Hypothyroidism – Page 11 – Cheryl Shireman

Writing in the Dark

January 22, 2011

For years, I wrote in secret. Scribbled words in notebooks, and then graduating to neatly stacked typed pages – all words that no one ever saw but me. If someone came to the door, I would hide my stash quickly under the couch. All of those words in the dark dusty shadow of the couch, just waiting to be pulled back out. It took me years before I told anyone about the writing, and even after that, I never really wanted to share my work. Even when I was writing novels. And collecting rejection slips.

Today I received an email from a friend. Although this isn’t her name, in the interest of confidentiality, let’s call her Peggy. She had incredibly kind things to say about my novel, Life is But a Dream. The kind of things that every writer dreams of reading about her work. And then Peggy wrote something else – I’m a voracious reader and have always wanted to write. I’ve got a few drafts started…

I was absolutely shocked. I had no idea that she had writing aspirations! How many of us are out there – writing in silence and harboring dreams of writing that novel? For some of us, writing is so personal, so tied to our hearts, that just telling others that you are “writing” makes us vulnerable. If you tell someone that you are writing, then they might want to read what you have written. And then where will you be? All exposed and raw and vulnerable. Better to write in silence and avoid the risk.

For the first time, last year when I filed my taxes I listed “writer” as my occupation. A year or so ago I had to go into my local bank and have a contract notarized for ghostwriting a non-fiction book. The woman who notarized the document was so excited for me, and I found myself squirming under her gaze. She told me that she had always dreamed of writing children books. I told her she should. And then I squirmed some more. Because there I was, sitting in a bank and having a contract signed that was actual proof that I get paid to write. I felt…humbled. Who am I to be so blessed? Who am I to have my dreams come true?

I still stumble on the word “writer” when people ask me my occupation. It is so silly, but somehow I feel like I am bragging, and I find it difficult to even say the word – despite the fact that I dreamed of being able to say it for many many years.

After signing that contract and starting to ghostwrite that book, at one point I was rewriting the book after receiving some suggestions from the author and the editor. Excitedly, I told my son, “I’m working with an editor and everything now– just like a real writer.”

He said, “That’s great, Mom.” And then he paused before speaking again. “But you’ve got one thing wrong.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“You’ve always been a writer.”

First I cried. And then I grabbed a pen and wrote down his words. Because I loved them. And because I am a writer.

And you are a writer too, Peggy. Pick up your pen.

Cheryl Shireman is the bestselling author of several novels, including [easyazon_link asin=”1461026504″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Broken Resolutions[/easyazon_link], the [easyazon_link asin=”B004JU21YU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Life is But a Dream series[/easyazon_link], and the [easyazon_link asin=”1478153652″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Cooper Moon[/easyazon_link] series. She is also the author of ten books for toddlers including the eight [easyazon_link asin=”1475291531″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Let’s Learn About[/easyazon_link] series focusing on different animals and [easyazon_link asin=”1625660014″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]I Love You When: For Girls[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link asin=”1625660022″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]I Love You When: For Boys[/easyazon_link].

Writing in its Purest Form?

January 21, 2011

Okay, for some reason, writing that previous blog just wiped me out. Maybe all of this seemed too real all of a sudden. You see, I do love writing – always have – but the idea of “my baby” being out there exposed to the world is a little….what’s the word? – creepy, frightening, overwhelming, humbling? I’m not sure. But for whatever reason, immediately after writing the last blog I made my way upstairs to take a hot bath, totally exhausted. Before I could even turn on the water, my daughter called me to tell me she had found my book on Amazon. She found it by doing a search for my name. The book description is not up yet, but there it was – the cover of my book on Amazon!

Immediately, my husband and I went to the site and bought two copies – one for my Kindle and one for his iPad. I then went to my “orders” page and saw that I had my first two orders. Exciting! Even if we had to pay for them ourselves! By the end of the night, I had 9 sales. Taking into consideration that my husband and I were responsible for two of those sales, my total income for the day, for my first partial day on Amazon, was exactly $14.35. My sales ranking – # 21,349. I am in the BIG TIME now! Another day like that, and I will be able to afford to buy a pizza! I’m feeling the luxuries rolling in!

