Dawn Keable's Blog - Posts Tagged "soulmate"
Trust Your Path. And hey, #DontSettle
I had a literary agent once.
Yup. Somewhere around 2007ish. I think our relationship lasted for 'bout a day.
I've blocked out most of the details, as I have a tendency to do with all stories that come with intense spirit killing potential. I do remember she told me 'I made her day' when I accepted her offer. And then, for some reason, that had nothing to do with even a hint of a Playboy scandal, she rescinded her request. (Um, how often does that happen?)
Plain and simple: I just don't think I was on the right path.
First off, my book, literally the first fiction piece that I'd written in my life well, sucked. I wrote it after reading some truly awful chick lit, back in the day when the publishing world was trying to capitalize (quickly) on the success of Bridget Jones' Diary. I remember saying, I can do this.
And so I did.
A couple years prior, my initial manuscript would have been enough to get onto a shelf near you. But I am awfully grateful that I was a bit late for that party. My first effort was not my best effort. And my fiction career could have, and should have, tanked before it even got started.
Truth be told, my book did not completely suck. But it did suck precisely enough to garner enough attention not to succeed. (How's that for an Oprah-ism?) And for that I am grateful.
Settling Down received, even in its first incarnation, an impressive amount of interest. There were no blanket statements about my skills as a writer, in fact, so many of my rejections were incredibly complimentary. Gradually, I realized that this was not about talent. And I would do myself a supreme disservice by writing myself off as a publishing failure. Instead, I began to embrace the editorial weaknesses of my manuscript as the chance to grow as a writer.
Because isn't that what life is all about?
My next challenge? Self-publishing. Trust, it wasn't completely my idea. I live with someone who pushed me hard in this direction. (As well as offering up his mad photography skills to come up with a killer cover.) Add in the relatively recent advent of Amazon on demand publishing, total editorial and marketing control and a bigger cut of the paycheck for moi, and it seems like a no-brainer.
I'm happy to report that so far anyways, this path is cooperating in the most obedient of ways. And in my heart, I believe I'm finally on track, not only because I've edited my book within an inch of its life, but because I can so clearly see how all roads have merged and gotten me to this place of today. (Including knowledge gained in the strangest places. I'm talking to you Ebay keywords.)
My purpose in writing Settling Down is to create a powerful movement for women to not only kick those romantic stereotypes once and for all, but to empower the sisterhood to understand that maybe, just maybe, all you need is one after all.
So, bring yourself, won't you? 'Cause, here, that's all you need.
Yup. Somewhere around 2007ish. I think our relationship lasted for 'bout a day.
I've blocked out most of the details, as I have a tendency to do with all stories that come with intense spirit killing potential. I do remember she told me 'I made her day' when I accepted her offer. And then, for some reason, that had nothing to do with even a hint of a Playboy scandal, she rescinded her request. (Um, how often does that happen?)
Plain and simple: I just don't think I was on the right path.
First off, my book, literally the first fiction piece that I'd written in my life well, sucked. I wrote it after reading some truly awful chick lit, back in the day when the publishing world was trying to capitalize (quickly) on the success of Bridget Jones' Diary. I remember saying, I can do this.
And so I did.
A couple years prior, my initial manuscript would have been enough to get onto a shelf near you. But I am awfully grateful that I was a bit late for that party. My first effort was not my best effort. And my fiction career could have, and should have, tanked before it even got started.
Truth be told, my book did not completely suck. But it did suck precisely enough to garner enough attention not to succeed. (How's that for an Oprah-ism?) And for that I am grateful.
Settling Down received, even in its first incarnation, an impressive amount of interest. There were no blanket statements about my skills as a writer, in fact, so many of my rejections were incredibly complimentary. Gradually, I realized that this was not about talent. And I would do myself a supreme disservice by writing myself off as a publishing failure. Instead, I began to embrace the editorial weaknesses of my manuscript as the chance to grow as a writer.
Because isn't that what life is all about?
My next challenge? Self-publishing. Trust, it wasn't completely my idea. I live with someone who pushed me hard in this direction. (As well as offering up his mad photography skills to come up with a killer cover.) Add in the relatively recent advent of Amazon on demand publishing, total editorial and marketing control and a bigger cut of the paycheck for moi, and it seems like a no-brainer.
I'm happy to report that so far anyways, this path is cooperating in the most obedient of ways. And in my heart, I believe I'm finally on track, not only because I've edited my book within an inch of its life, but because I can so clearly see how all roads have merged and gotten me to this place of today. (Including knowledge gained in the strangest places. I'm talking to you Ebay keywords.)
My purpose in writing Settling Down is to create a powerful movement for women to not only kick those romantic stereotypes once and for all, but to empower the sisterhood to understand that maybe, just maybe, all you need is one after all.
So, bring yourself, won't you? 'Cause, here, that's all you need.
