Lifelong Goal - Published Author - Unlocked!

I did it. I am forty two years old, and ever since I realised being an author was actually a real job, I have been wanting to publish a book (or more!). I have talked about it a lot, so anyone who knows me, knows it has pretty much been my number one goal. Of course, I was never going to stoop to self-publishing. And this is exactly what held me back, because in my mind, I was in no way good enough to get the attention of a publisher, but a ‘real’ writer wouldn’t self publish. Or would they?

Of course they do! And many have become very successful doing so. I now realise that everything I have been doing until now, running my own (not book related) business, having a passion for the business and marketing side of things, plus loving books, means that I have most of the skills necessary to not only self publish, but get my book into the hands of readers.

Do you know what happened when I decided self publishing was acceptable? I jolly well wrote a book – finished a book! – and now I’ve jolly well gone and published it! Yes, it’s real. The lifelong dream I have had has become a reality. And because it has been MY lifelong dream, it doesn’t matter if a publisher hasn’t given it their tick of approval. My goal was to publish. I’ve done it! Yes, I would like people to enjoy it, to write nice reviews, tell their friends. And if I’m honest, if anyone writes a horrible review, it is going to cut me deep. However, if I hadn’t have decided that my goal was to ‘publish’ and not the ‘write a best seller’ I would never ever have achieved this goal.

A big thank you to all my family who are avid readers and have taken the time to provide feedback and editing. One day I hope to have the funds to pay a professional editor, but for now, I am really crossing my fingers that everything flows nicely and there aren’t too many errors (have to tip my hat to the Grammarly plugin for helping me a lot!).

If you have a goal to publish, do it! Do it to the absolute best of your ability where you are right now. As I have heard so many published authors say, (and what I say to so many people thinking about starting their own business in my other life), you learn a heck of a lot more just doing the thing, than you would planning, learning and practicing until you think you are ready.

Life long Goal – Published Author – Unlocked!