Hi there! This is the second day of my RRBC Spotlight blog tour. You can find details of all my stops here.
To begin life again, at forty-years-old and disabled, took a lot of guts and perseverance. I was lucky, though—I found something that I feel saved my life. Writing. It helped keep me sane and filled my days, and got my brain active again.
It wasn’t so easy for me to write again, after so many years of abstinence. The self-doubt was way up there. However, I decided that I’d overcome greater difficulties than this, and so I made myself sit and start typing. The ideas flowed freely, and all I really had to do was get myself out of the way.
I have learned that the more I try to deny the doubt, the stronger it becomes. It seems far better to allow it to be there, keep an eye on it, but not totally believe in it. I need to make sure I keep my other eye on the bigger (and truer) picture.
If I had sat and thought about the obstacles I faced following my injury, I wouldn’t have coped. The best thing I did for myself was to just get on with it, and deal with each day, each hour, each minute, one at a time. It was the same with coping with my complete life change, and with embarking upon my writing journey. It’s best if I don’t think about all the what ifs too much.
Danger lies in looking back, just as much as it does in straining to see too far ahead. All the times I received knock backs as a child for my efforts at writing. All the ridicule or plain being ignored. All of my numerous failures. Nope, I didn’t want to dwell on those either.
My years spent meditating and living a Buddhist monastic life are what really saved my bacon. Without that grounding, I know I wouldn’t be here today, doing what I’m doing. My sense of identity wouldn’t be as strong as it is, and I just wouldn’t have the courage to put my work out there. Not only that, but those years gave me great insight into life and people in general, which is all great material I can use in my books!
Had anyone told me two years ago that I would be a published author—as well as an editor and reviewer—I wouldn’t have believed it possible. Which just goes to show that we can never know what’s around the corner. The important thing is that we keep going. That we never give up. And, here I am now, with three books published, and more on the way.
Elemental Earth (Book 1 of The Mysteries)
To begin life again, at forty-years-old and disabled, took a lot of guts and perseverance. I was lucky, though—I found something that I feel saved my life. Writing. It helped keep me sane and filled my days, and got my brain active again.
It wasn’t so easy for me to write again, after so many years of abstinence. The self-doubt was way up there. However, I decided that I’d overcome greater difficulties than this, and so I made myself sit and start typing. The ideas flowed freely, and all I really had to do was get myself out of the way.
I have learned that the more I try to deny the doubt, the stronger it becomes. It seems far better to allow it to be there, keep an eye on it, but not totally believe in it. I need to make sure I keep my other eye on the bigger (and truer) picture.
If I had sat and thought about the obstacles I faced following my injury, I wouldn’t have coped. The best thing I did for myself was to just get on with it, and deal with each day, each hour, each minute, one at a time. It was the same with coping with my complete life change, and with embarking upon my writing journey. It’s best if I don’t think about all the what ifs too much.
Danger lies in looking back, just as much as it does in straining to see too far ahead. All the times I received knock backs as a child for my efforts at writing. All the ridicule or plain being ignored. All of my numerous failures. Nope, I didn’t want to dwell on those either.
My years spent meditating and living a Buddhist monastic life are what really saved my bacon. Without that grounding, I know I wouldn’t be here today, doing what I’m doing. My sense of identity wouldn’t be as strong as it is, and I just wouldn’t have the courage to put my work out there. Not only that, but those years gave me great insight into life and people in general, which is all great material I can use in my books!
Had anyone told me two years ago that I would be a published author—as well as an editor and reviewer—I wouldn’t have believed it possible. Which just goes to show that we can never know what’s around the corner. The important thing is that we keep going. That we never give up. And, here I am now, with three books published, and more on the way.
Elemental Earth (Book 1 of The Mysteries)
Young Adult Fantasy Fiction
“You turned the god of gnomes into a garden ornament?”
Sarah looked closely, but couldn’t tell if her dad was annoyed or amused—perhaps he was both …
Whilst 15 year old Sarah may be struggling to regain her feet, after being ripped from her everyday mundane life and ending up in a whole new dimension, she still knows how to have a bit of fun along the way. The Earth Elemental isn’t the only one whose feathers she manages to ruffle, and it’s only been four days. Meanwhile, her best friend is missing, and big trouble is brewing. She soon has a lot more to worry about than what happened to her phone or iPod, or even how much of an idiot Caleb obviously thinks she is.
Elemental Earth is the first book in The Mysteries series, and is aimed at Young Adults. Even if you’ve already reached an age where the young ones might call you ‘old enough’, if you’re still young at heart then you’re bound to enjoy these books just as much as the next—err—younger adult.
Age aside, perhaps we should be more worried about what further havoc Sarah’s antics might be about to wreak on the universe as we know it? We’d probably all be sleeping a lot more soundly if she’d only stuck to applied maths and the odd pillow fight. But no, sadly the lure of the proverbial rabbit hole proved just a tad too much. And now she’s taken the plunge, there’s no turning back.
