone of us would feel that same way as u r feeling now. Well i would say that if u have made a quality thing iam sure u r going to get success.
Cheers and good luck!
Tutul
@myteek (17)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Wow, thanks so much for these kind words!!
When writing the book, it was really important to me that it was a quality book. Like you, I love to read and have great respect for good writers. Not being a writer by trade, I worked incredibly hard and revised a million times trying to get it "just right." I hope it is a quality book.
You will have to read it when it comes out and let me know if I succeeded!!!
Debra
2 people like this
@paid2write (5201)
•
7 Sep 08
I hope your book is a big success and sells really well. Is the publisher doing the promoting or is it a self-published project? I have worked in publishing and as a bookseller, so I know it's not easy getting sales. Now, of course, the internet has opened up the market and made many new opportunities for promoting books.
I would never attempt to write a book, but I have written many articles, which are now appearing on various websites. I do take great care in proofreading, editing and revising my work before I submit it, and it does take more time than the actual writing.
I'm sure your standard of writing will be appreciated by your readers and they will find what you have written to be of great interest.
1 person likes this
@myteek (17)
• United States
9 Sep 08
Thanks for the kind words!! They are much appreciated.
I know exactly what you mean about the editing taking more time than the actual writing. Even if I swear to myself that I am only going to copyedit, not content edit, I seem absolutely incapable of doing that. I am always seeing a better way to phrase something or a word change or an idea that needs clarifying. It took me six months to get the book to the publisher after I thought I had it finalized...because each time I looked again, I felt it needed revising and polishing. I was driving myself (and everyone around me) absolutely insane!!!
Why wouldn't you attempt to write a book? Gosh, if you can write articles, you can write a book!!Debra
@Thomboishgurl (7)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I'm excited for you!! I have a feeling that it will go well for you. I've been writing for a very long time. Mostly about the things that are happening in my brain and in my life. I've kept my work to myself for a years. I've always known that writing was a big part of me, but recently I've decided to excercise my skills and figure out how to make a living off of it. I applaud you for making the strides that you've made. I started a blog a few weeks ago and I felt a little weird about putting my work out there for the world to see, but then again it felt good to post my work. I know that my experience is on a much smaller scale then yours, but I wanted to chime in to let you know that it's ok to feel some anxiety. I've heard that most celebrites still feel a little jittery before they go on stage. Take a bow, you've made a great accomplishment!
@myteek (17)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Oh wow. You guys are all so awesome!!!! Thank you for such encouraging words. Really, I am just...blown away!
Are we allowed to post blogsites and websites on here, because I would love to go to your blog. Really.
I don't think your accomplishment is on any smaller scale than mine at all. Not even a little. Writing is writing. Making it public is making it public...you know what I mean?
Good for you!
If its allowed, post your blogsite! :-)
I just started a blog too...last Sunday. I am still a bit overwhelmed by the massive power of the cyberworld....and the whole blogging thing is kind of mindboggling. At least for me. I would do fine if it were just a diary of sorts that I wanted my friends and family to see upon occasion...but doing it for purposes of marketing and promoting the book is....weird. Scary.
But I know what you mean when you say it felt good to post your work. I wrote this whole thing on Sarah Palin and I swear to God when I hit "POST" I felt this incredible sense of ....relief, maybe even kind of empowered that my opinion was out there!
It's an interesting world!!!
Thanks for writing Thomboishgurl (love the name!)
Debra
@odwitt (112)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I've never released a book, but I did release a CD last summer, and I felt just as nervous as you do about your book. There was a lot of work to do before the actual release date- so I stressed about that. I worried about the cover, the bar code, the spine sticker...everything! I listened to the CD over and over, and every time I listened, I heard something that I wanted to back to the studio and fix! But then I realized that I was the only one who would ever notice those things- and the people who were going to buy it for the sake of the music weren't ever going to hear those things. Once I got my anxiety under control, I was able to get ready for my release party, including the performance and finally enjoy my success, and celebrate with the people who came out to the party to support me.
Good luck with your release!
@myteek (17)
• United States
9 Sep 08
Oh wow, congratulations on your CD!!!! I have two songwriting friends working on a CD now and I see how much work it is to complete and package a CD. Good for you! So, are you pleased with how it's been selling? I am taking an online mentoring class in internet marketing that has just blown me out of the water in terms of marketing possibilities....but it is also quite intimidating and overwhelming because it requires a whole lot of work and a LOT of attention to detail. The kinds of detail I don't give a rat's tail about. I'd rather sit home quietly contemplating and writing and reading than promote myself.
But the reality is, without the latter I can't do the former!!!!I hope your CD is selling well. What's the name of it and where can it be purchased? Hey! Give yourself a plug here, maybe we can all buy a copy and support you in your endeavors!!
Debra
