This is exciting stuff.
For me at least – you all are about to get spammed – but just this once. 🙄😁😂
Remember how I wrote that post a week or so back about Kicking your own donkey (if not – a quick recap – it was about shifting paradigms and why it was important to rock your own world, get rid of distraction (my main bug bear) and start doing the work you came here to do).
Well I did that – I really did.
Last night I kicked my own ass right on to Amazon. My first book “Healing the Broken Things” can be bought here
The Kindle download is currently available for purchase with the paperback making it out of the blocks in a couple of days.
So this may be a little premature but better to jump the gun then never get around to pulling the trigger.
I hate guns. Ignore those metaphors.
Here’s the thing:
I have a stack of poetry – some printed, some still in the shadows of my computer – whilst I continue to write new material all the time now that I have the blog opened again.
And it was all going nowhere and after awhile it is easy to become unmotivated about writing.
My work was destined to sit there for however long it took me to come up with a plan.
There was no plan.
I am also writing a fiction novel – two days ago I lost 10,000 pages of work between my keyboard and the cloud.
To say I was a bit devastated is an understatement – for a procrastinator like me – losing 3 days work on something is tantamount to handing me a gigantic excuse to stop.
But 5,4,3,2,1 (donkey post)
I decided to treat it as a plot twist – and I will when I get back to that book.
What I didn’t realise was that a plot twist was forming in my own life.
Yesterday, after reading a few very inspiring pieces by other bloggers on self publishing along with the guru himself Seth Godin – I decided to put a small collection of my poetry together and (as Seth says) just ship it.
I stayed up until 12pm last night in order to ensure it was all good to go.
I went to bed a writer and woke up an author. Not that it matters either way – the point is of course I moved forward.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – go. (you have to watch the video on Kicking your own Donkey to get this reference.
5,4,3,2,1 works. If there is something you want to do with all your being but are afraid of failing.
Don’t be.
The ego will have you sit in the corner prevaricating till the cows come home (forgive all these animal references – I am just dog tired today 🙂
😂😂😂🤐 sorry no more of that I promise.
Please
Don’t listen to ego. Don’t listen to that over thinking mind.
Just get your proverbial bits and pieces together and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 go.
Obviously make sure it is edited and nice and neat – has at least a loose theme and is something you are proud of but once that is all done.
Jump! Leap! Go!
Because it is an exhilarating feeling. Not the book part so much as the getting over myself part.
That is a very cool feeling. And it is available to everyone you just have to take it.
My fear of putting my personal work out there was as big as Uluru. You have no idea how liberating those final steps down off that damn ego mountain were.
I’m done with fear.
It is not my job to worry over how many people are actually going to read my words or buy my books – it is my job to write.
So
I”m writing.
I wrote myself out of my comfort zone and into my drop zone – and anyone can do the same thing.
If you buy my book please take a few minutes to review it – that really helps thanks and if you have a book please drop a link somewhere in the comments because although I am a writer who writes – I am also a reader – and I would love to read your work.
Meanwhile I plan to continue writing most of all here on the magical little blog that is changing my life along with the great people that stop by each day or couple of days and say hello.
Header image: helicopter in flight (we were in the other one) out over the plains surrounding Uluru in central Australia.
YES! YES! YES! Brings tears to my eyes 🙂 The moments we leave the ego in the dust are the most exhilarating, I refer to them as “jumping off cliffs”. Empowering post, thank you!
It’s great isn’t it – I think I’m more excited about actually moving forward then about the book .
Ordered a copy of your book, YAY!!!!
Oh that’s great Thankyou so much – hope you enjoy.
Dear Kate, you made me smile, I woke up this morning to your post and I was so very happy to read it. Part of my happiness is for you, so wonderful to have your book published! So wonderful that you have submitted other work, I’m looking forward to read it! Part of my happiness stems for your call to…..5,4,3,2,1. Yes, everyday …gather more fuel….and when you’ve had enough, fire:).
I have enjoyed the donkey rides too, I think they’re part of the process, of seeing and feeling the scenery before you’re ready to move faster and explore more.
Cheers to you! To your book! To your future work!
Thankyou Andrada – being a person who overthinks I find it a great method for kicking me into gear.
