Prolifically Raw

The days are not days. They are blurs of days. From dawn until way past dark, I am eating, drinking, dreaming and talking about Found, which officially releases March 1^st. The schedule of readings is up on my site, I’ve created and launched my audio book on memoir teaching (which I will be using as a free give away promo during the tour), I am setting up my teaching schedule for this spring, summer and fall, and I am connecting and cross connecting between my adoption support community and my writing community and my teaching community and last, I am writing up a storm for networking blogs like this.

It’s mayhem. Total can complete mayhem. And that’s to be expected. It’s a book release, right?

As I create this final countdown post, I reflect on what I have done—in this process, from creation to release—that has mattered the most. I also have pulled together a few nuggets of wisdom that might be helpful as you continue on your own writing journey beyond this post.

What mattered most is that I wrote Found (and the three books that came before Found). It matters that I stayed the course with my own deep questions about life, truth, mother and happiness. I knew so little about these things before I began at the tender age of 29 and have learned so much. These lessons will last a lifetime and I am honored to have an ancient storyteller living within me who drove me to work hours and hours a day, for eighteen years of my life. I am also very pleased I did not listen to naysayer’s who shouted doom from the side of the road. I wavered but never forsake myself. Bravo!

What I would recommend to you, fellow writer?

1. Stay Your Own Course. Doubt, fear and worry are exit doors that will only lead away from your creations. Kick all small-minded thoughts out those doors and bolt them closed.

   
   

2. Write, Write and Write a little more. Writing is an art form and to become a master, one must clock many hours.

   
   

3. Hold Yourself to the Highest Standard as an artist. I really cannot say this enough. Become a truly great writer and do so by reading, practicing your craft and by listening to really good teachers.

   
   

4. Take full advantage of the Social Network scene. Yes, it’s hard to figure out and keep current with Facebook, Goodreads, Shewrites and Twitter and all the other venues for interacting, but stay with it. At first, I was also freaked out by this world but one day, I decided, “that’s it,” and began. I invited friends, began conversations and pushed past my more reclusive nature. I have made lasting contacts with people I value deeply. I am writing this post because SW Kamy Wikoff was a friend of Hope Edelman’s (and Hope knew me) and Kamy and I met and became friends on a trip she made to Portland and now her boyfriend’s band (The Dimes) has their music on my video promo and will be playing an acoustic performance at my book release next Tuesday and because of Kamy and Shewrites.com, I had the guts to go to AWP in Denver last year and met my publisher who is Seal Press.

   
   

   
   WHEW!
   

   
   

   
   This whole social networking thing may feel awkward but that’s okay. Surf anyway. Follow the energy. Connect. Say hello. Drop your fear and try it out. Remember human beings are on the other end of these forums and we all want to connect. Be friendly, be real and be helpful. Share yourself and you’ll see. It works out.
   

   
   

5. Join Groups and Attend Conferences. Associated Writing Programs. International Women’s Writing Guild. Your local writing association. Join. Be friendly there too. Attend meetings. Mix.

   
   

6. Do Not Be a bi$%#! (My son called this being a “bee-ach”) I believe this goes without saying but let me tell you, a lot of smart, talented women can never rise because they are catty, unfriendly and crabby. This kind of behavior gets around faster than you know. And for the record, I cringe to admit I have been a bee-ach, thinking I was all- that-and-a-little-bit-more, which was my own insecurity and fear, and my bad behavior always bit me in the rear end. (P.S. For those who knew me when, I hope you all got your apology chocolates in the mail.)

   
   

7. Show Your Appreciation as often as you can. Like right now. Thank you for reading this post and listening to me tell you of my travails and trails and inner thoughts. I am honored to have had the opportunity to share the countdown to Found with all of you. Thank you Shewrites.com. This is a terrific community and I am so proud, honored and awed by what is possible here.

Come see me on the tour, in Portland, Seattle and the Bay Area. Come take a class. Send an email. Twitter me, join the Fan Page on Facebook or say hello in Chicago at AWP next year. Where ever, whenever, I am not past a hello and a hug! I’m no “bee-ach.” I’m your sister in the writer trenches and I’m delighted to say a hello. Until then, I wish you all the very best.

Now go write!