Normally I offer you advice, encouragement, and tips on writing a book, and there IS some of that today. But I'm also sharing some personal updates because let's face it: We all love being a little nosey sometimes.
So here are two big wins I had this month (both writing related) and one thing that's making me so nervous I want to puke (also writing related—and perhaps you can relate).
Writing win #1: My kid wrote a book
My eight-year-old son published a book! For reals!
A few months ago, he asked if he could write a book, so he dictated to me, I typed it up, and he used an AI image generator to illustrate it. I am DELIGHTED my son is a big ol' book nerd like his mama. And I am SO proud of him.
The book is FUN HORROR BEASTS: Discover Nightmare Creatures in Hilarious New Ways by Oliver Green. Click here to view it on Amazon.
In a completely shameless act of self-promotion (son-promotion?!), here is the blurb describing why you should buy a copy:
Discover nightmare creatures in hilarious new ways, perfect for kids ages 6 to 9 who love mythological monsters… and lots of laughs!
In these pages, you will encounter terrifying but funny beasts in their surprisingly unnatural environments. These are creatures of horror and nightmare—dragons, ogres, gremlins, and more—but here you will see them as never before, in the most hilarious ways.
Be prepared to laugh your heart out, and maybe tonight, you will sleep with horribly funny, if slightly scary, dreams.
This is the first book written by seven-year-old Oliver Green, who is an expert in mythological monsters, having studied them for two years. He's very proud of it and hopes you enjoy it.
(Also, if the eight-year-old kiddo can write and publish a book, you can totally do it.)
Writing win #2: I finished my novel!
In another major win, I FINALLY (after five years) finished writing my novel. Like you, I have been writing my book in my spare time, around the edges of my day job (helping other people write their memoirs), hanging out with my family, and occasionally doing laundry and vacuuming (VERY occasionally).
It's hard to write a book in your spare time with whatever spare energy you can scrounge up.
But this week, now I've finally finished, I am reminded of how it is completely, totally, absolutely, utterly worth the effort because IT FEELS SO DAMN GOOD.
It feels incredible to have written this book that couldn't leave me alone, and to know I've done it to the best of my ability, and to feel proud of what I've accomplished.
I wish this for you, too. Because it is amazing.
I celebrated with a gift from my husband of a bottle of scotch and a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. Winning. How will you celebrate when your time comes? (I believe in you. Your time WILL come.)
Writing thing that makes me so nervous I want to puke
That leads us to the last personal update, which makes me so nervous I feel like I want to puke.
I've started sending my psychological thriller to literary agents to try and get represented, so I can get a traditional publishing deal. This is a whole process, and if you're interested, email me and I'll be happy to walk you through it.
But basically, people I don't know are now reading—and judging—my book.
Gross.
They're judging it to see if they think it's good enough to get traditionally published. And I REAAAAAAAALLLLLY want to get my book published. So much it makes me feel twisty and squirmy and like I can't focus on anything else.
But you know what? I am focusing on other things. Like my clients' amazing books. And my son's amazing book. And (very occasionally) laundry and vacuuming.
Because that's life, and we get on with it. Even while working toward The Big Thing We Desperately Want.
All this to say... I know how it feels if you desperately want to write a book and get it published. I'm right there with you. I get it.
I want you to have your own Dairy Queen ice cream cake and go through the nausea of knowing others are reading your work and still love every damn minute of the process.
I do. I want it for you.
Keep going, writer. If the eight-year-old can do it, we can too.
Thanks,
Liz "We've Got This!" Green
Memoir Book Coach and Ghostwriter
Green Goose Writing
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