Manuscript Sent
Well, I did it. It’s not the one I had started out to write and finish first, but that is no matter.
When I started on Medium just under a year ago, I wanted to write here about my writing process. Partly because I just wanted an outlet to share my thoughts as I proceeded. Partly because I hoped to make connections with fellow writers who are feeling the same, had the same thoughts, or just simply to know there are others struggling along. Whatever my reasoning, I also want to share the successes and celebrate.
So, here I am feeling proud of myself for submitting a non-fiction piece to a self-publishing/hybrid publishing house. It means a few different things to me. First, it is only the third piece I have submitted for actual print publication. My first was in my 20s where my experience with the editor deterred me from pursuing another one until just recently. My second is an article that I actually got paid for and will be out this month. But, this one, this is an actual book, to be seen in print, to have my name on it — as mine.
There are many ways to downplay this achievement: it’s only 25 pages long, it’s going to be self-published rather than agent driven big house published, it’s nothing special, yada yada yada.
However, once I’ve let those words out and released them into the air, I am going to forget them while I do a happy dance celebrating the completion of a manuscript from a little idea to its submitted version. It’s still got a bit of a process to go through before I have a copy in my hand and it goes out to the general public — be sure there’ll be another celebration (and post) when that happens!
My point is that, you can do it! I did it and I’m just an average person who dared to dream of a writer’s life when I was eight. It is fitting that my first book-to-be is a handbook that aims to help others. My writing purpose has always been to let at least one other person out there know that there is someone who can relate, who can help; if not in person then through my words.
So, today, I let out a small sigh of contentment that I have opened 📖 the sunshine ☀️ into my heart ❤️ to tell the stories📚 I have been waiting to tell.
