Achieving Balance

​Try as I might, I rarely get things right the first go 'round. Usually, my early efforts leave me feeling a bit off-kilter, and this time is no different. Testing the waters of new technology (at least, new to me), I definitely feel like I'm falling in face first most of the time. Since tech changes quicker than I can make the shift, learning new skills is a stretch that takes me out of my comfort zone. But, it also takes me to new levels of achievement. ​​

You gotta try, right?

So, here I am, attempting to spread my wings with my writing career again, only this time flying solo. As in, self-publishing my third novel without assistance. I have become my own publishing house - egad! Who'da thunk it?!

Yep, this is me - Fireweed Press -named for the hillside near our home which hosts a beautiful purple invasive species that is spreading like wildfire. (It's pretty, so I don't mind it.) When I finally figure out how to do it, I'm gonna make a video showing how rapidly ideas can spread, too, when you read good books. It'll be cool, trust me.

There's a lot of figuring out how to do things these days. Things like how to format my manuscript and upload my files into CreateSpace...........and then, how to reformat it upon realizing I had fit things to the wrong size. (Note* - Don't judge, but I spent about 4 days once just trying to put my page numbers where I wanted them in a word document. Before you fall off your chair laughing at my ineptitude, remember that I'm a LOT older than personal computers, and I can do LOTS of things the average schmo can't do, like...like...well, like a LOT of things!*) Designing my cover was no big deal, but trying to get it print ready without a real photo-shopping program left me dizzy, staring at too many pixels as I edited them one by one. I finally caved and sought help from a REAL digital artist - thanks Jacob Grant! (This still counts as going it alone though, since I'm the one making all of the decisions.)

Marketing has always been a struggle, but I'm taking webinars and doing loads of research. One of these days I'll actually learn how to organize it all into a real marketing plan. Then will come the difficult task of implementing it. Sigh. All of this takes an inordinate amount of time.

While I'm wobbling here on the brink of self-fulfillment, life is still coming at me from all directions. Kids' needs and activities still take precedence over everything else. Time, energy, money - you name it; sometimes there isn't much of anything left over. And that's when real lean sets in. Being a full-time wife and mother with a mind crammed with fictional characters can make one feel a bit schizophrenic. I want to do it all, and I want to do it well - no halfhearted attempts. 

But I also want to enjoy it, ya know? And so, this is me (and friend!) diving in. 

​It's a bit murky under the surface, and I can only hold my breath for so long before I come up for air. But when I do, I plan to try and bob merrily along, and let worry roll off my back - like, you know, water.

And sooner or later, I hope to relish the symmetry of flight.
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*I hereby proclaim  my logo (which I designed!) copyrighted.