by Elaina Lyons

When I first published my novel, I remember asking myself (and others): “What if no one reads it?”

I’m almost positive every author wonders and questions the same thing at one point or another. Putting your creation out into the world is daunting, to say the least. It’s like standing naked in front of a crowd and saying “Judge me!”

But, I asked myself, what’s the alternative? I could have kept the book in the annals of my laptop, a file burning a hole in my hard drive. It isn’t any less of an accomplishment if nobody reads it, after all. I still wrote it. But keeping it hidden felt like doing it a disservice. Here was this thing I created from nothing, and instead of being proud of it and showing it to the world (or however many people would end up seeing it) I was just going to hit ctrl+s and let it sit for years?

Here was this thing I created from nothing, and instead of being proud of it and showing it to the world (or however many people would end up seeing it) I was just going to hit ctrl+s and let it sit for years?

Nah. That didn’t seem right.

Yes, there was a huge chance it would be a massive failure. And I was well aware of that. I was terrified when I published it, and even more terrified when the first few copies sold. But then I started getting positive feedback, and the concern dissipated a tiny bit. (Oh it’s absolutely still there, make no mistake).

But I did it. I put it out there to be judged and critiqued by complete strangers. And you know what? It hasn’t been so bad.

So do the scary thing. Do the brave thing. If you’re proud of something, show it off. You did the work, now own it.

You got this!

To grab a copy of “The Love You Know,” click here.

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