Hahaha, I was thinking about switching up the schedule, couldn't decide, put off the decision until the week was almost over, and thought "I'll just send it right now and see if anybody even notices." And apparently people noticed!
The fallacy I fell for, as I delayed and procrastinated starting my illustrated memoir, was this: Thinking I had to be ready, somehow, to start. In fact the only way to “get ready” IS to start, and see what revelations come along as you do the work. Write it now, improve it later. But write. Just write. One sentence (or recipe), and you’re on your way.
Hi Amy, I’m working on a memoir-ish/wisdom book for my daughter for when she enters adulthood, and I’d like to self publish it, and maybe put it on Amazon as an e-book. Any suggestions on what services or companies that can help me with layouts, printing, distribution, etc?
Amy, you nailed it with this great advice. I hope "Lisa" writes her cookbook. I would add that it's almost guaranteed to be used and cherished by its intended audience. That's something that emerging novelists can never be sure of.
I'm writing a book set 5000 years in the future, when there are many fewer people who live semi autonomously, spread out over distances. By this time, Nature rebounds. I'd like to write about a new adaptive radiation of birds, like what happened with. Darwin's finches. I wonder what groups/genera of birds might readily evolve in that way?
This was such a good piece. I've been wanting to make a book of illustrated recipes since such a long time. This is so inspiring!
Also, some two years ago, I made a graphic narrative of my life. The school i went to, the college, it's learnings, the offices etc. I've experimented with a lot of mediums for that book. Now I don't know what to do with it. It's a good start. I'd love to know your thoughts on it.
Oh yes, looking forward to the birds 🐦!! I drew one I came across during a trip, the head and beak were a struggle and I thought "something I need to learn ". Thank you in advance!
Great post! I haven't tried to write a book, but I empathise with the bit about each time you start, it feels like you're doing it for the first time and you've forgotten how it works. I feel like that with every painting I begin... Love your bird drawings!.
I am more wobbled than I should be by the fact that this (wonderful, inspiring) post appeared in my inbox on a Thursday, not a Friday.
Hahaha, I was thinking about switching up the schedule, couldn't decide, put off the decision until the week was almost over, and thought "I'll just send it right now and see if anybody even notices." And apparently people noticed!
We Substack readers are creatures of habit, I guess (well, I should speak only for me).
The fallacy I fell for, as I delayed and procrastinated starting my illustrated memoir, was this: Thinking I had to be ready, somehow, to start. In fact the only way to “get ready” IS to start, and see what revelations come along as you do the work. Write it now, improve it later. But write. Just write. One sentence (or recipe), and you’re on your way.
Yes! Just start making the thing. It's so much easier to change a thing you've already started on!
Hi Amy, I’m working on a memoir-ish/wisdom book for my daughter for when she enters adulthood, and I’d like to self publish it, and maybe put it on Amazon as an e-book. Any suggestions on what services or companies that can help me with layouts, printing, distribution, etc?
Jane Friedman has loads of great advice on this: https://janefriedman.com/self-publish-your-book/ and Courtney Maum has also written about it, possibly behind a paywall: https://courtneymaum.substack.com/p/lets-talk-self-publishing
Amy, you nailed it with this great advice. I hope "Lisa" writes her cookbook. I would add that it's almost guaranteed to be used and cherished by its intended audience. That's something that emerging novelists can never be sure of.
I'm writing a book set 5000 years in the future, when there are many fewer people who live semi autonomously, spread out over distances. By this time, Nature rebounds. I'd like to write about a new adaptive radiation of birds, like what happened with. Darwin's finches. I wonder what groups/genera of birds might readily evolve in that way?
I don't know, but it sounds like a great excuse to go looking for bird books at the bookstore or library, or to interview some experts!
This was such a good piece. I've been wanting to make a book of illustrated recipes since such a long time. This is so inspiring!
Also, some two years ago, I made a graphic narrative of my life. The school i went to, the college, it's learnings, the offices etc. I've experimented with a lot of mediums for that book. Now I don't know what to do with it. It's a good start. I'd love to know your thoughts on it.
I had another "what form should this thing take" question that I'm going to answer next week--maybe that will help!
Oh yes, looking forward to the birds 🐦!! I drew one I came across during a trip, the head and beak were a struggle and I thought "something I need to learn ". Thank you in advance!
Yes, getting the shapes right is a challenge--that's basically what this first lesson is all about (going out tomorrow)
Love that osprey
Thanks!
I love the suggestion of having a recipe potluck! A great way to gather.
Adorable oriole 🧡
Great post! I haven't tried to write a book, but I empathise with the bit about each time you start, it feels like you're doing it for the first time and you've forgotten how it works. I feel like that with every painting I begin... Love your bird drawings!.