Out of the Basement
Our August bloggers have been reflecting on the theme “Author Your Own Life.”
• Tempie’s words were powerful: “They can take the red pen to my essays, but no longer will they take it to my life.”
• Autumn’s decision was inspiring: “I thank others for their suggestions, but I choose what is right for me, for I trust and listen to myself now. I am the author of my life.”
• Patricia O’Neill Gleason’s action was courageous: “I released the “you shoulds” and “you musts” and assisted my husband to exit this life as he had lived it. I helped him break out of the hospital and return home where he could die in peace.”
Inspired by IAW’s August bloggers, I want to introduce you to one of my publishing clients…78 year-old Donna Bocks. I met Donna at our June 2009 “Birth Your Book” workshop. Donna shared that she had written 6 novels during the past 20 years. I asked her where the novels were. She explained that they were sitting in her basement.
The English professor Donna hired to edit her manuscripts was adamant that unless she received a positive response from a traditional publisher, there were no other “respectable” publication options for her. Donna sent typewritten query letters and received rejection after rejection. Her granddaughter read one of her novels for a class project and loved it. Except for Sadie’s project, the novels remained in the basement, unread.
I challenged Donna to bring her six typewritten manuscripts out of the basement. We spoke on the following Monday, the day she carried each manuscript out of basement into the light of day and into the hands of my expert team. On October 23, 17 months later, four of Donna’s novels will be celebrated at her first book event, and available for purchase at local bookstores and an on-line marketplace.
Donna’s journey expresses our belief that traditional publishing is one option among many to usher your project into the hands of its intended audience. Rejection letters from agents and publishers, lovers and employees, family and friends do not determine the fate of your book project, or your life!
We are the authors of our own books (and lives), and we must actively decide the best route for our projects (and our lives) to travel. We must LOVE our finished projects enough to publish them (sing them…paint them…build them…teach them…cook them…live them…dance them), no matter what!
Inspired by Donna Bocks, what will you bring out of the basement today?
Patricia Lynn Reilly is the founder of Imagine a Woman International and author of five books. She is also a Publishing Consultant. The road from idea to publication can be long and confusing, with resources wasted on irrelevant services and time wasted on unnecessary exercises. Patricia and her Team map out the journey and provide effective and affordable support along the way.
If you’re ready to take the next step with your project, visit http://www.birthabook.com and schedule a Clarity Conversation with Patricia. If you’re ready to author your own life, visit http://www.imagineawoman.com to purchase Patricia’s empowering guide, “Author Your Own Life: The Five Choices of Authentic Living.” Insert this coupon code for a $20 discount until 8/31: AYL20.
I am inspired by Donna every week when we meet to move her projects forward. Last week she invited me to “DANCE” with scarves. I will read your comments to Donna throughout the week and serve as her “secretary” to respond here to each of you individually. Your words will encourage her and fill up the years of silence surrounding her novels with joyful music! Patricia
Aloha Donna,
This is wonderful, I am so inspired. I have a book I have been working on with channeled messages I have recieved over the years.I am going to go forward and start working on it and my blog. Mahalo for your courage and faith to take the leap.
Blessings,
Hallie
Dear Hallie,
Thank you. I’m glad you’re working on your project again. Keep up the enthusiasm, stick with it. It’s so easy to lay it down, but always pick it up again.
Donna
This is a strong response to the phrase, “author your own life.” Congratulation to Donna. I hope that her books turn out to be like good wine,all the better for having been kept in her basement all these years.
Dear Sheila,
I wish you a healed heart after the journey you have traveled with your adult children. It’s amazing what you as a parent have lived through.
Thanks for comparing the time in the basement with the aging of good wine. Clever comparison and reframing. Donna
Mom – I am so proud of you. You are an inspiration to so many others. I am always proud to call you Mom. I want to be like you when I “grow up”. Can’t wait to finally hold one or your books in my hands and share it with my friends and tell them that “My mom wrote that.” Love you.
When you hold the books in your hand, you will recognize locations and characters from our life in Michigan. I am so thrilled with the fact that my family has become my team. Thanks, Susan, for being on that Team and for getting the manuscripts ready for publication. You are a great daughter. Mom
I am encouraged to begin writing that book I’ve always wanted to write. Being published is secondary for me, but just doing it is meaningful. thanks for the inspiration!!