So – is there anyone else out there who LOVES the writing part, but struggles with others reading what you have actually written? There is something so…vulnerable about it. Perhaps I will get used to it. It is a problem I am happy to deal with!

As I think more and more about this revolutionary world of ebook publishing, I realize that this form of writing – straight from author to reader – is perhaps the purest form of writing. Any book that you have ever read has been edited, pushed, poked, and prodded until it was “marketable”. What starts as a single thread of thought in the writer’s mind becomes a collaboration between agent, editor, and marketing department. Not that having an agent, editor, and marketing department work on your book is a bad thing (although it can be); most books are certainly improved with some editing.

But, for the author to have the ability to put words to paper (or computer screen), and then to send those words directly to the reader to stand or fall on their own merit is certainly nothing short of revolutionary. For the first time in history, the writer has the ability to speak directly to the reader with no publisher acting as gatekeeper.

Will this result in a plethora of poorly written novels available as ebooks? Of course! But let’s face it, the publishing world turns out poorly written novels on a consistent basis. But the real question is – will creative minds be unleashed as they no longer contend with the painfully slow, and often discouraging, process of submission, acceptance, and publication? Will having the ability to speak directly to the reader result in a new generation of writers who write in the truest sense of their own unique voice?

By the way, as of the writing of this blog, about 6:30 in the evening, my novel, [easyazon_link asin=”B004JU21YU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Life is But a Dream: On the Lake (Grace Adams Series)[/easyazon_link] has 13 sales and a sales ranking of #10,357. I’m soaring now!

Cheryl Shireman is the bestselling author of several novels, including [easyazon_link asin=”1461026504″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Broken Resolutions[/easyazon_link], the [easyazon_link asin=”B004JU21YU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Life is But a Dream series[/easyazon_link], and the [easyazon_link asin=”1478153652″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Cooper Moon[/easyazon_link] series. She is also the author of ten books for toddlers including the eight [easyazon_link asin=”1475291531″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Let’s Learn About[/easyazon_link] series focusing on different animals and [easyazon_link asin=”1625660014″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]I Love You When: For Girls[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link asin=”1625660022″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]I Love You When: For Boys[/easyazon_link].

