Self Publishing Advisor

‘Tis the SEASON to…

…BE INSPIRED.  Do you remember Carl Sagan?  He was the astronomer/astrophysicist who held such a passion for the exciting things he was exploring and learning about that he could not contain it in the more than 600 scientific papers and articles he published.  SO, he moved into the book writing field and authored, co-authored or was editor of more than 20 books (e.g. Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space; The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence; Broca’s Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science).  Then, in 1997 his book, CONTACT, was made into a movie and has become what some reviewers call “a cult film,” emanating excitement about listening for signals from other worlds (SETI).

Mr. Sagan’s skill and ability to communicate highly technical scientific concepts in ways the average reader can understand is a blessing to the world.  His technique of offering skeptical challenges to what science states as “fact,” is also a gift well-applied to many things—which I’ve used in debating his premise on several issues.  However, I whole heartedly agree with Mr. Sagan in his assessment of writing and the writing life.  He says:

“What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.”

So it is that I ask you: What is the passion within you that must be shared?  Like Mr. Sagan, are you a scientist who sees beyond the mathematical equations into uncharted realms?  Are you a delivery-truck driver who travels the city and sees the marvelous miracles in people’s lives?  Are you the quarterback of your team—the leader—who seeks the wisdom of the third-string lineman (the man who really holds the team together)?  These stories must be written!  YOU can write a “Pale Blue Dot” novel!  You can inspire readers with a shining vision of our human future right here on earth!  You can motivate readers in ways that “famous” people never could!

By now—if you’ve read any of my earlier blogs—you are aware that I encourage my clients to consider self-publishing.  Well, maybe my tone is a little more robust—suggesting that they place self-publishing on the top of their list.  There are just too many really good manuscripts out there sitting on editors’ desks, or being discussed in publishing house marketing meetings, that will die on the vine—because their authors give up.

DON’T give up!  Write your stories!  Partner with a team of publishing specialists and see your book in the hands of Readers!  As Maya Angelou says: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.