Giant Mushy Sponge

Three weeks to go until The Hating Game ebook release and my insides are like a giant mushy sponge, sucking up every bit of doubt and fear and stubbornly hanging onto them despite multiple wringings.

I remember reading about authors with pre-publication nerves and rolling my eyes. Whatever. They're getting published! I'd think, dismissing their fears with a blithe 'I should be so lucky'.

But now that I'm here, I can safely say this is probably the most stressed out I've been. Yes, I like to worry: I got my gold star in anxiety long ago. But when it's something you've created and dreamed about, it's absolutely terrifying -- enough to even put me off chocolate (for five minutes).

Still, it's part of the process and I need to learn to embrace it. If I don't put my work out there, I won't get lovely emails and comments from early readers that have made my heart sing and helped to calm me (thank you!). I won't ever set a foot on the road to my career, if I let my worry stop me. So... as anxiety-inducing as this time is, it's also exciting. This book isn't the end (hopefully!) of my career. It's only the beginning.

What have you found most terrifying about the writing process?

(If you'd like to sign up for my Web Splash on December 1 to help with my ebook release, there's still plenty of time!)