It’s Writing Monday…

The final installment on the gloomy voices that plague writers and anyone involved in any creative process:

Gloomy Voice #7 – Publishing will change you; you’ll lose your grounding, your sense of self.

The truth: Publishing can actually humble you.

I believed, before I sold my first book, that publication would be instantly and automatically gratifying, an affirming and poignant experience, a Hallmark commercial where one runs and leaps in slow motion across a meadow filled with daisies into the arms of acclaim and self-esteem.

The reality was that my son was home sick from school the day my first book came out, the New York Times did not call, and I had to take my cat to the vet.

I was very grounded that day and fully ensconced in my daily life.

Four books later, I still am.

Even promotion of your books can be humbling.  Take book signings, for example.

In short, I failed miserably at it.

I always failed to appropriately prepare in advance because I’d never have the answers to the most-asked questions I’d receive, like: “Where is the bathroom?” and “Do you know what time the bookstore closes?”

Humbling, for sure.

No, publishing will only change you for the better.  It will humble you, further define you, satisfy you.

Well, satisfy you, that is, until you realize that you have to write a second book, then the whole cycle will begin again.

And you’ll be right back where you again.

Changed?  Yes and no.

But humbled, for sure.

Join me on Wednesday as I explore further “The Dare” because “length” isn’t the only way to measure a life: https://dlkoontz.com/2012/06/14/eighteen-words-that-soothe-and-dare-me/