Look out for tweets @harmony_kent, and follow my blog: http://harmonykent.co.uk to keep up to date with new book releases, promos, cover reveals and sneak peeks. Feel free to connect—I’d love to hear from you.
Website
Twitter
Facebook
4willspublishing
“You turned the god of gnomes into a garden ornament?”
Sarah looked closely, but couldn’t tell if her dad was annoyed or amused—perhaps he was both …
Whilst 15 year old Sarah may be struggling to regain her feet, after being ripped from her everyday mundane life and ending up in a whole new dimension, she still knows how to have a bit of fun along the way. The Earth Elemental isn’t the only one whose feathers she manages to ruffle, and it’s only been four days. Meanwhile, her best friend is missing, and big trouble is brewing. She soon has a lot more to worry about than what happened to her phone or iPod, or even how much of an idiot Caleb obviously thinks she is.
Elemental Earth is the first book in The Mysteries series, and is aimed at Young Adults. Even if you’ve already reached an age where the young ones might call you ‘old enough’, if you’re still young at heart then you’re bound to enjoy these books just as much as the next—err—younger adult.
Age aside, perhaps we should be more worried about what further havoc Sarah’s antics might be about to wreak on the universe as we know it? We’d probably all be sleeping a lot more soundly if she’d only stuck to applied maths and the odd pillow fight. But no, sadly the lure of the proverbial rabbit hole proved just a tad too much. And now she’s taken the plunge, there’s no turning back.
Look out for tweets @harmony_kent, and follow my blog: http://harmonykent.co.uk to keep up to date with new book releases, promos, cover reveals and sneak peeks. Feel free to connect—I’d love to hear from you.
Website
4willspublishing
I think self doubt is par for the course when you're a writer. I have no doubts at all when I'm writing my books. My doubts appear the second I hit 'publish'. It's then that I think my book is the worst ever written :-) But like yourself, I do it anyway :-)
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational post, Harmony! I think we each have to find what our own unique "zen" is and use it to guide us in making the best decisions, as well as producing the best results we can from what we have to work with. It sounds like you got that all figured out. Kudos for having the courage to even look for it, as most people just continue to struggle through life assuming there is no solution and nothing better out there:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting today, Suzy! Your blog is adorable and I am now following:)
Another great post, Harmony - I certainly can identify with self-doubt issues. As you say, the trick is to work through them and put them in the back seat. Thank you for the reminder about how to live a better way! Have a great tour on your well-deserved Spotlight Week! Thank you for hosting on your lovely blog site, Suzy!
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiration Harmony!!!!! You are a great example to those writers who have self-doubt (and don't we all) Thanks, Suzy for hosting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, so much, everyone! I hope this comment posts, as the one I left first thing doesn't seem to have made it ... I blame my Google + ... LOL ... All of your comments are deeply appreciated :) I'm giggling at what Michelle wrote: as I am exactly the same! I'm fine until it's time to hit "publish" LOL
ReplyDeleteA HUGE thank you to Suzy for hosting me on her awesome blog today :D <3
Harmony, I am so happy for you. You have not let a disability stand in your way and worked through self doubt. Your writing is lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed Elemental Earth and plan on reading more of your work very soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzy for hosting Harmz.
This is great, Harmony. Authors especially need to look forward, not back over their shoulders!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, everyone! It was a real pleasure to host Harmony on Fiction Dreams. It's always lovely to have Rave Reviews authors on here :)
ReplyDeleteI am truly humbled at all of your support, guys! Thank you :)) <3 <3
ReplyDeleteDoubt definitely afflicts us all. Unlike some of you, I constantly have doubts as I write. Some of it seems so right, while other parts are "what the heck?" I think I finally believe in Anelia's and my work after a review from a reader--who wasn't a friend, wasn't on my critique teams, and wasn't another reviewer exchanging reviews. :).
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca! Thanks for stopping by! I am heartened to see that despite your self-doubts, you continue to write :) That is the important thing xx
ReplyDeleteA truly inspiration post. Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteA very inspirational blog post. You're a true gem, Harmony. Thank you for sharing. And thank you to Suzy for hosting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blog site Suzy, thanks for hosting , and great tour Harmond.
ReplyDeleteKeep going...never give up. Such simple, yet powerful] words. Thank you, Harmz! And congrats on your latest book and all your wonderful achievements! Many thanks to Suzy as well for hosting. xoxo :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much to Nich, Beem, Joy, and Dani for stopping by. All of your comments are deeply appreciated :) <3 ... and another HUGE thanks to Suzy for hosting on this lovely blog :)
ReplyDeleteHarmony, I love how everything you say is aimed at encouraging others. What a great way to use your gifts! Suzy, thanks so much for hosting on your adorable site!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully inspiring post!! :) Suzy, thank you so much for hosting Harmony & offering your support!
ReplyDelete