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| Getting Sparked to Write and Edit! 🎇
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| | I wasn't editing. I was frozen in fear — a nameless, faceless fear, like a deer in the headlights.
Fears like:
- What will people think?
- What if this next book, book 3 in the series, is crap?
- What if I can't pull it off again? The first two books are well received. Book 1 a finalist and well-reviewed; good enough to win an audio book contract!; book 2 making the fans happy and well-reviewed.
- I might die, whispered a part of me.
*And then what?* Another part whispered.
That question was asked in a gentle curious voice, truly wondering. That voice was leaning in with an open heart.
That voice asking ever so gently "And then what?" was reaching for what I truly wanted — a finished book that readers can hold in their hands.
That's the tangible of my dream: the reader holding my book reading, entirely encompassed by the story world, immersed in my protagonist's troubles.
Then I heard or read something* that zapped me and had me scurrying across the road to safety, no longer frozen by those blinding headlights of my fears.
*I honestly can't remember what it was exactly I heard nor where I heard it. I'm left with the notion it was about noticing how making mistakes is how we learn; about letting go of perfectionism; about showing up for the work and sharing the work was what matters.
I was catapulted into thinking differently:
— What if I put my book out there and some people don't like it AND some people do? Would that be okay?
— What if I can dare to have this book be something different than the other two? Be what it is, whatever it is. Would that be okay?
— What if I dared to bring my complete attention and emotions to the page and felt it ALL to be able to write it? Would that be okay?
I realized I could go back to being frozen in fear and not working on my final edits, or I could take in these possibilities and feel hope bloom in my heart and see a new vista of good things open before me. And smell the sweet smell of earthy things growing, unfurling toward the sun.
On the one hand I could do nothing. (Well, watch TV and eat chips and feel morose.)
Or I could get to work editing and facing all those final decisions that would make the book as good as I could now. Today. And then the next day. And so on, until my book is fully edited.
Then when it came time to let the book go into the world, I would, acknowledging I'd done my best.
Which would I choose?
(I think you know the ending of this story!)
Yep. I chose to get to work.
I knew it was time to dare, time to move into faster action, spend more time on the book and take bigger steps forward — like I was Paul Bunyan striding confidently across the countryside, focused on my purpose, my destination of a publishable book.
Elements that also helped propel me forward -- an inventory of my strengths or assets if you will:
- my critique partners, Kay Keppler and Patricia Simpson
- my beta readers
- my fans
- my cover artist
- my proofreader
- my husband, my first critique partner (yes, I married my critique partner!)
- And, my students and clients — For without you, I might never have faced the gap of where I am and where I want to be on such a constant basis. Thanks for keeping me honest just by being in my world and also wanting to achieve your writing dreams.
** What are your fears and concerns that prevent you from getting to your writing in a way you'd like?
Hit reply and let me know.
If you'd like to do some deep dive work around what stops you from getting to your writing, I invite you to check out getting an NLP session with me. More details and how to sign up here: http://bethbarany.com/nlpsessions.htm |
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Have a happy and creative week!
All my best,
Beth
*** A request! Please support my cousin's work with the unhoused relatives along the creek in Rapid City South Dakota. I have supported them and hope you can lend a hand too, in whatever way is right for you. - Camp MniLuzahan & Creek Patrol offer care and protection to our cherished unsheltered relatives here in the Black Hills (He Sapa) of South Dakota. There is an active and ongoing effort to provide consistent care through offerings of shelter, food, cold-weather gear, and protection from local harassment/violence. Camp MniLuzahan & Creek Patrol is a vital coalition effort to offer mutual aid for those in need, and your support is needed.
***
You never know what may happen when you put your work out there!
Last year I won an audio book contract for my first sci-fi mystery novel in the Janey McCallister series, Into The Black! (More news on that as it unfolds.)
Unpublished and published novelists can apply.
Check out their prizes here: https://pageturnerawards.com/2021-award-prizes
♥
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| | Latest Posts on the Writer's Fun Zone Blog |
| | | | You have been reading the Creativity Sparks Newsletter!
Now in its 15th year, this newsletter is a service of my coaching and consulting business, helping genre fiction writers write, market, and publish their books through courses, coaching & consulting, NLP sessions, a 12-month group program, and books.
You may share this content intact and with no changes with this attribution:
c. 2006-2021 Beth Barany, Creativity Coach for Writers, www.BethBarany.com
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| ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany is creativity coach for writers, a teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker, who helps fiction writers experience clarity, so that they can write and polish their novels, and proudly publish them to the delight of their readers.
Owner of the Barany School of Fiction, an online training hub, Beth takes great interest in how humans learn, create, and grow, and includes all her students’ life experiences, including the ancestors, into the moment.
Want a course to help you prepare to write your novel? Discover the comprehensive Plan Your Novel course here, co-taught with award-winning, bestselling thriller author, Ezra Barany.
She's also an award-winning novelist and writes magical tales of romance, adventure, and mystery to empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives.
Uncover her Henrietta series here (YA Fantasy) and her Touchstone series here (Fantasy/Paranormal Romance). And her new Sci-fi Mystery here.
beth@bethbarany.com
Barany School of Fiction
Writer's Fun Zone blog
Photo Credit: by c. 2018 Ezra Barany
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