The
Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is a monthly support system for
blogging writers in need of finding other writers to connect with and
share our deepest insecurities in a safe environment. Created by the
clever Alex J. Cavanaugh with the expressed purpose to "share and encourage."
It's been a while since I've "shown my face" around here, but I decided I feel well enough to at least post a few words. It's been an interesting several months....
I've been struck down since last spring with all kinds of hormonal issues relating to my age (if you can take a hint... I'm in my early forties...) and adrenal fatigue, which also causes its own set of hormonal problems no matter your age or sex. All rolled up together, it's called Hormone Hell and it's not a very fun place to be. I'm still there, but I wanted to send an update so I feel more normal. It's kind of working.
I'm still trying to balance everything out and my adrenal hormones give me the most trouble regularly. I get very low blood pressure as a result, so it's like I'm wading my life through water. Salt helps, but I need to heal my adrenal glands. A helpful hint: don't ever ride on adrenaline for too long or be under extreme stress for too long (as if you have a choice!). You will get sick and your adrenals will burn out. Be kind to your body and don't abuse it. You don't have a spare, though spare bodies is a cool idea for a sci-fi novel!
This month's optional question: What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?
Well, I've been intending to self-publish since early 2011 after discovering it was something that actually made authors some money. I didn't think it did until Joe Konrath was publishing the sales numbers for some authors and, in particular, Amanda Hocking. She sold around 10,000 copies in one month alone, so I knew it was something that had become possible, and I really hated trying to figure out how to write a good query letter.
The TRUEST form of hell I've experienced is trying to figure out how to get a super stressed-out literary agent to read beyond your first sentence of your query letter without hitting the "trash" button. I learned these are not the kind of people you want to invite over for dinner, that's for sure. I was so depressed at that point, I was about to throw in the towel, but I kept on hearing about Joe Konrath and his ebook sales all being due to having an existing audience, and discovered his blog and how all those lit agents were lying about that, because he didn't have an existing audience at all. I was done listening to their lies and never went back.
It felt immediately liberating knowing I'd be doing all the publishing myself for my own works. Some people might not like all that extra stuff, but I actually like it so much, perhaps more than writing! My only issue is that I can't get my first drafts finished so I can get to the fun stuff beyond them.
Anyway, that's my story. What publishing path suits you best?
I've been struck down since last spring with all kinds of hormonal issues relating to my age (if you can take a hint... I'm in my early forties...) and adrenal fatigue, which also causes its own set of hormonal problems no matter your age or sex. All rolled up together, it's called Hormone Hell and it's not a very fun place to be. I'm still there, but I wanted to send an update so I feel more normal. It's kind of working.
I'm still trying to balance everything out and my adrenal hormones give me the most trouble regularly. I get very low blood pressure as a result, so it's like I'm wading my life through water. Salt helps, but I need to heal my adrenal glands. A helpful hint: don't ever ride on adrenaline for too long or be under extreme stress for too long (as if you have a choice!). You will get sick and your adrenals will burn out. Be kind to your body and don't abuse it. You don't have a spare, though spare bodies is a cool idea for a sci-fi novel!
This month's optional question: What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?
Well, I've been intending to self-publish since early 2011 after discovering it was something that actually made authors some money. I didn't think it did until Joe Konrath was publishing the sales numbers for some authors and, in particular, Amanda Hocking. She sold around 10,000 copies in one month alone, so I knew it was something that had become possible, and I really hated trying to figure out how to write a good query letter.
The TRUEST form of hell I've experienced is trying to figure out how to get a super stressed-out literary agent to read beyond your first sentence of your query letter without hitting the "trash" button. I learned these are not the kind of people you want to invite over for dinner, that's for sure. I was so depressed at that point, I was about to throw in the towel, but I kept on hearing about Joe Konrath and his ebook sales all being due to having an existing audience, and discovered his blog and how all those lit agents were lying about that, because he didn't have an existing audience at all. I was done listening to their lies and never went back.
It felt immediately liberating knowing I'd be doing all the publishing myself for my own works. Some people might not like all that extra stuff, but I actually like it so much, perhaps more than writing! My only issue is that I can't get my first drafts finished so I can get to the fun stuff beyond them.
Anyway, that's my story. What publishing path suits you best?
