THINK before you hit "publish"

Being a savvy Internet user, I know that Feedburner "provides custom RSS feeds and management tools to bloggers, podcasters, and other web-based content publishers." (I found that definition on Wikipedia) This is a very good thing if one wants to reach a vast readership, which I do. So, after much trial and error, I finally figured out how to use Feedburner to forward my blogs to various Websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and BlogCatalog.

This means millions of potential readers—500 million on Facebook alone! Is that fantastic or what? Well, on one hand, it is every blogger's dream to have such a huge audience. But on the other hand, consider "or what."

Let's say something is driving me crazy—the way Congress is behaving, perhaps. That is definitely one of my favorite subjects for a rant. So, I write a scathing post, check the spelling and punctuation, and hit the publish button. Immediately, millions upon millions of people will know I am not happy with Congress right now. But what exactly did I say?

I view the blog post and must admit I came on a little strong. Maybe I could soften it a bit. Well, no, I can't. It's too late to rethink my pearls of wisdom when they are instantaneously soaring through cyberspace. They are out there, published, and very public.

Whoops. Maybe I should put a little note to self on my computer. It will simply ask "Do you really want 500 million people to read this?" No? Then, do not under any circumstances hit the publish button!

Measuring Success by the Numbers

This was the last class of the course I teach on how to write, publish, and promote a nonfiction book. We had a speaker, a discussion about marketing, a graduation party, and diplomas (customized bookmarks)—a tradition I steadfastly adhere to every semester.

It was a small class—only eight people—but most of them showed up every week. Only one person dropped out. Some never wrote a word, but two have nearly finished their proposals. I was feeling a bit disheartened until I realized that two out of eight equals 25 percent of the class!

I have always maintained that if I could influence even one student, I would consider a class a success. That means I achieved 200 percent of my goal. It doesn't take a math genius to see that as a very positive outcome.

Savoring Success

After six months of working toward this moment, a carton of 85 copies of Words To Live By has finally arrived. Six months to write, produce, and publish a book, albeit a little book, should be source of satisfaction and pride. When I opened that box, I should been incredibly happy. My friend, Felicia was so excited when she received her newly published books, she called her family and all her friends to announce their arrival. I, on the other hand, was pretty low key. I called my sister, who was also my editor, and e-mailed my daughters.

What's wrong with this picture? I have been pondering my lack excitement for several days. I love my new book. It's beautiful, it's interesting, it was fun to write, and the few people who have read it said they liked it very much. It's not my first book, but it is my most personal. It's a tight little memoir about my career as a writer. I'm told it is inspirational, although that was not my original intention.

I had forgotten the moment of letdown that comes when I finish working on a book. For me, the joy is in the writing, not in having written. I don't think that's typical. Many writers are thrilled to be finished with all that work. I always feel a sense of loss when the creative part of the process is over. I go into a funk, which is part of my transition process before I begin something new.

It helps me to be reminded of what is happening; but now it's time to begin the next phase of the process, which is serious marketing. Before I begin, though, I plan to take today to bask in my accomplishment.