Hey Visionaries! Glad to be back on the blog today! Lots of stuff going on this month, am I right? This Launch Tour is one of my favorite things though because Lily's my friend as I mentioned in Thursday's post!
So, today, Lily has written a guest post for us, so let's dive right in!
Is It Okay to Change Plans?
By Lillian Keith
When I decided to self publish, I did a lot of research. I mean, a lot. I read various articles and listened to experts give advice on how to do it right. And being a perfectionist, I nearly took everything to heart. When I decided to publish my first story, An Apprentice Escapes, I had a clear vision of how the publishing process would go.
However, it quickly became clear that I was actually limited with what I could do. I couldn’t afford a lot of editors, fancy cover designers, and many other things that experts said to do. I ended up having to let go of a lot of what I originally wanted to do and be more realistic with what I could accomplish. I needed to find another route, an alternative so to speak, to reach my publishing goals.
Was all that advice I took in important? Absolutely. I believe that there is value in what these people were saying; after all, their goal is to help indie authors succeed and be the best that they can be.
But if I couldn’t do all those things, did I somehow fail? Would my story not be ‘as good’?
No. There’s a difference between someone who slaps together a ‘book’, picks a random photo to use as a cover, dusts off their hands and calls it a day; versus someone who pours a lot of time and energy and research into making it possible to properly self-publish their book as best they can.
Maybe it won’t be as ‘shiny’ as others; maybe the cover wasn’t done professionally (though it’s still eye-catching); and a host of many other things. But what’s important is that you did the best that you could. You worked hard to make the story the best that it could be. And as long as you stayed true to what you originally intended to write and share with the world, then you succeeded.
Maybe someday, I’ll hire people to either edit, format, or do cover design for me in the future. That’s an in-the-future/work-toward-it kind of goal. But sometimes, it’s okay to go a different route. It’s okay to find something that works for you in this particular season of your writing life. There’s always room to grow and try new things.
If you can look yourself in the mirror and honestly say ‘I did my very best’, then you’ve already succeeded.
Stellar advice, if I do say so. Sometimes our plans have to change and that's not a bad thing. Doing the best with what we have available to us is the important thing!
Have you ever had to make a major change in plans? Have you read any of the other posts from the tour? Check out that info below!
Bless! Kaytlin (Kayti) Phillips
Tour Schedule
Monday (October 9th)
Lillian Keith - Tour Kick-off Post and Countdown Post #1
Tuesday (October 10th)
Once Upon an Ordinary - Illustrator Interview
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #2
Wednesday (October 11th)
Sisters Three - Spotlight/Sneak Peek
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #3
Thursday (October 12)
Writers’ Vision - Spotlight/Guest Post
Issabelle Perry - Sneak Peek
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #4
Jaiden Phillips Art - Guest Post
Friday (October 13th)
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #5
Saturday (October 14)
Bree Pembrook - Giveaway Spotlight
The Pencil Sisters - Mood Boards and Reader Shout-out
Sunday (October 15th - Posting Break)
Monday (October 16th)
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #6
Excavatia - Spotlight, Guest Post, and Sneak Peek
Tuesday (October 17th)
Kristina Hall - Spotlight and Review
Once Upon an Ordinary - Guest Post
Writers’ Vision - Spotlight/Guest Post
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #7
Wednesday (October 18th)
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #8
Thursday (October 19th) Release Day! 🥳🎉
Old Fashion Book Love - Spotlight/Book Review (possible)
Katherine Perry Creator - Author and Illustrator Interview
Lorelei Angelino - Book and Giveaway Spotlight (Pinterest)
Lillian Keith - Countdown Post #9 (End of Giveaway)
Friday (October 20th)
Lillian Keith - Tour Wrap Up, Bonus Content, and a Big Thank You!
Saturday (October 21)
Lillian Keith - Giveaway Winner Announcement