The Journey of an eWriter begins…

January 20, 2011

It all started with a Kindle. I opened my Christmas present to find a Kindle from my husband. A Kindle I did not want. You see, I love books. I love the way they feel, the way they smell, the sound they make when they are first opened – all crisp and new. I saw the Oprah show where she first promoted the Kindle a while back, but thus far; I just wasn’t sold on the idea. I want to hold a book in my hands. The idea of sitting by the fireplace and staring at an electronic device to read a book was not appealing. At all. Less than one month later and I had downloaded over 100 books onto my Kindle (many free!). With every download, I felt a twinge of guilt. I was supposed to be filling my bookshelves, not this tiny electronic device! But…I can carry hundreds of books with me at any time. I can read four or five books at once, and not have them stacked precariously on my bedside table. I can switch from book to book in a second, never losing the last page I was on. I can highlight! I can read in the dark. I can read next to my sleeping husband and never wake him turning a page. Sheepishly, I had to admit it, I had become a convert. Quietly, I snuck to the store and bought a purse just for my Kindle. Because I want to take it everywhere I go. And a cover for my Kindle that has a built in light for night reading. So I can read it day or night. Then…two days ago my world was rocked. And I may never be the same. Again – it’s Kindles fault. Or perhaps more precisely – Amazon’s fault! I was browsing casually through Amazon’s latest ebooks, always on the prowl for something to read when I came across a book by Karen McQuestion (I know – funny name). I clicked on “about the author” and began to read a little bit about her. Karen started publishing her own ebooks through Amazon a little over a year ago. Today she has five ebooks on Amazon. In her own words, “Sometimes I still can’t believe the turn my writing life has taken. A year ago I was a failed novelist with years of work on my hard drive, and now I have readers and an income. Life is good.” You can read the full article on A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, by Joe Konrath. I, too, am a writer with a lot of “work on my hard drive”. In fact, I was in the process of marketing a novel and sending queries to agents when I came across this article by McQuestion. Suddenly, the wheels in my head started spinning – as if mad hamsters were in control. I needed to find out more about this epublishing with Amazon! I started reading article after article – finding out that Amazon does offer such a service. You can upload your book and make it available to millions of Kindle readers at no cost to you! Let me stress – this has NO resemblance to the “self-publishing” businesses who print your books – for a price (stay away from those!). The more I read, the more this seemed like not only a viable alternative to the world of traditional publishing, but perhaps preferable! Traditional publishing involves a lot of waiting. Sending queries to agents to ask them to just look at a section of your manuscript. And then waiting. Submitting manuscripts to publishers in the hopes that they will make it through their slush pile. And then waiting. Even if you are accepted for publication, then there are various stages of editing, rewriting, printing, and marketing. More waiting. Eventually, possibly years after you started writing it, your book is in print. That has been the process, and the tradition, for years. With the exception of the writing, very little is actually in the control of the writer and the whole process can be disheartening to say the least. You hear stories of great books that were rejected 26 times, etc. But how many great writers gave up on that 25^th rejection and their books never found their way into print? Amazon is, quite literally, changing the world of publication. Now, a writer can write a book, take less than a day to prepare and upload it on Amazon’s site, and their ebook will be “live” and available for purchase within 48 hours. It really is that simple. And there really are no strings attached. There is no cost for any of this! When one of your books sells, Amazon keeps a small percentage of the sale, and the rest gets deposited into your bank account. For the first time in history, not only the writing, but the promotion and sales of a book are also in the hands of the writer! With the advent of the internet and the world of social media, promoting a product has never been easier. So – I am going to try it! This blog will be my journey into the world of epublishing. If you are a writer and thinking about trying to publish your own ebook with Amazon, I encourage you to read along. I will be honest about this whole process – the good, the bad, the ugly, and the weird. Learn from my mistakes, and if I do anything right, please learn from that too! One of my biggest dreams has always been this – to walk into a bookstore, pull a book off of the bookshelf, and see my name on the cover. I have always imagined walking up to someone nearby in the bookstore and, with my book in hand, saying, “Look! This is my book! I wrote it!” My fantasy never goes beyond that pathetic statement, but perhaps I would show the person my picture on the inside of the cover just to verify my identity, or beg them to buy it. Am I now giving up that “fantasy” by venturing into the world of ebooks? Perhaps. But if I had been born twenty years later, my fantasy would have probably been logging into Amazon and seeing one of my books on their site… Join me in this journey. I hope it will be fun for both of us. I submitted my novel yesterday around noon. Amazon provides you with a page to check on the status of your book. After submitting it, I immediately checked on its status and it was defined as “Review” – which meant my book was under review for possible publication. About five hours later, that status (which I probably checked about every fifteen minutes…so pathetic) changed to “Publishing” – which, I am assuming, means that the review process is complete and my book was accepted. A note under “Publishing” tells me “Your book is being published. It will take 24 hours for the book to be available for purchase”. So, by about five o’clock today, my very first ebook, a novel entitled [easyazon_link asin=”B004JU21YU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Life is But a Dream: On the Lake (Grace Adams Series)[/easyazon_link], will be published in the world of ebooks and available for purchase. I am sooooo excited! Share my journey with me and let’s see what happens!

Cheryl Shireman is the bestselling author of several novels, including [easyazon_link asin=”1461026504″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Broken Resolutions[/easyazon_link], the [easyazon_link asin=”B004JU21YU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Life is But a Dream series[/easyazon_link], and the [easyazon_link asin=”1478153652″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Cooper Moon[/easyazon_link] series. She is also the author of ten books for toddlers including the eight [easyazon_link asin=”1475291531″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Let’s Learn About[/easyazon_link] series focusing on different animals and [easyazon_link asin=”1625660014″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]I Love You When: For Girls[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link asin=”1625660022″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”cherylshire03-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]I Love You When: For Boys[/easyazon_link].