Many people have an idea for a book but very few actually write one. Why?
Finding The Courage To Publish Your First Book Can be extremely hard. We often hear people say: “That would make a great book! I should write a book.” Sadly that is the beginning and end of the book idea for most people. You have to have the passion, the drive, and the commitment and be willing to dedicate hours and hours of your time to write your story. You want others to hear what you have to say. It’s important to you, that you are heard. It’s a long grueling process that most aren’t willing to take unless you have that PASSION. Most often your first book will take years of dedication. Mine took seven years once I began putting pen to paper. Before then it waddled around in my head for fourteen years.
Letting go is hard
During those years, your book becomes your baby. You know everything about it. It’s your creation. You gave it life and you are watching it grow as you feed it. Like a child you have raised, you don’t want to let it go. It’s been just you and your book. You’ve protected it from the outside world. No outside influences, no possible negative feedbacks. No one has seen it but you. But now the book is finished. There is no more to write. You read and re-read. You edited, over and over again. You have given it all you have to give. It is your best work and you are proud of what you have accomplished.
But now the book is finished. There is no more to write. You should be feeling proud! You actually started and finished writing a book! Now it’s time to let it go and watch it blossom into the world. You realize this is harder than writing the book. Suddenly you start asking yourself a bunch of “What if?” questions. You start doubting your work.
- What if I could have done better?
- What if it gets bad reviews?
- What if I picked the wrong names for my characters?
- What if I had ended it differently?
- What if I fail or succeed as a writer? How will I handle the pressure of failure or success?
You realize that once you let go. You are opening up, not just your book to be judged, criticized and actually read by others, but yourself as a writer also. Will you be able to handle it?
These are all emotions and fears that we experience when publishing our first book. Emotions I am dealing with right now as I anticipate the debut of my first novel “Reckless Beginnings.”
Why do we put ourselves through this and find the courage to publish our book?
Our passion is what gets us through this. We have this deep passion for writing and telling a story. It guides us through the journey from beginning to end. It is this passion that we gain courage and strength to see our book in print for the world to see.
From this passion, we are able to overcome any obstacle or handle any negativity. We learn to stand tall, own our passion and stand up to our fears. We are able to let it go and realize our work is not for everyone. We have accomplished what we set out to do. We told a story, one that was important to us to tell and we had that passion for sharing.
Through the turmoil’s and emotional roller coasters of printing your first book, the end result is priceless. You get to see and hold the book you created in your hands, with an actual cover and your name as the author. Now ask yourself. Was it worth it? I think I know the answer.
Feel free to share your experiences on printing your first book. I would love to hear them.
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It is scary! I found even giving the book to beta readers was tough – opening up to criticism and letting others discover my baby. I imagine getting to the point of publishing is going to be even more stressful!
It’s getting easier as time goes on. But the shock factor once you sign your name on the dotted line of the contract from the publisher is over whelming. Let’s see how I do once the book is in print LOL. I have until the end of the year to prepare for that!
Even though I haven’t finished my first book yet, I can relate to how you must feel. You’re letting your baby out into the world I can imagine how scary and exhilarating this must feel at the same time. Congratulations on getting there.
Yes, it is my baby and always will be. I just hope it’s treated right. It’s like your first born in away. thanks for the comment
I know how scary it is….very interesting read….definitely will take the first step towards it now
Thank you, I’m happy this has helped you
Some great tips there for a first time author!
Thank you so much!
You really put yourself out there when you have a book published. Congratulations and good luck.
Thank you, Candy
For so many years I wanted to write a book. This is a great motivational post.. same thing happened to me with blogging. I wanted to blog for so long and then finally I just did it and created a website and i am so glad I did. I love blogging .
I hope it helps you someday. Being critical of our work can sometimes hold as back as you know. We can’t please everyone but pushing ourselves through knowing we have done our best gets the job done. Congrats on starting your blog!
I can completely identify with that fear of letting go! I have written tons of fiction over the years but never been able to follow through on it. A good part of it is that I’m too critical of my own work.
This is so true, I am always scared that the thing I write is never good and that I can do it better. SO if I had to publish a book I will be stuck editing and proofreading for ages.
What matters is that it’s your story. We can’t please everyone or expect everyone to like our stories but as long as you like it, that’s what really counts.
I always admire people who write books because I do not want to take on that big of a task. Great tips!
