Guest Post: There’s Something Bigger than Getting Published, by LM Preston

Today’s Guest Post is a topic particularly near and dear to my heart, seeing as it addresses something that I’ve become obsessed with even more than usual lately – getting published.  And not only getting published, but obsessing about getting published to the point that the writing itself becomes a chore. I got into this whole writing gig because I did not enjoy forcing myself to go to work in a mind-numbed state, dreading the beginning of every day. I thought writing would be fun and enjoyable, seeing as story-telling has long been something I’ve been good at, had come relatively easily, and spent many an hour doing over cocktails/coffee/dinner with friends.

Lately though, well, it’s less fun. And I’m finally starting to realize why I think – it’s not the actual writing. I still do enjoy that part. It’s all the other stuff – the publicizing, the connection-making, the publish-or-perish mentality. I’ve become obsessed with the station and forgotten to enjoy the train ride… (Ah, Jim McGee, you had no idea what an impact that story would have on your daughter’s best friend, did you?? We miss you down here… Lots. Especially in March.)

So this post is particularly timely for me, and hopefully will help me keep in mind why I’m doing this in the first place. Thanks in advance to LM for reminding me (and possibly even a couple of you) of that!  🙂

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There’s Something Bigger than getting Published
by LM Preston

I know, I know, you think I’m crazy. But when I did my recent book event, I realized what I love more than writing…having a forum to talk to others.

Writing a book opened more doors than I ever could have imagined. And guess what? I’m not a Best Selling Author yet, I’m considered a Midlister. Meaning – I do okay. I sell some books, not hundreds of thousands, not millions, but a decent amount coming from a new small press publisher. But that’s not what keeps me writing.

I write because it makes me extremely happy, and my kids love, love, love hearing about my stories. To them – I’m the best. I also love it when I do a signing, book event, or am just talking to someone about the book and their eyes shine – like I did something great. But to me, writing is easy. It’s like breathing, I love it, my own guilty pleasure. Truly I personally don’t see it as a special or great accomplishment, because whether I sold books or not, I’d still be writing them… just for my enjoyment.

SO WHAT’s BIGGER than getting PUBLISHED?

• THE WRITING – Writing your work, loving the writing, meeting others while writing and learning things about yourself while writing.
• BUILDING OF THICK SKIN – Getting stronger through the process. No one can tell me that letting beta readers read your stuff, rip it up to make it better, then having to pimp yourself out to tons of Lit Agents that reject you, then your Lit Agent pimps you out to a publishers who may reject you, to getting ‘not so nice’ book reviews doesn’t make a person stronger. It does, now I see that for me, I’m so much more laid back. Less intense about what people say or think, but better at taking the gold nuggets of positivity out and throwing away the negativity – why? Because I’ve come too far to stop, give up, or call in the towel.
• THE HUGS – This is one of my most treasured parts of this entire journey of getting and being published. I have a bonafide reason to talk to young people – they’ve always been my passion which is one of the reasons I love writing about their struggles and their strength. I’ve met hundreds of young people in the last year of my book promotion. They’ve hugged me, encouraged me, thanked me, and just plain showed me love in their most innocent ways – that’s why young people are so special. That’s why I keep on writing for them. I already know that quite a few get me and what I write, and they keep encouraging me to write more.

YEP, there is definitely more than getting PUBLISHED, it’s growing from the experience of the journey.

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The Books of LM Preston“>Writing stories for and about kids that overcome the impossible…