This week I read through my manuscript: The Curse of the Neverland, book one in my upcoming series Piper Pan and Her Merry Band. I have to let it go in order for it to eventually reach you. My first version of this story was done about 8 years ago, and it has been through untold revisions since. As you know, I’ve finally decided to move forward with self-publication, using a local artisan press, Artisan Bookworks.
Last time I shared my excitement about the book cover photo shoot. See the photos here.
There’s a whole lot more to cover design and creation than I would have ever known — thank goodness for the solid help I have around me. The book has to be completely laid out in the appropriate program, including the blank pages necessary for printing correctly, in order to know the width of the spin and the complete dimensions of the book cover. Those helping me create the cover need the dimensions to do their job.
I was holding up the process because I still hadn’t turned in my dedication and acknowledgements. And I hadn’t turned those in because those are the “final touches,” meaning I have to really be done with writing the book. Letting go of my manuscript is among the harder things I’ve done. Why? It means I have to let it be enough as it is. Once out of my hands, I cannot make corrections, improvements, add brilliant ideas, or even terrible ideas. I have to let it be DONE.
I asked my mother: “Did you ever wonder, after giving birth (to me and my 3 brothers) if we might have come out better if we’d stayed in the womb a little longer?” She laughed — obviously not a real option. But it IS an option to hold it back when it’s your creation.
I did it. I read it one last time, and turned it in. There will be errors. There will be things I could have improved. For now, it needs to be enough. So my advice for today? Honor your creations by letting go — let them be birthed for the world!
Until next time, keep on believing in your dreams!