Six Reasons Why Writing a Book is One of the Craziest Things You'll Ever Do!


I think it's finally time for a little reveal of one project that I've been working on feverishly for the past month. In November, while on my teaching trip to England I was approached by a publishing company to work on a paper crafting book. To say I was thrilled was an understatement. Still in the fog of out-of-the-country travel, I could hardly believe that what I was reading was real.

A few months later, the Editor and I made contact and we discussed the plan for the book and her vision and my vision and how we could combine the two. But it wasn't until early January that I finally got the go-ahead to start working on the book.

I have always dreamed of having my own book, but I didn't quite realize what I was getting myself into until I began the work involved in getting it ready.

Six Reasons Why Writing a Book Will Be One of the Craziest Things You'll Do:

#1 Forget Sleeping: I've confessed before that I'm an early bird when it comes to waking up and working. Because this project had to come after my full-time job, I was pulling some VERY long days and some VERY late nights. I do not do well without sleep (imagine a zombie-like state where all I crave is "brains" to keep the creative juices flowing). One weekend I worked from before 5 a.m. to after 11 p.m. at night on items for the book. If only I could play catch-up with my sleep, I think my body could use it!


#2 Talk about Doubt: A million times a day all this doubt will come rushing into your mind, trying to convince you that you aren't worth having your own book, that you don't have anything new to bring to the table, and that no one will want to read it. It takes all you have to crush that evil little voice inside your head and keep going.

#3 You will Never See the Floor of Your Creative Space Again: Because I had to work with a deadline of just one month, I had a choice between cleaning up or creating. Of course I chose creating, but what ends up happening is that everything begins to pile up and there's nowhere for it to go. Sadly, your space becomes more of a tribute to the "Hoarders" television show than an inspirational, creative space.

#4 Your Family Will Forget You Exist: Because of the long hours and the short deadline, you will spend every spare moment in your office working on the book. That means coming out to kiss the kids good-bye before they leave for school, then taking a quick break to pick them up from school, and then finally kissing them after family prayers at night as they head off to bed. While I always make my family a priority, you really will have to spend loads of time away from them putting the book together. Sometimes they mind, and sometimes they think it's great that Mom isn't always hovering over their shoulder.

#5 You Live by the Numbers: As you map out the contents of your book, you'll start to measure your success in numbers: 5 projects done, 20+ more to go and so on. You'll start talking about the hours of sleep you've missed, the hours you have to spend away from the book, the number of times you reworked a project to get it just right, and you'll definitely keep a checklist of items you need to get, do, and finish. That finish line number is a big deal and the day you cross it off is like finishing a marathon (minus the cheering crowds).

#6 The Madness is Contagious: As soon as you finish up the majority of the book and settle into writing, editing, and the nitty gritty parts of getting the book to print, you'll actually start thinking about the next big project. Is it not enough that you've nearly collapsed from the stress, the worry, and even the creativity? I don't know what it is, but you'll find your mind racing onto the next big adventure and you'll wonder if you just aren't more crazy than you ever realized.

While writing a book is all kinds of crazy, it is also a very obviously exciting, creatively fruitful time.

During the month of January, I realized that I DO have ideas to share and things I think people will want to read. I watched my family gather round me and prop me up, doing laundry, cleaning, helping each other with homework, and just generally trying to get along. I realized that sometimes a dream can become a reality with lots of hard work (and some blood, sweat, and even a few breakdowns and tears).

And while if you asked me today, if I want to start another book right now I'd probably look at you like YOU were the crazy one; but I would also start thinking about what I could bring to this new project. Like I said, creativity is contagious; and I can't wait to share this new book with you!

As the book moves through publication, I'll keep you updated so you know how you can get it and where you can get it. While I can't yet reveal more details about the book, I did want to share this part of my journey with you. It's been a crazy, exhausting, and amazing month; but it's about to get very real and very exciting!

Now onto the next crazy thing!

28 comments

  1. Wow!! Congratulations Jen!!! You well deserve to have a book of your own! Can't wait to see what your final product will look like!

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  2. AWESOME!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! xo

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  3. That's so awesome Jen, Congrats!!

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  4. Congrats! I can't wait to see it!

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  5. I know you've poured your heart and soul into this, Jen and it will be amazing. Congratulations!

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  6. That is such exciting news!! Can't wait to see the end result!

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  7. That is fantastic news Jen, very well deserved. Can't wait to read it :)

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  8. I'm excited to see what you've come up with.

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  9. COngratulations Jennifer!!! that is soooo very awesome :)

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  10. SO thrilled for you Jen! Congratulations!!

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  11. How fun! Thanks for being real with us! Looking forward to it!

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  12. That is so awesome! Huge congrats! I can't wait to see it!

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  13. Anonymous8:50 AM

    Congratulations, Jen! Thrilled for you and excited for those of us who will definitely want to buy it once it's released!

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  14. Anonymous9:25 AM

    how FUN, it's going to be great, I just know it! What an accomplishment! I don't think I could ever write a book!

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  15. Congratulations! I definitely look forward to the release of your new baby. :)

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  16. Congratulations! I look forward to buying it; I know it's great.

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  17. Congratulations! That's so cool and I can't wait to see it! :)

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  18. Congratulations! You have sold a copy to me, can't wait to see!

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  19. Anonymous6:26 PM

    Congrats Jen, you so deserve this opportunity because you DO have so much to share and so much talent!!!.

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  20. That's great! It is already on my buy list! Congratulations - what a great accomplishment.

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  21. Anonymous8:14 PM

    It's about time! YOU are so talented and I'm so happy for you :)

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  22. Congratulations! I can't imagine living such an awesome experience. You are one lucky girl! :o)

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  23. Oh, now you tell me! I was approached last year to write our church history book. Although I don't have a publisher setting deadlines, I'm in a time crunch anyway because there are very few people left who can share details about our early church details, and they're all old, if you get what I'm saying! Since I'm all over everything you create, I'm sure your book will grace my library as well! Congratulations!

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  24. Congratulations Jen! I'm so excited for you and you are most certainly deserving of such a thing!
    Melissa

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  25. that is so awesome, congrats!!

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  26. Will it be available as ebook ? (because of international shipping). I'm sure it will be a wonderful book, congrats ! Love your work.

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  27. Christina H.8:09 AM

    Congratulations!! Can't wait to get a copy!

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