The truth about publishing a book
Oh, hi friends!
Three months ago today, Do It For Yourself was released.
I wrote this motivational journal with Subliming’s Tessa Forrest hoping that it would help guide people through their creative and work projects. Launch day was a bright spot in a fuzzy year. Here was something real, something to share.
I haven’t written much about it since for a few reasons: It was immediately backordered; it’s hard to talk about something that isn’t available! Some people waited months to get a copy even though they ordered it on release day. I’ve sent a lot of stressed-face emojis.
But the backorder was OK, in the end. It allowed me to be grateful for people being so patient. And I’ve had to adjust my own expectations and patience levels, too. Thanks to a few reprints, it’s finally available again, including in stores at Target (at my hometown Target, no less, where I spent years of my life!).
Oh yes, and because of a little issue at the printer, there are about 9,000 copies floating around that have a PURPLE cover! (That’s what happens when a Pantone swatch gets switched…) LOL SRSLY. But you know what? That’s OK, too. Because it has to be OK. Let’s call it a limited edition! Collect ‘em all!
There are few things in life we can control, and it’s always better to simply focus on the ones we can.
To that end, you control your time and effort and energy (and money!). I’m very conscious of that and always want to make sure I am delivering something that gives you value for the moment you find yourself in.
So if you’re feeling the need for a boost — whether that’s finding a new project, sorting out your feelings about the last one, working through some kind of roadblock, or just a general “how am I doing” check-in — I hope you might find some inspiration inside this book. Can I also humbly say it’ll make a nice holiday or New Year’s present? (I, um, haven’t bought a single Christmas present yet this year…)
Below are a few places to buy a copy. And thank you if you’re one of the many friends and strangers who already did so — knowing it’s in your hands has helped close the loop ever-so-slightly on this project, and I can only hope that you find it useful as we all navigate this time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
“We’re trying to control where people’s eyes go, so they don’t end up looking at stuff that’s just going to confuse them. Which is the simplest way to describe what directing is: ‘How do I get them to look where I need them to look?’”
From this profile of David Fincher, who’s as meticulous, exacting (and difficult) as you might imagine. I haven’t watched his new film Mank yet but am planning to soon.
This comment struck me. I’d never thought of directing in this way, but when it comes to action, conflict, characters, blocking (where the actors are standing), and dialogue…isn’t it the truth? How to simplify what the eye sees so that your vision for the project is crystal-clear.
The same question might be asked of any other kind of art: “How do I get them to look where I need them to look?” It all comes back to clarity.
This Absolutely Killed Me
By cartoonist Ellis Rosen, follow him on Instagram. (Here is the original post.)
I have a feeling I’m going to think about this cartoon every day until March?? I, too, am a blanket person.
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
You can also support my work by checking out my new motivational journal, Do It For Yourself, designed to guide you through your creative and work projects.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara