How Do You Handle Different?

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin



I suspect I'm like most of
you. I am not real keen on change. I love my routines and patterns. Through the
years I've worked hard at things like consistency and persistence.



Yet our world has changed with
the worldwide pandemic, the isolation and sheltering in place. It is all
completely outside of our control but also things each of us can
control. I've watched others shun the “order” and gather on the beach or in
groups.  I have had some events cancelled. Others have been moved online. Last
night I taught a local writers group instead of being in a home, we were on
zoom. The technology worked well and we enjoyed the interaction and
fellowship—even if it was a very different way for us to connect.



The good news is that long after
this temporary situation has passed, books continue to be made and sold. I've
continued working with new authors through my work at Morgan James to get their
submissions processed and books contracted and published. In fact, our book
sales are up from everything I hear from our publishing leadership.



I continue to write on books
which will be published in the days ahead. I've got a couple of my books under
contract with deadlines. These deadlines keep me focused on these manuscripts
and moving them forward toward completion. My encouragement to you is that the
work must continue and you are a key part of that writing since there are
stories to be written that only you can write.



I encourage you during this time
to:



1. Continue
writing. Whether you make notes in a journal or write books or write
______.  I encourage you to seize the day and continue writing—whether you
publish it or not.  I have a sense of urgency about the time we have and the
need to seize it.



2. Keep
creating book proposals. Even if you self-publish, you need a book proposal.
Why? Because the proposal is your blueprint and business plan about your target
market and how you will reach that market with your book. I know it takes lots
of time and energy to put together a complete book proposal. From my experience
the time will be well-spent and is encouraged.



3.
Keep finding places for
your work to be published. You have to be working at new connections,
new pitches and new relationships to succeed. If your books aren't reaching
people, can you take part of that information and repurpose it as a magazine
article or an online article? There are many possibilities and yes it takes work
but you can do it and find places to publish.



4. Keep trying new
things, new ways to consume books and new publications. You have to
take action to pursue these things but don't get discouraged and keep trying new
possibilities.



Why? The world needs your words.
As I've written before your stories and your words can change lives—but not if
it is only in your head. So get it out of your head and on paper then out to the
world.



Yes our world is different with
this worldwide pandemic. Your actions and how you handle it, will be key.
What steps are you taking? Let me know in the comments
below.



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When the world is different how do you handle it? Get ideas from this prolific editor and author. (ClickToTweet)