The Ups and Downs of Writing a Book
I had the opportunity yesterday to participate in the panel of the television news show Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell to talk about the Lindsay Lohan case. I found out about the opportunity about two hours before I appeared. I was waiting for a client to arrive and I got the call. I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity because for almost a year now I have been consumed with the launch of my book this September, “The Law of Sobriety: Attracting Positive Energy for a Powerful Recovery.” So there I was frantically putting on make-up, hoping I had something to wear since I hadn’t been to the dry cleaners in a month. My hair was dirty and I was not prepared, but had to make it happen. This is just one example of resilience one must have if one wants to write a book. There are many ups and downs to the process. The ups being the voice mail I got from the editor that the publishing co. had decided it was a go and they liked my proposal. This was after sending the publisher a few other proposals that had been turned down, which was discouraging, but I never gave up. I wasn’t necessarily looking to write a book at the time. I was filming Celebrity Rehab and hired a publicist to get a little extra media exposure and under some very unique circumstances, made a connection with the publisher and before I knew it, I was writing a book proposal.
Then there were the negotiations of a book deal, which I knew nothing about. I hired an entertainment attorney because this was new territory. This was extremely stressful because once again, I had no idea what a good book deal was or wasn’t. After the contract was signed, I had to find a ghost writer. The ghost writer helps organize the concepts of a book. She edits, does research, and tightens up the chapters of the book. In some cases, although not mine, they actually write the book. I had to find a ghost writer who would work within my budget, because, after all, I was a first time author. I was blessed to find an amazing ghost writer and we had roughly three months to get the book done. We made all our deadlines and at the same time, I was running a private practice seeing approximately 25 clients a week, working at a rehab in Malibu, making telephone calls to clients, networking, marketing my practice, writing a weekly blog, and trying to find time to spend with family and friends. It wasn’t what I pictured an author does. For instance, Wayne Dyer, writes most of his books on the shores of Hawaii. He can focus solely on his writing because that is his sole profession.
After the book was finished, there was the final editing that needed to be done, photos to take for the book, and writing for two more blogs to create a buzz about the book. I also started a Facebook Fan Page and a Twitter page to also get the word out. Shortly after that, a third blog was added where I write five more blogs a week, in addition to the two I write strictly for the promotion of the book.
I am not writing this to complain, but writing this particular blog has been very therapeutic for me. I wanted those who have ever dreamed of writing a book to know what type of commitment it takes, especially for first time writers. There will be many decisions to be made and sometimes, you truly don’t know if you are making the right ones. You will work with many different personalities from publicists, to editors, to computer personnel, to agents, and the list goes on. Everyone is under pressure and has deadlines, and in today’s economy some of these individuals are doing the job of more than one person.
Although this blog is not necessarily a blog related to addictions, I believe the many tools I have learned from being in this field is what has gotten me through most of the year. The most important thing I have learned in this process is that I am truly powerless. I am not powerless over my persistence, but I can’t expect others to be on the same pace as I am. Everyone is doing the very best they can. The other lesson I have learned is I am powerless over the outcome. I don’t know if my book will be a best seller or not, and actually, I have spent very little time thinking about that. If I did, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to get out of my own way to make all of this happen. I have practiced gratitude, as well, for all the blessings I have, but most of all, thank god for the wisdom of the 12 step program I have in my back pocket. Without it, I would have been one irritable and discontent person. Although I do admit I have had a few of those days. The one that has helped me the most is to just “put one foot in front of the other and stay out of the results.” Amen.
Tags: "post-traumatic stress disorder", "recovery", "substance use disorders", "trauma", addict, Addiction, adolescent agoura hills westlake village calabasas malibu psychotherapist, Celebrity Rehab, law of sobriety, life coach, marriage counselor
Thanks so much for this blog. I have an idea a book that I have been working for some time now; but I don’t know where to start what do you suggest?
Thanks for an honest and truthful post, the like of which is surprisingly rare and all the more valuable for it. Regards, John.
Well, really happy to read this article, I have bookmarked your website and will turn back to read your new articles.
Thank you for such a good blog. It was what I looked for.
interesting post, pretty much covered it all for me, thanks. poker
First of all, I believe this post resonates with much of what I have been thinking about for a good number of weeks. On the one hand, I concur with everything you are saying yet on the opposite viewpoint, can we not maybe try to interpret such circumstances from the point of view of the people involved, rather than simply seeing it from our own sheltered perspective. In whatever place on this earth you will see things you like, and things you are not too keen on. The crucial point of this is to simply be calm and accept it as it is and not to be sucked in to all the hype that envelopes it. I truly reckon in this individual situation, that is precisely what has occurred, though I may possibly be wrong. I would like very much to get others’ opinions on this issue. I truly reckon that Ms Lohan has been abused by both the people around her and also journalists, paparazzi etc. They have to leave her in peace.
I found your site via search engine a few moments ago, and luckily, this is it I was looking for the last weeks, thanks
Good topic for making an effective dissertation. . . . . .
I love to learning more on this topic if possible, as you gain expertise, will you update your blog with more information?
How-do-you-do, just needed you to know I have added your site to my Google bookmarks because of your extraordinary blog layout. But seriously, I think your site has one of the freshest theme I’ve came across. It really helps make reading your blog a lot easier.
There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That?s a great point to bring up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you bring up where the most important thing will be
I have been visiting variousblogs for my dissertation study. I have found your blog to be fairlybeneficial. Keep updating your blog with usefulinformation… Regards
found this article bookmarked and I very much liked it. I will definately bookmark it as well and also check your other articles tonight.
Thanks so much for this wonderful article; this is the kind of thing that keeps me though out the day. I’ve been searching around for your blog after I heard about them from a buddy and was thrilled when I was able to find it after searching for some time. Being a avid blogger, I’m pleased to see others taking initiative and contributing to the community. I just wanted to comment to show my appreciation for your post as it’s very encouraging, and many writers do not get the credit they deserve. I am sure I’ll be back and will send some of my friends.
Thanks for the sharing really usefull. I would like to bookmark this site.
Thank you in support of getting the time to talk about this, I think strongly about that and love learning a lot more on this subject. If achievable, when you acquire expertise, would you mind updating your blog with additional facts? It is extremely very helpful.
“I am speechless. This is often a outstanding website and extremely participating as well. Wonderful work! That’s not seriously significantly returning from an amateur publisher like me, but it’s all I could say after diving into your posts. Good grammar and vocabulary. In contrast to other weblogs. You actually know what you’re speaking about very. So a lot that you simply produced me want to study more. Your blog page has grow to be a stepping stone for me, my fellow blogger. Thanks for that detailed quest. I seriously enjoyed the 8 posts that We have read so a lot.
Everyone can disagree with me but season 1 was the worst seasons ever!