10. The moment I said “yes” to publishing Aether Guardian

For months I wanted to publish Aether Guardian - but for real this time. It had always been a pipe dream that I'd be able to do it one day, but I never seriously considered it as a possibility. On top of that, I felt guilty for wanting to publish it. It wasn't going to be free. I wanted it to be legit and excellent quality - and for that it takes time, energy, and a means to cover expenses.

It wasn't so much of a "do I have the ability to do this?" It was always "will I allow myself to do this?" Can I give myself permission to actually follow through with a project that I love and see it to the end? It's going to take several months of long hours, weeks of editing, website design, social media strategy planning, and a host of other behind the scenes stuff!

But after a conversation with Jordyn and her encouragement to start the real process of publishing, we both settled on the hope that by the end of 2025, we'd see the final product as a published book!

Sweet! I've got the OK! I've allowed myself to do this... What's step one?

Uhhh. Hmmm. I don't know. I never thought I would get this far.

Well making sure my manuscript is tight is probably a good start! Good thing I've already started that! Well, it's actually time to start contacting people, doing my research, and taking tangible steps and clicking that final "submit" button.

Time to come up with a game plan! I want this to be good and I want it to succeed. Don't get me wrong, I would love for this book to do great, but my main goal is to be able to share this story with others and have them enjoy it as much as I did. If it could do good enough to just break even so I can start on my next book - Awesome! Mission accomplished!

But that needs a website to promote. Social media planning and posts to pique people's interests. A team to help me refine the final draft. An editor to tear it apart and build it back up again. A cover artist too!

Will eight months be enough? Will I be able to find anyone who would be interested in reading it? When should I start the whole process anyway? How much time is this going to take? Do I even have the time!?

Once I handed this draft off to the editor, there was no turning back. Once I take this step, I had to be all in.

The draft was coming together and when I had finally finished it, it was out of my hands. It was time.

I was excited and terrified all at once. I had a short break like I mentioned last week, but this time I knew what came after was going to have to be intentional.

No turning back now!