How Did I Become an Author?
I’m nearly at the end of my adventure becoming a published author. My book Western Lights is set to be released on Amazon this month. I’d call it an unqualified success. I thought it might be useful writing down my experience. As Austin Kleon says Show Your Work.
Deciding to Become An Author
Writing and publishing a book is a lot different from the way it was 10-20 years ago. Being a technologist in the age of the internet has made everything look easier. Publishing a book seems a lot less scary. I knew that regardless of whether I was picked up by a publisher, I’d get my book out there and be happy.
That last point can’t be stressed enough. My goals have been simple and achievable. I’ve gone into this with realistic expectations, but with a sense that I should do it right in case there is some measure of success.
For me getting to this point has been a gradual process. I didn’t start out with an explicit goal of being an author. It was one of a series of much simpler decisions I’ve made over the past ten years. My advice to you is to break it down and keep your focus on the immediate tasks. You can make better decisions on what’s next when you have more information. Let things come together on their own, the experience will be more enjoyable and successful.
Your path will be different, and you may end up somewhere you didn’t expect. But you’ll get there in a way that lets you to enjoy the time spent.
Four Steps to Become an Author
1, Finding the passion - The first decision was to walk into the door of a Buddhist Meditation group about 10 years ago. This uncovered a passion that has provided an endless source of material for me to write about.
2. Become an expert - The next step was to commit to the training required to become a Buddhist Meditation Teacher. This gave me the knowledge, practice, and commitment needed to be a subject matter expert.
The last two big decisions were to write and then to become an author.
3. Become a writer\blogger – I made the commitment to write as a way to serve the meditation group. When I took over leading the group I lead today, I took advantage of my technology skills to set up a WordPress site.
I posted a few simple things like our schedule, directions, and some basics about the qigong, meditation, and Pure Land teachings that I offered. Not long afterwards I started getting questions from people outside the group.
A wonderful young man from Manchester by the Sea who was doing his high school thesis on religion asked if he could start-up a conversation about Buddhism. I asked if I could post my answers to a blog. He agreed, and low and behold, I was a blogger.
4. Become an Author - Over the course of the next four years I continued to write in response to questions from the Sangha and in response to events and ideas. Last year, probably early summer, I looked back at my hundred or so blog posts and said – there’s a book in there somewhere! I decided to become an author. A year later, here I am.
Getting It Right
Step one was the most important. Without the passion, getting to the end will be a chore.
I wish you luck.
About Latest Posts
Follow meAndrewAuthor of the new book Western Lights,Meditation Teacher, Buddhist blogger, yogi, backup guitarist for his teenage boys, lucky husband and technologist
Follow meLatest posts by Andrew (see all) How Did I Become an Author? - June 14, 2014 Buddhist Essays: New Book Western Lights on Amazon.com - June 12, 2014 One Minute Meditation – Glistening Tide - June 12, 2014 Powered by Starbox The post How Did I Become an Author? appeared first on Andrew Furst.
