True to who I am - Michelle Gregory

The early Hassidic sage Rabbi Zusya once said, "When I reach the next world, God will not ask me, 'Why were you not Moses?' Instead, he will ask me, 'Why were you not Zusya?'"

I don't know about you, but I have to make a conscious effort to be myself and stay true to what I know I'm supposed to do. I'm the kind of person who looks around at what everyone else is doing, and though I know better, I start to think, "Maybe I should be doing it like so and so."

I get this way with homeschooling. I'm part of an online homeschooling group and even though we're all very gracious with each other and we're not even giving into the pressure to make homeschool look like public school with mounds of homework, etc., it's easy to compare myself to them and say, "wow, I should be doing more projects, going more places, doing more things, blah, blah, blah."

Then I remember that my kids are learning what they need to learn and the way we're doing school fits our lifestyle. My kids are happy and not so overly busy that we're stressed and going crazy. I like a simple lifestyle.

Lately I've found myself doing the comparison thing with blogging and writing and promoting. "I should have more posts about writing, more contests, more blog hops, and more interviews. I should be helping more writing friends promote their books with blog tours and side buttons and links. My blog should look more professional; have more about my book and links to all the places people can buy it. I should work on my story more often and not play with other stories so much. I should have more description, less tea, etc. I should have my book on Kindle and Smashwords and kobo and wherever. Maybe I should look for an agent. I should say more and do more..."

Makes me tired just writing it.

I've learned from counseling (and my husband reminds me every once in a while) that if you substitute the word (excuse me) sh** for should, when you say you should do something, it's like piling sh** on yourself. And isn't that exactly how we feel when we start saying "I should, I should"?

So it's time to be kind to myself, stop piling crap on myself, and let myself be who I am. I will put whatever I want on my blog. I will help other writers when I can. I will promote myself as much or as little as I'm comfortable with. I will let my mind play when it needs a break. I will continue to self-publish, and not pressure myself into doing it the way my indie author friends are doing it. I will write the story I want to write and not worry about the tea.

Maybe that's my cue to go have some tea, or a cup of hot cocoa.

Now, go have a beautiful day, free of "shoulds." have some tea. Be yourself.

Michelle's Website
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Eldala

Happy Fourth & Happy Independents Week

Yes, I made that whole thing about Happy Indpendents Week up, but the Fourth of July is certainly true. Wishing a happy and safe holiday to everyone who's enjoying it so far.

Another great reason to celebrate this week will be another series of guest posts from some of the authors I interviewed at this time last year. Starting tomorrow, N. Gemini Sasson, Michelle Gregory, Peter Johnson and Kristina Emmons are back at the blog, talking about their experiences as writers. The posts they shared last year still generate a lot of hits on the blog. I'm excited to feature each of them on the blog again and share what they've been up to. I'll also be sharing a year of my publication efforts and the goals that lie ahead. The schedule is as follows:

N. Gemini Sasson (historical fiction) - Tuesday, July 5
Michelle Gregory (fantasy) - Wednesday, July 6
Peter Johnson (historical fiction) - Thursday, July 7
Kristina Emmons (historical fiction) - Friday, July 8
Me (historical fiction & contemporary novellas) - Saturday, Friday 9

I hope you'll join us.

An Indie Rebel: Michelle Gregory

When Lisa asked me to blog about the aftermath of self-publishing, I couldn’t help but think of the events I usually associate with the word aftermath: Earthquakes. Tornadoes. Hurricanes.

Oddly enough, the aftermath of self-publishing has been a bit like each of these. It’s shaken me up, swept away my orderly life, and brought a flood of new opportunities. I’ve had to deal with readers, criticism, promotion, and my own self-confidence. Beyond all that, I’ve learned a lot about the publishing world and myself.

Since I like random lists, I thought I’d be random here. In no particular order, here are the things I’ve learned because I wrote and self-published a novel:

*I’m a rebel in a rule follower’s body. I’ve always followed the rules, but I enjoy bucking the publishing system and I love being part of the self-publishing/indie author movement. I’m going to be that rock in the stream of publishing, even if it’s just to remind people that if you only write for yourself, it’s enough.

*Despite the fact that being in charge also means I’m the typesetter and proofreader and editor, I enjoy the control I have over my content and cover art too much to ever try to sell my stories to an editor or publishing house.

*I’ll never get rich from self-publishing, but since that was never my intent, I’m happy to get what little I can. I gave away at least half of the 100 or so copies out there anyway.

*Although I’ve set up an author website, started a blog for my novel, and talked about my novel every chance I get on my blog, almost all my sales come because someone personally told someone else about my book.

*I’m horrible at telling people about my book. My kids and friends do a better job. Frankly, my mom does a better job. I don’t like drawing attention to myself, and I don’t like the thought of rejection if someone decides (after my impassioned description) to not buy it. (When I had a chance to try to sell it at a recent writers’ retreat, I couldn’t make myself do it. Thank goodness, my writing buddy bought 4 copies for gifts or I would have gone home with all 14 copies.)

*Online marketing is much easier. I feel like I don’t face as much rejection that way. I could do a lot more of it, but I’d rather just write.

*According to people who’ve read Eldala, I know how to tell a good story. It still surprises me when readers say they can’t put it down. Some readers have even said that the characters inspired them to be courageous. Those kinds of comments keep me writing when I want to quit.

*I love to talk about writing.

*I love to encourage others to write.

*If it didn’t mean taking time away from writing, I wish I had the money to help struggling mom and teen writers get their stuff out there.

*I love to write novellas for myself and whatever I write is almost always fantasy.

*I love the first draft and hate to edit.

*I’ve never had problems being a self-starter, but I almost always have trouble finishing. Now that I finished something as huge as writing a novel, I know I can apply that to other projects in life.

*I’m still horrible about managing my time as a mom, homemaker, homeschooler, and writer.

*When I don’t write, I’m miserable.

Eldala on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eldala-Michelle-Gregory/dp/0615148182/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279150209&sr=8-1

Eldala on Lulu (e-books): http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/eldala/1674912?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

Website for Eldala: http://www.eldala.blogspot.com/

My website: http://www.michelledgregory.com/

My blog: http://michellegregory.blogspot.com/


Thank you, Michelle.