These are the words of Sharon Halliday, Balboa Press author of “Messages from the Heart”. Sharon answered the call to write her book and self-publish with Balboa Press. To learn more about her story visit her website, Facebook, and Twitter. Download the Balboa Press free publishing guide to receive more information.
Why Do You Write?
Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, you are baring your soul. By default, you’re opening yourself up to judgment and criticism. But the flipside of this is you are giving yourself a chance to fulfill a dream and succeed. And succeed not just in the way of book sales…that’s nice, but the real mark of achievement is when someone approaches you to say your book, maybe just a sentence, changed their life. That’s a special kind of success. When your words have the potential to move someone, empower them, ignite them to take action or change their life–that’s what drives me now to evolve as a writer. I write for myself first because I have to (after all it’s cheap therapy!), I write for service second, because I know someone out there is feeling the same way I do. I am reminded of John F. Demartini’s quote from The Riches Within, which I use to open my book, Messages from the Heart: “What a gift it is to receive one simple idea that can transform your life forever!”
Pursue Your Dreams
Fellow Australian author Kurek Ashley refers to Grand Dream Goals. Apart from publishing more books, mine is to help others pursue their dreams of becoming published. If you’ve had a desire to be a published author for a long time and that dream comes true, like it did for me, that feeling is indescribable. Which is ironic for a writer! Don’t hold back, stare down your fears and think about how you’d feel if you didn’t get to achieve this–use that as your inspiration to make it happen. The time is now. As I posted on my website, “To anyone who is considering writing a book, the first thing I would say is, it’s not for the faint-hearted. The second thing I would say is go for it!”
Find the Courage
Ernest Hemingway said: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” I wonder what Hemingway would think of the development of the computer for writers. He would probably say, “It just allows you to bleed out more quickly!” Writing takes courage. Writing and vulnerability are common bedfellows. Yet, to aspiring authors I say: If the words have come to you then it is for good reason. Vanquish the doubt and release your inner writer warrior. At first it may be a whisper, but eventually, it will become a roar!
In Messages from the Heart: 39 Answers to Your Life Questions, “Ask Sharon” included weekly hot tips for lifestyle improvement. So, here are my hot tips to help you on your writing journey.
· Make peace with the fact that the likelihood of getting large blocks of time to write large blocks of text is between slim and zero. Tidbits of writing can create a masterpiece.
· A writing style is like a diet–everything in moderation. A cleverly used em dash, suspension point, or alliteration can take the rhythm of a sentence to a whole other level…just don’t overindulge.
· Rejection. It’s something we all have to learn to deal with at some stage in life, but for writers, it’s a prerequisite for the journey.
· When you’re in the flow and you’re feeling enthused, eager and exhilarated about writing, you’ve just got to go for it. That’s pure, unadulterated content (unless you’re E.L. James) coming up from deep within your soul.
Balboa Press authors who’d like to share a 350-600 word experience related to the self-publishing of their books are invited to do so by the submission form on the Guidelines page. We may not be able to use every story, but we will read and consider them. Balboa Press reserves the right to edit stories for content, grammar, and punctuation accuracy; as well as for space.