It is a huge commitment I agree but the end result is so rewarding. The feeling of accomplishment is indescribable
Tina, I work with authors a lot. It is not uncommon to go through similar emotional reactions to letting your baby go. I hope your book finds many appreciative readers. Congratulations on completing this journey!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words, they mean alot. Still, have the butterflies. Wondering how I will feel once it’s actually on the shelves LOL
Its seems scary but its so amazing!! Thanks for sharing this post with us 🙂
Taking the big leap to actually follow through and publish your book is a life changing event but well worth it.
Awesome tips for someone who is looking into publishing a book.
Thank you. It actually helped me too when I wrote it
I am actually working on trying to get a first draft done of my book, so this was a great read for me. Thank you so much!
I’m glad it has helped. Good luck on your book!
I admire those people who have that courage. Am not in the hurry yet, only time could tell if I’m ready to publish my own book. For now, am enjoying my blogging life.
This is why I have manuscripts locked away and tell people I can’t write a book. I have no courage to do so. No faith in my writing beyond a blog post from time to time to give the boost to share. Its a hard feeling to shake.
Taking the step to have your book published is huge. What matters is that it’s your book, your writing, your style. It’s impossible to please everyone and not everyone will like it but that’s okay. Not every likes my cooking either :). I hope some day you will find the courage to publish your manuscripts. Good luck!
I don’t have any desire to be published as an author, but my therapist sure did. He said he knew that he wanted to write books since he was 12 years old. His first came out in late 2015 (this is my author’s interview with him https://girlintherapy.com/psychology-book-author-steve-hauptman).
Blogging has helped me grow confidence in my writing ability. I’m happy where I am right now, but who knows, one day I might have a burning desire to publish a book!
I understand the trepidation that comes with the birth of a book, or anything, really. The birthing pains, both the agony and excitement while “carrying” your growing “child” until due course… I’ve felt like a proud mama a few times in the last twelve months; once was when my Etsy shop was finally open late 2016.
My sincerest wishes on your journey… Here’s to the day you hold “Reckless Beginnings” in your hands!
Thank you so much for your kind words. Congratulations on your Esty shop. That too is an achievement. I will check out your blog.
First off, congratulations on publishing your first book and best wishes for more in your future! I’ve held off publishing mine for a variety of reasons including some you mentioned… I’ll get there eventually. 🙂
Thank you so much. It’s because of the reasons mentioned it took 20 years LOL.. You will get there.. when we want something bad enough we make sure we do 🙂
Wow congrats on publishing your first book! I’ve never really thought about what that means, courage-wise but can see how courageous it would be to do so! I have been told many times that I could write a book about some of my life experiences but never really thought much of it!
Thank you so much. It’s a life changing event and well worth all the emotions that go with it.
I agree with your post. I’ve been working on my book for a couple of years now and a couple of months ago I contacted a publishing company to work with me in getting my book published.
Congratulations on completing your book.That is wonderful. Good luck with the publishing company
very good post & thanks you so much for sharing information .
Thank you! Hope it helps
Not many people know about the history of Halloween I’m glad you enjoyed it. Keep reading those scary books 🙂
I admire those who write books. I sure do enjoy reading them.
I wrote to heal after leaving a dangerous relationship and told the story of my escape. It is so healing to write. It sits on an Amazon shelf, Love Should Not Hurt: Letting Go of the Pain to Live in Freedom and it doesn’t sell a lot but it’s not why I started writing it.
I’m sure you wrote it as a way to heal from your broken relationship. My hats off to you for your soul searching and bravery
This is me to a T! I know I want to write a book some day – now just to figure out how to go about it! Thanks for the encouragement!
You can do it! I wish you the best and I want to hear about when you do 🙂
Congratulations on publishing your first book!! You must feel such a sense of accomplishment. It would be so hard for me to let go after putting so much work into it.
Thank you! It has been quite the journey with highs and lows. AS I wait for it to be released, the anxieties are rising LOL
Wow, yes even if you have a great book idea it must be hard and scary to actually write it and send it out to the world. Congratulations and kudos to you!
Thank you! Even though my book will not be out until early next year, I am experiencing all of the emotions I have mentioned. How will it be once published, I wonder.
I would say writing a book is itself quite difficult job and than having guts to get it published is another one. Putting all thoughts before you even plan to publish it is too scary.
