I’m happy to tell people about this new book and to participate in #writerspersevere. This is my first post on my new blog, so it’s a very exciting day. Also if it looks a little wonky, I’m still tweaking it. Give me some slack. Please.
Life isn’t easy, and that’s been proven to me in many ways, but none like deciding to become a writer. Unlike most writers, I didn’t set out to publish. This all happened because I found an article about self-abuse, and I wanted to know more about it. My research was supposed to produce a short article. It produced a book instead.
I wrote Sliding on the Edge to explore the feelings I had after understanding some of the underlying causes of cutting or other self-inflicted pain. I never thought I’d sell it, but I did, and then I sold another, and then I was a writer. I actually started telling people that’s what I did. And that was a brave step because you know how the conversation flows after that declaration.
“Oh? What have you published?”
“Well, X, Y and Z.”
“Never heard of them.”
Is that familiar?
No new road is easy to navigate, so I plowed ahead, and anonymity soon became only one of my problems.
My first publisher decided that young adult books didn’t make enough money, so they dumped me and all of their other YA authors. We all had to fight for getting our rights back, and that was my first battle in this business. Many followed. Getting an agent. Figuring out that agent. Keeping up with marketing. Begging for reviews.
It has been non-stop , but what about carving out time for writing? That’s my current biggest struggle. That is where the perseverance comes in. Writing is a lot like heroin. Once addicted to it, it’s damned hard to stop, but when you can’t find a few moments without interruption to set down prose that makes sense and sounds right, you begin to think, “I can’t do this!”
Well, yes, you can. I quit just about every other day. Then I look back and I see that I’ve come from thinking about writing an article on self-abuse to writing a book about it. I’ve gone on to write The Princess of Las Pulgas, a book about rebuilding a life and stereotypes that hinder us. I’ve even tackled writing a book about neglect and illiteracy–Double Negative, and finally writing Sudden Secrets, a story about small-town bigotry. Another YA book is in the wings and ready to step onto the stage, that is if it sells. All the if’s are still in place even after four books.
I still have the same conversation with people that I did when I’d only published one book, but now I don’t care. I hand them my card and say, “Hope you read some of my work and give me a review.”
I’m persevering.
Do you want to see what other writing have to say about persevering? You can. Just click HERE.
Alexa says
This is great! Learning to persevere, it must be one of the most important things we writers can learn.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
Stephanie@Fairday's Blog says
What a great post and one that I think so many of us can relate to! Writing takes a lot of perseverance- especially with all the other hats we have to wear along the way (and the comments we have to deflect from others).
I recently had a relative get upset with me because my books aren’t in her local Barnes and Noble. I explained that I would love them to be in stores everywhere, but stores get to pick what they put out and I can’t make them put my book on my shelf. For some odd reason she is very unhappy with ME about this and has decided to stop speaking with me because she said it is too hard to get my books (though B and N and other stores will order them for her and they are available online). Nothing I can do- but let her politely know that I am not in charge and move on my way. Just trying to persevere. 🙂
Alexa says
Love this! And your new blog is so pretty! 😀
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hey, Alexa! You found me, too. Thanks.
Mike@bitaboutbritain says
I’m not sure what NaNo is – I thought it was something rather small, but that doesn’t make sense in this context. Anyway, your blog has ALWAYS looked good – it seems you have managed a seamless transition, which is more than I was capable of. And it is ALWAYS inspirational. I struggle just with blog posts… 🙂
Susan Gourley says
The new blog looks great. I said no to NaNo too.
Tyrean says
Beautiful new blog, C. Lee!
Write at whatever speed you like – NaNo or No-NaNo, just be you!
I am heading over to vote.
BTW – the link didn’t direct me directly. Agh. I mean … from your old blog to this one, I had a slight hiccup. Just wanted to let you know.
Beverly McClure says
I did not know you had a new blog. Just stumbled on it by accident. I stumble a lot. It looks very nice, and I remember when Sliding on the Edge was published. It is a wonderful story. And look at you now. I see you have a new book coming out soon with Dancing Lemur Press. Congratulations. Looking forward to reading it. And you are so supportive of other writers. You are an inspiration.
Angela Ackerman says
Lee, the blog is great! Congrats on the new digs!
And I never have heard your origin story before–i didn’t know what led to your first book–that’s so interesting. And you’ve created such a wide variety of books since. You may have become a writer by accident but you stay on this path with purpose, and that’s terrific. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this story and being part of the event! Reading these stories today has been such a highlight!