Jacqueline P Vincent

When I wrote my first draft for a NaNoWriMo challenge in 2011, I never imagined how difficult and complicated the journey to publication would be.

My draft, Mrs Brown, gathered dust in a drawer for several years, begging me to publish. I ignored it and left it to languish some more and I finally dusted it off and brought it into the light last year. In the meantime I’d written two more drafts, many short pieces and a plethora of poems.

I also didn’t understand the amount of work involved publishing said original draft. This past year I’ve learned about editing, proof-reading, changing storylines, filling out characters, alfa-reading, beta-reading and listening to other opinions. This was all needed to convert a draft to a working manuscript.

Also, as an Indie Author, I learned about Amazon and going wide, mailing lists, and signing-up to one, advertising, website creation, media click throughs, social media stories, author pages, book covers, blurbs, media mock-ups, give-aways and I’ve probably forgotten many other steps I need to have in place before my manuscript meets the outside world.

Last week, when all my ducks lined up, my website up and running, my mailing list ready, the FB ad completed, the sign-up link worked (fingers crossed for reasons unknown to me it didn’t work consistently), FB post written, I pressed the GO button and it worked. The ad and post appeared in the right place. People signed up and received their free story, and I’m super pleased with the result.

My manuscript novel, Mrs Brown, is now available for pre-order. Scary!!

My publishing, earning money from writing, journey is still in its infancy, but I believe I’ve reached base camp Everest. The next part is steep, arduous, probably frustrating and possibly, for the ultimate part, I’ll need sherpas and oxygen. And if you ever see a group of yellow plastic ducks lined up at base camp on Everest, they’re mine. And if they look lonely, you’ll know I’ve ventured up to the summit.

I hope you’ll join me on this amazing journey.