You sound like me ten years ago. I had many conversations with myself and worked through the fears. Still nerve racking but at the same time exciting
I know how scary it an be! I felt really scared before publishing my thesis but it turned out ok. I hope it will for you too!
Thank you for the reassurance, and congrats on your thesis
It can be quite nerve-wracking to do so. I know several published authors who’ve thought twice about putting themselves out there.
I’m still on a roller coaster of emotions, once the book is out, I’m hoping they will settle. Many times I’ve had second thoughts, but the rewards at the end are priceless.
Congrats on your accomplishment. I am working on an eBook myself. Its intimidating.
Thank you, Intimidating is a great way to describe it and good luck with your eBook
Congratulations on completing this part of your journey! How exciting! I have often thought about writing a book.
Thank you, It’s been a roller coaster of a ride but well worth it and I hope someday you write that book 🙂
Writing a book is on my list of life goals. I have the idea, and I know what I want it to be. This is inspiring me to make it happen.
I hope it does help you and your book becomes more than an idea. Good luck!
I’ve had a book idea for years and just have been too busy to write it and publish it. I’m hoping one of these years…
-Mama from Mama Writes Reviews
I hope someday you find the time to write your book. Good luck
This is awesome information for those trying to find the courage to publish their first book. The most important things you have to have for publishing your first book is passion and dedication. Courage is something that goes hand in hand with passion and dedication I believe. Thanks for sharing the information and your experience.
Thank you.Passion and drive play a huge part in wanting to publish a book. It is these emotions that give us the courage to see it through
It is nerve wrecking to think about publishing a book. I’ve been sitting on mine for a few years now and have just gotten the push to go submit it. But so exciting.
How exciting for you. Good luck!
I have had a book idea for years and have never settled into it. My fear totally gets in the way. This is an inspirational post.
That’s why it took me twenty years LOL.. My fear had the best of me and encouraged me to write this book. I hope it helps you
Motivating post, yes it isn’t even easy to show commitment to 2 blog posts per week.
A book is something big with bigger levels of commitment & passion.
Thanks
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it
Writing a book is a lot of work. Congrats on doing so and I so agree about the feeling of a book in your hands
Thank you! It’s been an emotional experience, to say the least.
Thanks for sharing! I use to write novels when I was younger but I only let one friend read it. And I am still not confident until now but it’s good to know other people’s perspective too.
Thats awesome you wrote when you were younger. Maybe you’ll pick it up again and write some more stories. But let more of us see them 🙂
publishing a book seems so intense but im sure it will feel so good once complete.
The feeling of accomplishment is priceless.
I think you hit the nail right on the head. It does take courage. So many people are afraid of failure that they defeat themselves before they start. Reading some of the comments on this post I hope those feel like taking that leap of faith and publish their book. You won’t know unless you do right?
Exactly, we learn by doing – not by running away 🙂
Congratulations on publishing your first book! How exciting! It is such a great experience to pursue your passion.
Thank you! I am cherishing every moment LOL.
I had a friend who published a book a couple of years back. She was SO nervous to release it and finds things she wish she would have done differently all the time.
I’m sure as we become more experienced writers, we will find things in our older writings that we would love to change. The journey of a writer LOL
I’ve never published a book but I know how hard it is to submit my writing for my editors for the paper that I worked on or the scripts for the shows I’ve done. I never feel 100% about them but sometimes you do just have to let go.
I think any writing we have worked on and release for the public eyes takes courage, not just a book Writing a blog for the world to see is also courageous.
I can only imagine how much courage it takes to publish the very first book, I bet a lot!
It really does, hoping the second will be easier.
I have dreams of being a children’s book author, but too scared to take the first step. I needed to read this to let go of my fears a bit.
Our fears can be our worst enemy. I hope this helps you to move forward and accomplish those dreams.
Great post! Congratulations on publishing your first book and wishing you the best of all in the future. Courage is the key to success.
Thank you! Yes, Courage gets us through so many achievements that we wish to succeed at.
Wow!! Congratulations on publishing your book and courage is so important to make my dreams come true.
Thank you! Its been quite the journey.
I think the best way to start is that you just write a couple of smaller books not for sale, but just as a giveaway freebie.
Doing that will get you ready for the “big performance”.
That is a good way to build up your confidence.
Congrats on finishing your book. So cool! I have an e-book out, but I hope to publish a book the traditional way. It can be nerve-wracking.
Congrats on your e-book. I wish you luck on your having a book published. Thank you.
