Lori Cooper asked Cathy Lamb:

I have completed a small book of poetry and am wanting to publish it as an ebook. For the life of me, I can't build up the nerve! Did you ever have cold feet about publishing?

Cathy Lamb Hello Lori,

I am so sorry that I didn't see this question until now.

So, get up your nerve and publish your book of poetry. Just do it. Right this minute.

As to your question, no, I did not have cold feet about publishing, just desperate feet, so to speak.

I was writing and writing and getting rejected and rejected, for years and years, and I wanted so badly to publish a book that there was no time for cold feet.

So, ask yourself what you're afraid of. Are you afraid of criticism? Don't be. Toughen up. You can handle it. When you see a bad review, let it go. Or avoid reading them altogether. Why bring negative into your life?

Write your best and don't worry about the results.

Afraid of very public reviews slamming your work? Again, don't be. It's part of publishing. It's part of this business. All writers deal with it. The very best books I have ever read have gotten bad reviews from other readers. You can't possibly write anything that everyone will love.

Afraid it's not good enough? Well, have you written poems that you're proud of? Then stop worrying and throw it out into the world.

Really, Lori, go for it. Publish the poetry.

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