The Key to Creative Courage
My 12th book comes out this summer: Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing.
Facing my Fears
Twelfth. With eleven books behind me, you’d think this marketing stuff would be easy for me. I wish. I am still more comfortable writing a book than marketing it.
But I believe in this book. I want children to read about these people who used their words to change the world. And if that’s going to happen, I need to break through my fears and ask for help.
Every day, I am asking friends to take time to read the book and champion it with their friends.
I am writing to people I’ve never met and asking them if I can appear on their blog.
Here’s the miracle: people say yes. By the end of the day, I’m often in tears because I am so grateful that people I don’t even know would help me.
But there are tough moments, too. Sometimes people say no—people I had hoped would help.
The “no” holds lessons, too.
+An early “no” taught me that my pitch wasn’t quite right—and refining the pitch led me to a “yes.”
+Another “no” reminded me that I needed to approach the right places.
+A third taught me that sometimes people say no, and you’ll never know why.
The Key to Acting Courageously
Writers, it takes courage to write, share, and market your work.
I have discovered the key to overcoming my fear: service. When I remember WHY I am doing this, I can act with courage. Even when I am afraid. Audre Lorde said it like this:
When I picture the young people this book will help, it’s easier to ask.
When I remember that this book is NOT about me, but about giving hope and encouragement to the future police officers, poets, representatives, activists and more—then I can share my message.
When you feel afraid, writers—ask yourself: what is my purpose? Who do I serve?
See if that changes things for you. It did for me.
I need your help.
I still need your help spreading the word.
+Please mark my new book as “to read” on Goodreads and add it to your Amazon wishlist.
+Think about reading and reviewing an eArc of my new book, Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing. If you’re interested, send me an email, and I will get you a copy.
+Finally, if you want to be part of the launch team, let me know.
To creative courage!
Rochelle
For other readers of this post: I had the enormous privilege of reading and advance copy of this book, and I assure you, it is all you might hope for it and more. If you have an outlet on which you can support it, I urge you to do so.
The forty lives featured in this collection will astound and inspire you, and they will have that impact on young people, too.
Thank you, Sandy! I’m so glad to have you in my corner for this book!