by Jessica Barrah
In January itÔÇÖs natural to want to start afresh, to make this the year you really achieve your dreams. The fantastic thing about self-publishing is, thereÔÇÖs nothing holding you back. You donÔÇÖt have to wait for anyone to get back to you about your manuscript ÔÇô you are the one in charge, you are the one making all the decisions about your book. ItÔÇÖs extremely empowering ÔÇô if at times overwhelming.
So hereÔÇÖs to making 2016 the year you see your words in a beautiful printed book, with eight quotations to inspire your success!
┬áÔÇ£The only failure is not to try.ÔÇØ
George Clooney
We didnÔÇÖt just include this quotation in order to include a picture of George Clooney ÔÇô honest. But he makes a good point. Success means different things to different people. It can be as simple (or as difficult) as finishing your book, seeing it in print, and sharing it with friends and family. WhatÔÇÖs holding you back? If itÔÇÖs fear of failure, see our next inspirational quotation.
┬áÔÇ£You donÔÇÖt have to be great to get started. But you have to get started to be great.ÔÇØ
Les Brown
The book thatÔÇÖs in your head might well be better than the one you manage to get down on paper. But no-oneÔÇÖs going to read a book that stays inside your head ÔÇô unless you know any talented mind-readers.
┬áÔÇ£If I waited for perfection IÔÇÖd never write a wordÔÇØ
Margaret Atwood
Procrastination can be beneficial ÔÇô for the re-organisation of your sock drawer. Yes, itÔÇÖs ok to let ideas marinate for a while, but the time comes when you have to get some words down. They probably wonÔÇÖt be the right words, in the right order. But at least youÔÇÖll have something to work with.
┬áÔÇ£Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.ÔÇØ
Scott Adams
Although other people can help you make choices, you are the author ÔÇô you decide what stays, and what gets the chop. If that means killing off characters, or rewriting the whole thing from the perspective of a cat, then so be it. ItÔÇÖs up to you.
┬áÔÇ£Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.ÔÇØ
Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh didnÔÇÖt just suddenly become a successful painter. He spent years struggling, cutting off bits of himself, painting starry nights and so on. You canÔÇÖt hope to write a novel all at once ÔÇô but if you write for even just an hour every day, it all adds up. However, letÔÇÖs hope success comes in your own lifetime, unlike poor old Vincent.
ÔÇ£Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligentlyÔÇØ
Henry Ford
Have you been writing a novel for what seems like forever? Take a break, step back, and come back to it after a week, even a month. YouÔÇÖll see it with new eyes. If itÔÇÖs truly terrible, donÔÇÖt be afraid to start again, and maybe even discard it altogether. YouÔÇÖll have learned something in writing it ÔÇô even if itÔÇÖs that you must never try to write a Zombie mashup of Anne of Green Gables again.
┬á”You can do anything ÔÇô but not everything.ÔÇØ
David Allen
Self-publishing doesnÔÇÖt mean that you have to do everything yourself. There are professionals out there who can help you edit, proof read, typeset your manuscript and create a beautiful cover for reasonable prices. But if money is tight, you can still call on friends and family to help you out. Some may be artistic, have marketing experience, or an eagle eye for typos. Or their talents might lie in giving you tea and sympathy. You donÔÇÖt have to go it alone.
┬áÔÇ£The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.ÔÇØ
Eleanor Roosevelt
Technology has made getting your book into print so much easier and more affordable. But weÔÇÖre not pretending there isnÔÇÖt a lot of hard work involved ÔÇô and that hard work includes marketing if you want your book to have a chance of success. Put in as much effort as you can into publicising your book. You can achieve your dream of holding your own book in your hands, and putting it into the hands of (hopefully) thousands of readers.
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