While this guest post from author Anna Dobritt is a departure from the normal marketing-based advice on this blog, this is a great look into someone who has worked hard to write and self-publish their book, and will be inspiring to many considering that road.
It’s hard to believe I’m where I am today, writing-wise. After my dad died in 2013 I was at a loss as to what to do. I had been the primary caregiver first for my mom who suffered from Alzheimer’s, then both my parents then my dad. During this period I had no interest in doing anything I used to enjoy, particularly writing. Then I decided to work on editing the rough draft of a fantasy trilogy I wrote back in 1993. I was making pretty good progress, when in May of 2013 – WHACK! – the muse struck and it struck hard! A new idea for a paranormal trilogy popped into my mind and no matter how I tried, I couldn’t put the idea aside. So I started writing.
On September 26, 2013 I finished the first draft of Ravynwyng Chronicles. It topped out at 286k words. I was advised to split that into to two volumes and over the next year and a half or so I’ve been editing and rewriting the first volume. There were many times along the way that I was sick and tired of the words I wrote. Often times thinking What the hell am I doing? Who will want to read this? But I kept on.
It’s funny, but the muse struck again shortly after I finished the first draft of the Ravynwyng Chronicles. Another paranormal trilogy called The Archivist — Lenara Lenquil Adventures is currently in the works. In October of 2014 the muse wasn’t finished with me. I ended up writing two short stories and a novelette which are spin-offs of the Ravynwyng Chronicles: First Raven, Raven Voice, and Raven Flight. (I really hope Lexie the Muse will keep quiet for a while. I have more than enough to keep me occupied where writing and editing is concerned.
Jump forward to Saturday. March 14, 2015. Despite the doubts and bouts of depression, Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning is now available for sale at Amazon! Now I’ve started the major edit on Volume 2: Discovery.
I’m not a writer like Hemingway or Tolkien or Rowling or Stephen King. I don’t use flowery words or phrases or heavy narrative or describe everyone or everything down to the last detail. I do not use words that send you running to look them up every five minutes. I do not write about the human condition or the plight of the world and its inhabitants. I’m not out to teach anyone a lesson or get them riled up about this or that injustice. That’s not my writing style. I’ll leave that to others. I write so people can read and escape for a little while from their everyday life. I’ve done my best to write an interesting story and hope those who read it enjoy it.
For those of you considering writing and publishing your own book, let me tell you it isn’t easy. You are constantly plagued by doubts and fear. Many times you will be tempted to delete the blasted thing and consider taking up beekeeping. However, once you hit that publish button, the feelings of relief and elation can’t be beat. May the words ever flow!
Anna Dobritt is 53, and lives in Michigan. She is an independent eBook author and has self-published Volume 1 of the Ravynwyng Chronicles titled The Beginning. She has also pubulished three short stories: The Hunter, First Raven, Raven Voice; and a novelette titled Raven Flight. In 2015 she plans to release Ravenwyng Chronicles Volume 2: Discovery.
