LCN 077: Book Covers, Rosh Hashanah, the Creative Process, Failure, & Persistence

This episode is all about failure, and starting again, and persistence, and the importance of allowing yourself to make crap, even though nobody ever wants to.

It features more on the book publishing adventure (not all of it pretty!), and a visit to a synagogue for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. But trust me, even if you have no interest in publishing a book, and no interest in the Jewish High Holy Days, this episode will resonate for you. 

Have a listen!

The best thing about self-publishing a book is that YOU have total control.

Instead of taking two years to hit the shelves, you can sell your book immediately. And instead of the publisher having control over decisions like the interior design and the cover design, YOU get to make those decisions.

The worst thing about self-publishing a book is that YOU have total control.

You have to make all those decisions.

Last week I put up a poll for my subscribers to vote on their favorite cover. Then I had some feedback from someone whose opinion I trust, who felt that combining the photo of me with my arms outstretched above my head with my doodle artwork made the book look… self-published.

Of course, it is self-published, but I knew what she meant. The thing is, not only do I want this book to reach the people who need it, but I also want to be able to use it as a calling card to help me get work. As in speaking gigs and even corporate workshops.

And the covers on my poll, my advisor felt, would not position me well for that second piece of the goal.

Sigh…

So it was back to the drawing board for me.

Meanwhile, as the text has evolved (and btw, the manuscript is now with my editor, who is making line edits, which she should have back to me by Friday, so it is basically done!), the metaphor of the Creative Sandbox Way as a path has become more prominent, and my subtitle, Cultivating Happiness Through Creative Play, is not sitting right with me.

Cultivating is a gardening metaphor, and what I need is more of a journey or road metaphor.

So I’m rethinking subtitles as well as cover designs! And honestly, it is making me crazy!

That’s what’s up with that. I will be holding another cover poll sometime soon, so be sure to subscribe if you want to vote!

Meanwhile, I wanted to share a recent experience, because it relates to everything I talk about.

It has to do with leading Rosh Hashanah services for my synagogue on Monday, which is something I’ve been doing for over twenty years.

What does this have to do with living a full-color creative life? Have a listen, and I’ll tell you!

Resources In this Episode

Opt in to get an Insider-only backstage view while I finish writing, illustrating, and publishing my book, The Creative Sandbox Way: Cultivating Happiness Through Creative Play.

Apply to be on my Launch Team, and get a free advance review PDF of the book, your name mentioned in the acknowledgements, and more.

Thanks for Listening!

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Now go get creating!

PS — Pssst! Know someone who might benefit from seeing this today? Pass it on!

PPS — I am SUPER excited that I’m teaching on Life Book 2017 next year! And registration is NOW OPEN. Click here to check out the teacher line up and sign up.