November is proving to be even busier than I had imagined. In an attempt to stay accountable, I’m openly sharing my first NaNoWriMo experience. Since it happens to take place during a crucial moment of a book’s life — the march to publication — I’ve decided to give everyone an update on both. You can catch my NaNoWriMo Intro and Week 1’s Recap.
If you’ve read my recap from last week, you’ll recall that I was in a bit of a mess. I had to step away from the high and lofty goals I had set for NaNo and focus instead on what was most important — my sanity. The Lord had used several people along the way with encouraging words and others letting me know that they were praying for me. I can’t thank ya’ll enough. It really means a lot and it’s a big comfort to me. So I want to kick off this week’s recap with some encouragement, whether you’re facing NaNo this month or other trials and daily struggles, let these words be the balm for your spirit.
“One breath at a time.” ~ Sandra Ardoin. Such a simple message, and, yet, it’s one we have to be reminded of all the time.
Walking into week 2, I carried with me a new theme song: Lay it Down. My prayer for the week was to no longer focus on the hundreds of plans and goals but to lay everything down at the Lord’s feet and follow His plans for me in a moment by moment way.
Writing update: My focus this week had to be on the editing/formatting front. Since both has a way of draining me, I had little time or inspiration for writing.
I put in 2,136 words this week. My total for the month is up to 10,335. Not too bad for a monthly total so far. I’m hoping to see more opportunities for writing over the next couple of weeks.
Publishing update: I’m happy to announce that the Lord has blessed my efforts this week and the paperback format came together nicely. I’m still finishing up this round of editing, but everything is going really well there.
Launch Update: My team has been adding In the Shadow of Thy Wings to their Goodreads accounts. One of my members has already finished and posted her review. You can read Kathleen’s review and add Shadow to your To-Be Read list here.
If you haven’t seen the promotional video for Shadow, then what are you waiting for?! Lol Push play and enjoy!
Praise and Prayer Report: We’re praising God for everything, both large and small, that I was able to accomplish this week. But most specifically, the paperback format. We’ve had a little sickness in the house, but the Lord has held us together and kept us from getting just all-out sick.
Please continue to pray for health, patience, for the Lord to bless our efforts and multiply them, and for a smooth path ahead.
A look at next week: I plan to ordered my first proof copy next week. For those unfamiliar with the process, as a self-publisher, I’m required to order a paperback copy once I have something together so that I can be certain that it’s ready to sell. If anything is wrong, then I simply make corrections and order another proof copy. I can’t wait to see how our first attempt turns out. The cover tends to need adjusting everything time I’ve ever published so I expect to order at least one other proof copy later this month. This will be a major step to completing this publishing process.
I hope to take in more writing time next week since the bulk of my editing is over.
I also have what seems like hundreds of smaller projects that I need to complete before Shadow’s release date, one of those being the last and final read through of the novel.
There’s so much left to do, but I want to both glorify Christ in the midst of it all and just enjoy the chaotic joy that surrounds a novel’s release. The moment will be over before I know it!
Christian Author: A.M. Heath 