The Scary Stuff

I thought writing the book was the scary part. Then it was the submission process. Even though I'm published, I'm still beating the bushes for an agent. The last three books I've submitted have netted about 150 rejections so far. Does that make me want to stop, give up, and curl myself into a fetal position under my desk? Hell, no! My agent is out there, waiting, but she or he doesn't know it yet.
That's only the beginning of the scary stuff.
The next item on my list is marketing. No one really explained the whole concept of getting your name out there. Every time I see a blogger begging to interview a new author, I jump on it. I can't really say I'm struggling alone in this. There are several gracious women I can go to for help if I get to the point of tearing my hair out. Shannon K. Butcher, my former critique partner, is always there to answer my questions, as is Claire Ashgrove, Alicia Dean, and a other published authors in my local RWA chapter. Word to the newbies out there--bookmarks are a great tool to have. Keep them in your purse to pass out. You never know when you might hit the reader jackpot.
Now on to the next scary thing. Reviews. The Wild Rose Press does a great job of sending books out to different reviewers. I can't believe how afraid I was of reading that first review. Four out of five stars excited me so much that I had tears in my eyes. The next review didn't get any easier to read, a 4.5 out of five. My last review had my hands shaking as I opened the site--a five out of five. Granted, this was only three reviewers but they've been consistent in their praise, and I'm over the moon. The next reviewer might say it sucks. You can't please everyone. I can live with that.
Yesterday a friend gave me two books to autograph. Now that's a thrill I never thought would happen. That made everything tangible and over the top real.
So I guess what I'm trying to say in my ramblings is to keep trying for your dreams. Not everyone will agree with you, you may hit a few stumbling blocks, but don't let them slow you down.
The scary stuff helps you grow as an author and than you find out it's not so scary after-all.