A Writer's Journey

I started this blog 2 1/2 years ago very insecure, newly published with a brand new small press, my first novel out, doubting that I'd ever find an audience for it. My blog connected with other insecure writers, some published, others on their way, many feeling as insecure about publication as I felt about book sales.

Discovering this community helped me feel like a part of something.

Along the way, I've seen blogging friends get contracts with agents and/or publishers. Some chose to self-publish. Some are sticking with the original plan to get the dream agent, to get the big publisher. It's all cool.

Go wherever your heart takes you, there's no right or wrong way. It's not marriage or parenthood, it's book publishing--a career choice, not a life choice with eternal consequences. Your spouse won't leave you, your children won't die or end up in prison because you chose to self-publish or wait for just the right publishing contract.

After two years of sharing writerly journeys, things change. I see a lot happening. Even the publishing industry has changed in amazing ways! And we writers blog about it and make decisions and share our joys and frustrations with each other. Online is where I found my writing community.

Where am I after two years? More active on social media, for one. (In varying degrees--Twitter, Facebook, Google+) A second novel published and the third heading to the editor. Less frustrated about sales. (I'll write the books, the sales will come or not.) Somewhat less awkward about promoting my books.(Still insecure about that part of it.)

I spend less time blogging and more time writing. (It used to be the opposite.)

Sometimes I wonder what the next two years will hold. Truthfully? I have no clue. I'd like to have more books out but other than that....not sure where I see myself in two years. How about you? Do you think you'll still be blogging? Published? Bestselling author? Tired of the whole scene?

B.Miller's Pay it Forward. Best. Contest. Ever. (And I'm copying it.)

When I read B.Miller's post about her contest, I loved her idea to do THIS as a potential prize:

"If you are a writer with published work available for purchase, I will buy your novel/story collection/chapbook, etc., up to a value of $25. I will also read your work and give a review on your chosen website, as well as a review and a plug on my blog, Twitter, and Facebook fan page. I will go to my local library and booksellers and ask that your work be stocked on my local shelves in Greenville, South Carolina. And, if you're willing, I will do a guest feature on my blog for you, complete with interview and links to your media."

Isn't that AWESOMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE AUTHOR/BLOGGER COMMUNITY??

I wrote a post awhile back It Takes a Village to Sell a Book about how supportive this community is to fellow writers. Which is one of the reasons I spend hours I really don't have blogging, commenting, entering contests, and generally supporting this online writing community that I feel proud to belong to. (Well, besides which it is fun.)

And I want to take it a step forward, follow B.Miller's example and join in her pay it forward contest, not just by entering but by JOINING. Meaning I'm hopping on her bandwagon, gravytrain, whatever and offering the same deal here on my blog. Enter over at B. Miller's blog if you haven't already, and now you can enter here, too for TWO PRIZES (soon to be revealed!) THAT SUPPORT THE WRITING COMMUNITY!!

Here are the rules for entry:

Comment on this post and add up your point tally: +1
New follower: +1
Old follower: +2
Bring a friend to follow +2
Tweet about this contest: +2
Follow me on Twitter (@KarenGowen): +2
Blog about this contest: +3
Include this post in your sidebar: +3

My prizes are just a bit different but still supportive of the writing community. Your choice of:

EITHER: I'll purchase a copy of your published book from your website or Amazon and post a review on my blog, on Goodreads with a link to Twitter. (I promise to be fair and focus on the strengths of your work. Sample of  how I review here.)

OR: I will  review and critique your first three chapters of a finished manuscript along with the query letter that you've written to go with it. (Yes, I'm an editor. Offiicially.)

OR: A $15 gift card to Borders (because they support their local authors) or Amazon because, well, just because you may not have a Borders in your town).

So this way I'm supporting both the published and unpublished authors!! Yay! We're all winners!!

OH WAIT THERE'S A BONUS!! Here it is: IF I somehow hit 250 followers by the time this contest closes (June 1), I'll double the prize! Yes, I will purchase a second book plus review, or if second winner chooses, I'll do the review and critique of their first three chapters etc.OR, give the second winner the $15 gift card.

B. Miller's contest goes until June 1 (be sure to go enter if you haven't already) and since I'm shamelessy copying her great ideas, mine will be the same! And I'll leave this post up so you can all remember to join the Pay it Forward Contests!