The Birth of a Book
by Marilyn R Wilson
by Marilyn R Wilson
By the
time my kids were teenagers, I thought my pregnancy days were behind me. Not
so. One day I discovered the hormones had returned. I was in my 50's now. Was
it the right choice to embrace pregnancy with all it's inherent risks at this
age. My husband shuddered. He just wanted peace. But the urge would not be
denied.
Okay – time to fess up. This time it wasn't a biological baby, it was my first book. I found my journey to publication was full of tremendous highs and terrible lows. Then one day, months after my book had been released for sale, I suddenly realized there were a lot of similarities between birthing a child and birthing a book. The main difference? This time my gestation period was 18 months long. I couldn't stop laughing.
Okay – time to fess up. This time it wasn't a biological baby, it was my first book. I found my journey to publication was full of tremendous highs and terrible lows. Then one day, months after my book had been released for sale, I suddenly realized there were a lot of similarities between birthing a child and birthing a book. The main difference? This time my gestation period was 18 months long. I couldn't stop laughing.
Both
begin with a decision to try. Getting pregnant and starting to write a book may
come easily or take a lot of outside intervention, but the first step is
trying. That means practice, practice,
practice. You need to have a bit of
knowledge on “how to” – the birds and
the bees on one hand, the basics of English usage on the other. If months pass with no progress, worry sets
in and it's time to consult a specialist. For pregnancy you head off to the
doctor to explore medical options. For writing, you join workshops or work with
a publisher.
Then
comes the happy news! There is a baby coming who is getting bigger every day
(the story starts to emerge – an embryo to build on). Slowly your pregnancy
bump gets bigger (the number of chapters completed increases). Then you hit a
snag such as gestational diabetes and you worry something will happen (dreaded
writer's block raises it's ugly head and has you questioning your abilities).
There are days of pure joy - but just as many of worry. You rejoice in feeling
your baby kick (your book nearing completion), but dread the weekly doctor
visit to diagnose and deal with any problems (feedback from your editor with
more re-writes).
Finally your labour begins. Sometimes it flows naturally, other times intervention is needed - forceps, induced labour, c-section. For my book, that meant last minute changes from those I interviewed to make the chapters more accurate, difficulty getting the final bits of information I needed to finish and family demands that allowed little time to focus. You're almost across that illusive finish line. Why can't you get there?
Finally your labour begins. Sometimes it flows naturally, other times intervention is needed - forceps, induced labour, c-section. For my book, that meant last minute changes from those I interviewed to make the chapters more accurate, difficulty getting the final bits of information I needed to finish and family demands that allowed little time to focus. You're almost across that illusive finish line. Why can't you get there?
Both
pregnancy and writing have the same wonderful moment arrive. You are handed a
beautiful new baby (book) – your pride and joy. It's time to celebrate. The
hard work is done - RIGHT? Much to my surprise, this was not true in either
case. My journey had only just begun. There was a child to raise (a book to
market and promote). There were many high and low moments to walk through.
Just like
when I was handed each of my three babies, I was overwhelmed with emotion the
day I held my first book. But like raising a child, the journey was much more
complicated than I ever imagined. Would I do it again? Absolutely. There is no
denying the hormones that are pushing me to birth another book.
Get inspired to step out of your box and embrace your potential. From the corporate world, to the arts, to working with the disenfranchised, the message is clear: there is no such thing as a normal way to live your life and no one right solution to any problem. Selected from over a hundred interviews, the stories shared here open a window on the journeys of seven women and three men who have charted their own paths, including Ruthie Davis--top US luxury shoe designer and the winner of the 2014 AAFA Footwear Designer of the Year award; and Geir Ness whose perfume is a staple in Nordstrom, Disney World, and on Disney Cruise Lines.
Enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes into the unique ways these individuals have chosen to deal with life's challenges and how they define success in their careers.
Enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes into the unique ways these individuals have chosen to deal with life's challenges and how they define success in their careers.
Meet the Author:
Marilyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer and speaker with a passion for interviewing. Her career as a writer began in an unusual way, by answering a Craigslist ad. It was while conducting her first interview the world shifted - she had found her passion. Since 2006, she has interviewed over 150 people from as near as her hometown of Vancouver, Canada, and as far away as South Africa.
Whether through a random encounter on the New York subway or via a one-on-one interview with an internationally recognized artist, the goal is the same-to give wings to the unique journeys of inspiring individuals. This goal first led the author to co-launch a successful, innovative magazine focused on professionals working in the fashion industry paired with photography and illustrations by local artists. Then in 2015, Wilson took her passion to a new audience with the release of her first book, the first in a series featuring the lives of real people living real lives.
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