Congrats on the publication of your book! Wishing you success 🙂
Thanks Rosaliene – I didn’t know how easy it was to self publish and it was the right choice for me because it took away my excuses and now the balk is rolling so I just have to keep it rolling. 😊
Congratulations on your book.
Thank you 😊
This is awesome news! Now I feel like I need to get back in the saddle and get another book published. I’m sitting on about 12 of them at the moment! They’re ready but I can’t get motivated to organize and edit them. I just need to do it! I’m glad to hear someone around here is. 😉
Oh do it!! It’s so much fun. What’s your other book/S I’ll check it out
I really need to…. I’m such a procrastinator! Lol…
This was my first one,
Revelations of the Past (Historical fiction)
by subscription only.
http://www.channillo.com/series/revelations-of-the-past/
And here’s my second one,
Beneath the Canopy (Poetry)
which is available almost anywhere. Here’s the link to Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Canopy-Michelle-Cook/dp/1948469006
Awesome I just bought “Beneath the canopy” so once it gets here I will have your book in my hands 👍🏼
Oh that’s so exciting to me! Not too many people have read my book yet and it’s always such a cool thing when someone does. Thank you… truly… from the bottom of my heart. I hope you enjoy it. ❤️
And btw… I bought your book today too. 😉 Its already had me swimming in tears. Really pulling at the heart strings.
Oh Thankyou that means a lot – it is a bit of a deep dive but like all good books it has a heart warming ending 😁
It really does… loved it! 😉
Thankyou! If you could leave a review that would be fantastic 😊
Already did! 😉
You are a gem! That’s so exciting Thankyou 😊
My pleasure! 😉
Yaaaaaay!!! … ** waves arms in the air like Kermit and runs around in circles** Congratulations! 😀 You is now a published author, you is! 😀
I am! Thankyou 😘
Congratulations on the publication!
Oh hey thanks River I was just checking out your blog – you have some great poetry there and I love that you look after indie reviews and are an indie publishing co as well – think I have that right – still reading 😊
You’re welcome and thank you for checking out my blog. I’ve been reading through yours too and am enjoying your work.
I’m glad you like it. I’m really enjoying writing on my blog again.
Very nice and congratulations! Take care and thank you for visiting and following my blog.
Hi Thanks Kelly.
First off, CONGRATULATIONS on your publishing. And don’t be afraid to use the animal metaphors, I love those. 😁😁
And hope the plot twist thing works out nicely.🔀✨
First off, CONGRATULATIONS on your publishing. And don’t be afraid to use the animal metaphors, I love those. 😁😁
And hope the plot twist thing works out nicely.🔀✨
Thank ewe 🐑 🐑 bahaha sorry couldn’t help myself 😂
😂😂Lovely.
Wow, congratulations on this magnificent accomplishment! I’m so happy to hear you finally bit the bullet (sorry for the metaphor) and hit the publish button. Welcome to the world of aurhorhood. You’re right though, that publish button didn’t really change who and what you are. It just gives us readers a chance to read your words outside of this lovely blogosphere. I am so happy for you, and I’m off to get my copy!
Thanks Sara – and you’re so right – that 5 hours or so of smugness (when I was mostly asleep) you think it is huge for you and everyone but actually no – it’s one of those hold your own hand moments and don’t hold them too long – another book to get out. I would love you to grab my book and take a look – Thankyou – it’s a bit heavy going in some places but ends happily and gently 😊
Yes, definitely. I’m going to read it.
How awesome. CongratZ!
I’m sorry to hear you lost your work. Can’t you revert your computer back to the time before the loss? But if you write 10k in 3 days, then… I am not worried about you. You will be just fine. I know it.
Hello! Yes I have written my way back to where I was but in a different way and it works much better. Unfortunately I don’t write on a computer – I’m on an iPad with keyboard and my work is in the cloud however now I save every 500 words or so (like an OCD mad woman) these things happen for a reason
When I first started blogging, I met a writer whose computer was stolen and their writing was gone with it. We both hoped that whatever she was to write next was to be better. And it was. Life is funny like that sometimes.
I see. Then yes, that save button is your friend.