Today’s the day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) where, on the first Wednesday of every month, writers get together to share their insecurities and offer encouragement. The IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can learn all about it and sign up for it here.
On this date two years ago, I posted my first blog post. I was embarking on a new journey, the pursuit of my dream of becoming a published author, and I wanted to document that journey in hopes that it might help someone else who had the same dream.
I went back and read that first post and couldn’t help but smile at how far I’ve come. Not only did I achieve my dream, I’m on the verge of accomplishing it a second time. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Book II: Trouble By Any Other Name will be published this spring.
To celebrate the revelation that dreams can indeed come true, I’m reblogging that first post. Never stop believing in your dreams.
*****
March 2nd, 2014 — It’s Time
Writing has always been a part of my life. It began with creating stories in my head for fun when I was young. Or rather, creating characters who wrote their own stories. I never told them what to do. My characters took care of that themselves. They lived their adventures, fought, loved, and sometimes died, in my mind. It was like watching a movie in my head, seeing and hearing the characters as if I stood beside them, holding my breath, along for the ride.
As I grew older, my mother suggested I write my stories down. Such euphoria ensued, sparking a dream of one day being a published author. To hold in my hand a book of my own making would be the greatest nirvana. But life being what it is, with the necessities of having a steady income to pay the bills, and later the beloved obligations of family, the dream stayed just that — a dream. Writing remained a hobby, though in my head my characters’ stories still clamored for release.
Until now. Now, circumstances are such that my dream might actually be within reach. I am going to self-publish my novel. There… I said it. I’m going to self-publish my novel and set my characters free. Wow. Just writing the words and putting them out there is enough to make me laugh and cry at the same time.
I know this will be a huge learning experience, and there will be bumps along the road, but I will persevere until I hold my book in my hand. It may not be the best book ever written, but that’s okay. It will still be nirvana to me.
This is my journey. I invite anyone who wishes to share it with me.
*****
Originally, I was planning to release my second book in April, but with A to Z coming up, I chickened out and decided on the first week of May. I hope to do a blog tour soon afterward.
If anyone would like to help me out by doing a release day post or hosting me during the blog tour, that would be wonderful! Please let me know in the comments. Thanks so much!!
© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.
Congratulations on two years blogging!
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Thanks, Anabel!
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Awesome all the way around. Congratulations and here’s to many more years of blogging and writing! 🙂
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Thank you very much!
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Heck, your first post was ten times better than mine! Congratulations on two year.
And I’d be glad to host you in May.
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Thanks so much, Alex! I appreciate it!
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Happy Blogiversary!
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Thanks, Nancy!
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Happy Blogiversary! When I go back and read my first blog post, I cringe…
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Thanks, Loni! Ha, ha, I’m sure it couldn’t have been that bad. 🙂
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Happy 2 year blogiversary! And congrats on making your dreams come true with not just one, but potentially two self-published books! 🙂 That is quite an accomplishment to achieve within two years!
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Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!
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Loved your video, well done. Happy blogiversary too. Great post. Looking forward to reading the next book, You know you have a place in my Author Spotlight anytime. Just let me know when you are ready.
Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
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Thanks very much, Juneta! I’ll let you know when I get there. 🙂
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Congratulations on blogging for two years and all of your success!!!
Plus, I loved your book trailer so much, I wondered . . . how much would you charge to create one for me?
I haven’t seen many book trailers so well done and so good that I watched them all the way to the end. Excellent job!
Plus, I would like to host you for a book tour – both the opening day blast and the tour. Let me know what kind of post you would like by e-mailing me.
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Oh, my goodness, Tyrean, you just made my day! Thank you! I love making book trailers. They’re so much fun, but I’ve never thought about being paid to do it for others. Let me think about that. And thank you so much for offering to help with the tour and release day promotion. I really appreciate it!
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Count me in Lori! I will help however you need and I love your first post. I love your determination and drive to see your dreams through. Happy Wednesday!
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Thank you very much, Erika! 🙂
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Congratulations on your 2 years blogging. And on your upcoming second novel.
