tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post3051009504289606068..comments2024-03-28T13:35:16.194-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: Why It's Perfectly Okay Not To Pursue PublicationJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-51216256668014242172015-04-07T21:46:57.949-04:002015-04-07T21:46:57.949-04:00Yes! I waited over a year to tell extended family ...Yes! I waited over a year to tell extended family I was writing a book. I regret it. People assume that means I should be published "immediately." They have no idea how long it takes. <br /><br />I'm looking into self-publishing, but I really want to take my time and learn my craft. I do NOT want my first (or second or third...) books "out there." I read my first one again and I cringe!Laurie Evanshttp://www.laurie-evans.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-72592864791096010922015-04-01T22:17:51.052-04:002015-04-01T22:17:51.052-04:00Great post! Thank you. You nailed it both in how i...Great post! Thank you. You nailed it both in how it feels when we are attempting to see ourselves as authors and negotiate what that looks like in public. I love your suggested answers. So helpful.Laura Bennethttp://www.laurabennet.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-59620440947694834742015-04-01T12:08:45.220-04:002015-04-01T12:08:45.220-04:00Jody, your last two posts have really spoken to me...Jody, your last two posts have really spoken to me right now. This past year has been very stressful because of publishing expectations that didn't come true. I'm one of those people who like to follow steps - First you write, then you find an agent, then you get published, etc. What I didn't realize was how long it took for each step to happen, and I questioned whether God really wanted me to get published or that was someone else's expectation. However, I've certainly learned a lot since I began this trek that I didn't have a clue about when I started nine years ago. And I didn't start out with the goal of publishing a book! Thanks for giving us a way to de-stress, especially when your friends ask when your book is coming out.Marilyn Turkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09613157670868692501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-36381374940011422802015-04-01T10:35:13.239-04:002015-04-01T10:35:13.239-04:00There is some really good information in here, gre...There is some really good information in here, great post! Makes me think about the way I handle it as an unpublished author. It can be hard to let people know that you write after work. And people always do ask "What have you published?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-7339534875703180912015-03-31T16:43:27.950-04:002015-03-31T16:43:27.950-04:00Hi Joan,
To be honest, there are still times when...Hi Joan,<br /><br />To be honest, there are still times when I don't think my friends really know what to make of my writing! LOL It's just difficult for non-writers to comprehend the writing/author life, isn't it? :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-70854941470213193562015-03-31T16:41:55.172-04:002015-03-31T16:41:55.172-04:00I totally love my phase as a "Sunday writer.&...I totally love my phase as a "Sunday writer." It was blissful! I really loved not having any pressure to try to shape my stories or worry about my internal editor coming out. I needed that time of "freedom" to really hone my story-telling. I think if I'd had criticism at that stage, it would have zapped the joy out of writing and maybe I wouldn't have continued. Who knows! All that to say, I think there's value for beginners to write without pressure (at least until they're ready to move to the next level). Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-44337983077875259652015-03-31T16:38:38.861-04:002015-03-31T16:38:38.861-04:00LOL, Stina! Totally am with you on needing to go b...LOL, Stina! Totally am with you on needing to go back to bed! And I can also totally relate with the pressures and demands upon an author. Since I'm multi-publishing (books with several publishers), the demands have really heightened. I could never have done this as a beginner. But as you said, the longer we write, the stronger our writing muscles grow. After years of "working out," I can step up to the challenge much better.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-65439439269395983702015-03-31T16:36:04.010-04:002015-03-31T16:36:04.010-04:00Aw, Shelly, I'm sorry you're getting that ...Aw, Shelly, I'm sorry you're getting that pressure! It's bound to happen when we come out of the closet. But I think you have the right attitude about enjoying the process right now. You can always re-evaluate again down the road how you feel. But for now, it's great that you're happy and in love with writing. That's the place to be! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-2083929564213100292015-03-31T14:02:29.668-04:002015-03-31T14:02:29.668-04:00Jody, I can't tell you how much this post appl...Jody, I can't tell you how much this post applies to me right now. Since going "public" that I write books (I've said some things on my Facebook account so now my friends and family know) I have gotten asked a lot of times when I will be pursuing publication. <br /><br />I'm certainly not ready for that right now, and honestly, I'm not sure I ever want to pursue publication. As you said, I do it for the joy of storytelling. Right now its a hobby and I'm perfectly content with that. I'm afraid if I pursue publishing and am successful, writing will become a job and will lose its joy. I don't want that. <br /><br />So for now, I'm more than happy to remain a hobby writer :)<br /><br />Thanks for a wonderful post!Shelly Daumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783105000628699370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-17049516171708604962015-03-31T09:00:56.544-04:002015-03-31T09:00:56.544-04:00You're still figuring out craft NOT your still...You're still figuring out craft NOT your still figuring out craft. *goes back to bed* :)Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-85750734752330642752015-03-31T08:59:53.417-04:002015-03-31T08:59:53.417-04:00Yes to them all, especially #3. Even when you'...Yes to them all, especially #3. Even when you're not new, it's tough. I couldn't imagine being published without having friends who understand the industry. Also, given the deadline demands placed on us by our publishers, it's impossible to keep to them if your still figuring out craft. Those early manuscripts tend to take longer to write than you'll have time for later on. It used to take me a year to write a book. Now with my deadlines, I need to hand in a new one every four months (I have 2 separate publishers right now). Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-63186568517834354422015-03-31T08:32:02.457-04:002015-03-31T08:32:02.457-04:00Jody, all good reasons. Those who fall into catego...Jody, all good reasons. Those who fall into category #1 are what Lawrence Block calls "Sunday writers," and I was one for a while until I got serious about it. Thanks for sharing.Richard Mabryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15993592219849830777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-6387978328069131252015-03-31T06:41:55.763-04:002015-03-31T06:41:55.763-04:00Oh yes, I've felt that way. I would hang my he...Oh yes, I've felt that way. I would hang my head in embarrassment and I was certain some of my friends didn't take my writing seriously. <br /><br />You've made some great points here - something every beginning and non-published writer needs to know.Joan Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16430939897829160498noreply@blogger.com