I had an interesting conversation with my Aunt over the weekend. It started with her asking me how easy it would be to learn HTML - then shifted to talking about self publishing eBooks. It was like a catalysis around which several disjointed thoughts combined into one: I think I want to be self published.
Whoa! Yes it blew me away too. After my soul searching and deciding to go the traditional route I finally find me changing my mind.
Why? Well, let me tell you about two experiences that helped me realize what my dream really is.
First - I attended a meeting of my local chapter meeting in which the question was posed to me what I want to get out of writing. I did not mention money - not at all. For two reasons - it is not all that important to me and I realize that the chances of being a millionaire off my writing is very slim. I was surprised when this attidude was scoffed at. It made me want to never be published if I have to deal with that kind of attitude.
Second - I got my first rejection letter. At first it made me all excited and ready to submit to the next publisher. But somehow that never happened, my fire kind of fizzled out.
This all made me realize that maybe I don't need to be traditionally published to realized my dream.
So I am on the brink of deciding if I should let one dream die so that another can rise from its ashes. Or to hold on to my original dream.
Have you ever had to give up on one dream in order to realize another - that might be better?
I wouldn't consider that giving up on a dream...it's just that you've decided to make a right instead of a left. Just another avenue of getting there. And, assuming that little statement makes sense, YOU BET I've changed course to get to the same destination.
ReplyDeleteI've given up a dream, but I haven't seen the better part yet. Don't give up on traditional publishing yet. Re-work your query and send out ten more! I'm not giving up yet. Though at the same time, maybe you do want to self-publish your book. Stephen King says that the first million words you write are just practice. Keep writing and keep writing every day. You can do it! :)
ReplyDeleteI really like the image of our dreams as a phoenix! And I think a lot of writers are struggling with this same decision right now. Personally, I'd query a few more agents, but also be researching self-pub options so that you'll be ready to go if you decide to move in that direction. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the support. I think I will explore both routes :)
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