I’ve never had the desire to write a physical book but I found some of this resonated with me for blogging. I’ve always wanted to start but feared criticism and judgment. Once I finally took the plunge I feel so great being able to express myself and I love entertaining people. Like you said, I breathed life into it, I know every aspect of it. I chose every font, every word and every color. Opening it up for criticism and letting go is the hard part!
So true and like I said, we can’t please everyone. Everything we do in life is up for criticism, books are no different. We learn from them, tuck them away and move on. Congrats on your blog.
When I was younger I would sit and write drafts for books all the time. I had so many ideas, but never went through with any of them! I wish I had the courage!
You do have the courage.You just have to look way down deep inside of yourself and bring it to the surface and own it 🙂
Congratulations on being able to go through with it, I know I don’t even have to courage of writing one since it would take me so long to make up my mind.
Ha! It’s been quite the journey and a thrill of a ride 🙂
This wás encouragement for me as I am in the process of writing.
That’s wonderful! I wish you all the best of luck
I often think about writing a book and publishing it, but I don’t know where to start and what to write first. I definitely need some courage to take that first step.
Write whatever comes to mind, it doesn’t have to make any sense in the beginning but as the story unfolds then the fun begins.
what you mentioned above is true. you do need to have courage and confidence 🙂 thank you for sharing !
Thank you and you’re welcome.
I have never written a book but I can imagine how scary it might be. Any one that writes a book, whether in print or online is amazing.
Thank you!
Most often we are our own worst critics and once we get past the limiting thoughts (whatever they are) we get to experience the true value of how we can help others by doing something so selfless as writing a book. Thanks for posting.
Yes, at times we can be our own worst own enemy which prevents us from moving forward.
Yeah its really true. Many people even i think of writing a book but there are many circumstances we can’t ignore. Nice tips for them.
Thank you!
I’m sure writing a book takes a lot of commitment and time. But it will all be worth it in the end!
Xo, Sondra
Cuisineandtravel.com
As of now, it is and yes it is so rewarding.
oh my! I can totally relate I felt this exact way when I published my book.
Congratulations on your book 🙂 Love when a reader connects.
I know many who have been putting off writing their first book for quite some time and I think they are doing a disservice to themselves. I can see how worried they are, how much work it is, but they are just lacking the courage. I hope they publish one day!
I hope so too. It’s a hurdle that we have to cross but once we do it gets so much better.
I love your post. I can really relate to the fact that we are all afraid of failures, and stepping out and taking the first step is the hardest. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome and thank you
I think it is really not easy and you will face many struggles. But once you do it, it feels much better. Good luck!
it will be worth it, I’m sure.
I’m more of a reader than a writer. My sister, however, had always wanted to publish a book and I’ve been trying to find her tips and tricks to get started so she can fulfill her dream. I’ll send your post to her.
I hope it helps her and she is able to fulfill her dream
I’ve been planning to start writing a book but I can’t find any gut to get started. Thank you so your tips. I’ll try my best to push myself and start writing asap. I know I have great stories to tell.
You’re welcome. I hope it helps. I know you can do this 🙂
Start writing about something you know, even if it’s not going to be your main project. Writing something you know, even fiction based on real life, will get you started. That’s the hard part . . . getting started. Read your favorite author and emulate their style; that’s what great writers do, until they develop their own style.
Good luck, and enjoy writing.
So true. Write what makes you comfortable and branch out from there.
Critisms could make or break someone. Good thing is, it is up to him how he takes criticism. Then, there comes optism.
Excellent points. Learn to grow from criticism if valuable points and move on.
Does is take courage? . . . or patience? . . . or money?
I finished the writing . . . most of it . . . ready for a couple beta readers. I may bite the bullet and pay a ‘professional’ reader. I already have a list of questions for the right reader.
After beta do I play the lottery and start ‘playing’ the traditional agents and publishers? That takes a lot of patience to sit back and wait.
Or do I ‘find’ the cash and ‘buy’ a self publisher? The problem with those is, and I’ve already had a ‘bad’ experience with one, will they do what they promise to do, and will their effort pay off? After self-publishing, is my book going to languish on Amazon, ranked at 4.8 MILLIONTH because people can’t find it?
I’m still uncertain. . . .
When it comes to the decision of writing a book and publishing it, so many questions will follow. Explore all the different venues and go with what feels comfortable and pursue the choice you have made.