Hi Shirl. Your travel sounds so exciting. I’ve done some traveling and loved the adventure of it. Lots of stuff there for our writing. The secret is to begin that book. Whatever you want to do, BEGIN it! I feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally when I’m writing. There is no empty spot in my life when I write. I’m also a better listener when I write, to learn about people. But the secret is to get out that pencil and paper and BEGIN. Donna
DONNA:
CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR COURAGE! I ALREADY HAVE THREE PRECIOUS BOOKS, ILLUSTRATED, EMBROIDERED AND WRITTEN BY ME ABOUT THE POEMS, THE WORLD AND THE DREAMS OF MY INNER CHILD. THEY HAVE BEEN IN MY BASEMENT FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS!!!! AND I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF MATERIAL I HAVE NOT SEEN OR PAY ANY ATTENTION FOR YEARS.
AT LEAST I AM WORKING WITH THE IAW POEM, STEP BY STEP, TO AUTHOR MY OWN LIFE. I HOPE THAT SOON I WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO PUBLISH MY BOOKS.
CECILIA
Dear Cecilia, You have to have a circle of people around you saying, “Do it. Do it.” So, bring them all out of the basement and their other hiding places, into the light of day, and allow us to read them and be inspired by YOU! Donna
Donna, you must be celebrating this week…when we use our voice (after we FIND it, that is!!)
we never know the effect on the world. I’m so excited that you WENT FOR IT and now you’ll be reflecting on readers’ reactions. Your basement metaphor is a powerful encouragement for women.
Bless you,
Gail Kittleson
Dear Gail, I use to have a saying hanging around “Women are late bloomers.” We tend to hesitate when we’re younger, but once we get going we amaze everyone, including ourselves. So surprise yourself by writing that book of yours! BTW, I was married to a Navy man, and wish a safe return of your husband. Donna
Donna’s remarkable, and her novels are too! She writes like Anne Tyler: her characters are quirky and often hilarious, form unlikely but delightful partnerships, and Donna holds them all with respect and affection.
Pam (Donna’s copyeditor)
A note is in the mail to you, Pam, with an old fashioned stamp on it. Snail mail is bringing my thoughts and gratitude to you, slowly but surely. Donna
I am looking forward to reading one of your books Donna! Cheers to your finished and published projects!
Hi Nichol. I am looking forward to meeting you. I hear that you’ve got some fantastic book ideas hiding inside of you. It’s a good time to bring them out of hiding. We want to read YOUR story. Donna
Congratulations Donna! I love the collaboration of this project, the way a new view produces different results. A marvelous example of working together.I am looking forward to reading your work.
Hi Elaine. If it wasn’t for my family and Patricia’s Team it wouldn’t have gotten done. My daughters digitized the 20 year-old manuscripts. My son illustrated the novels. My grandchildren will spread the news to the www. My neighbors and friends have been first readers and written endorsements. My first husband was a coach, so I love the idea of Teams getting together toward a finish line. I am grateful for the Teams moving my novels toward their Launch! Patricia says you have a beautiful blog sharing your ART with the community. Thanks for sharing your ART and for encouraging me. Donna
What a tremendous inspiration! I honor you, Donna!
Hi Tina. Just yesterday I had a massage and she has listened to the whole process during our weekly sessions. Patricia says that you inspire your clients as well with good health. If you have a book within you, pursue it to offer your clients another way to be inspired. Thanks for writing! Donna
Donna, So exciting that treasures we might think are buried are merely put aside for later sharing. Thank you for your courage and tenacity.
It appears that your unveiling will bring many more to reveal their treasures.
Hi Patricia. Patricia told me about your blog last week. I have had two husbands who are now deceased. Going through especially the second one’s death inspired me to write again after setting it aside for a while. Death brings one face to face with mortality and the importance of getting goals accomplished, step by step. So I am grateful to Bob for that inspiration. His silhouette forms the cover of one of my novels, Came to Say Goodbye. I’m grateful to have him with me on this journey. Donna
Thanks, Donna. Amazing is a good word choice for what empowered women can do! Our son is deploying with the Department of Defense on Sept 9…to Afghanistan. I welcome prayers for his safety, too.
Gail Kittleson
Thanks, Donna. Amazing is a good word choice for what empowered women can do! Our son is deploying with the Department of Defense on Sept 9…to Afghanistan. I welcome prayers for his safety, too.
Gail Kittleson