Your post reminded me of myself so much, as if I wrote it. The stories in my head. The huge chunk of time before I started writing them in earnest. It all feels so familiar, so me… 🙂 I guess many of us share similar stories.
Happy book release to you, Lori.
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Thank you! I think you’re right. I think a lot of writers go through similar struggles. It’s the nature of the beast. 🙂
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Congrats on your blog-anniversary!! Your first blog post was way better than mine. All the ones in the beginning of mine were me falling over myself trying to post interesting stuff about Egypt (not about writing), thinking I’d have to entertain fans of my book. I still get a lot of hits on the Egypt posts, but I’m MUCH happier writing about regular life and writerly stuff. I’d love to feature your book on my blog in May! Just send the info at the end of April. 🙂
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Great! Thank you, Lexa! I’d find posts about Egypt immensely interesting. I’ll have to search out your early posts and see what I missed. 🙂
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Lori, this is so awesome. You’ve stuck to it, stuck to your goal and your dream and you’re releasing your second book. You should be very proud! And you know I’m a stop on your blog tour 🙂
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Thanks very much, C.G.! 🙂
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It’s great to reminisce. Congrats on your second year. May there be many more.
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Thank you! I hope there will be!
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Hi there, Lori… this is my first day to read your blog. I’m so happy to read you’re about to publish your next book. Congratulations on that…
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Hi Linda! It’s nice to “meet” you. Thank you, and thanks for stopping by!
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Congratulations! That’s fantastic. Here’s to many more years to come! 🙂
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Thanks very much, Christine!
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You’ve come a long way in a short time. Nice work, lady. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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Thank you, Anna!
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Congratulations on your two year anniversary. That’s a lot of blogging. Here’s to many more.
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Thank you! It’s hard to believe that much time has gone by since I started blogging.
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Congrats on your blogoversary, Lori! 🙂
You’ve done soooo well!
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Thank you, Michelle! 🙂
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Congratulations on your 2 year blog birthday! I just had my blog birthday in February–7 years old. It took six years to write a story I loved enough and wanted others to read enough to self-published. I’d be happy to host you in May.
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Thank you so much! I appreciate the offer! Wow, 7 years is a long time to be blogging. I salute you! Thanks for visiting!
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Congratulations on your blog-anniversary! Here’s to many more years, and many more books! 🙂
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Thank you, Sara! Here’s to many more books from you, too. I’m enjoying Hazel and Holly. 🙂
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Good to hear. Thank you! 🙂
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I’ve been keeping up with it through your newsletter.
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Congratulations on all your success. We have to work for our dreams, and when we do, we achieve success.
Mary at Play off the Page
IWSG co-host
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Thank you! Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it’s so worth it in the end.
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Congrats! I see a lot of blogs peter out around 2 years, so you made it! Have fun with A to Z. I’ll be visiting blogs but not participating myself 🙂
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Thanks very much! Wow, 2 years — I didn’t know that. I’ll be around a while longer anyway. See you around the A to Z circuit. Thanks for stopping by!
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That’s amazing that it’s been two years! For both of us, really – I think yours was the first blog I followed when I started that March. 🙂 You’ve come such a long way on your journey – congrats! I can’t wait to see your second book come out.
I won’t have time for A to Z this year, but I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
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Thanks, Sue! I can’t believe it’s been that long. Funny how we both started at the same time. I’m so glad we “met.” You’ve made Book 2 so much better. I guess some things are just meant to be. 🙂
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Congrats, Lori! My first post was almost 11 years ago, so I really hope I’ve come far since then.
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My goodness — 11 years? That’s amazing! I am in awe.
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Happy blogiversary and congrats! I’d love to host you during your blog tour.
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Thank you, Lidy! And thank you very much for the offer! I appreciate it!
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That’s so inspiring, Lori – thanks for sharing! It’s always good to look back and see how far we’ve come.
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Yes, it is. It makes me feel good when things get frustrating and take longer than I’d like them to.
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⭐ Congrats, Lori! ⭐
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Thank you, Resa!
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