My friend and writing sister Nichelle Tramble Spellman suggested my writing group come up with a word to focus on for the year.  I chose “surrender. “  I learned after please please please was published that I have no real control over how my books will do or what reviewers will say.  We can think this in theory, but it’s something different when you’re reading reviews on Amazon or walking into a bookstore and seeing that your book is just one of MANY books on the shelves.  It’s probably like letting your child go off into the world.  In a word, it was stressful.

Now that years have passed since please please please I have a new attitude.  I can do my best to promote my books, but at a certain point, it doesn’t feel all that healthy to obsess over sales or take a bad review as though it’s an attack on my personal character. I’m starting to think that novels are a gift, and the user can do with them what they will.  I do hope people like shake down the stars, but I also plan on letting go of the outcome and all the other stuff out of my control as much as I can.

We’ll see how I do.

What’s what your word?

p.s. LOVED this video, and she says it so much better than I do…

oprah winfrey’s thoughts on what it means to surrender