10.45 November Dispatches!
I send out a newsletter every month with information about what I’m up to. It’s fun and short and I’d like to try and interest more people to join. For the next few months, I’m going to post what I wrote in the newsletter the week after it’s sent out. You can have a look and see if this is something you might want to appear in your inbox every month. Scroll to the bottom to sign up.
One of the best things about putting together a large-scale project such as our Stories We Don't Tell book is when it's finished. I don't mean this as a negative thing. I'm not pooh-poohing the experience in any way. I just mean that when you've put just about every ounce of whatever you got into something, and you still needed to find the strength to go just a bit further, when it's all done, a part of you does rejoice.
Because also, it's now out in the world. You can't change it, make it better, end it differently. Nothing. It will exist forever in the form that it originated in. For better or for worse. I remember getting to the end of my first book, and just wanting to put it out. My editor wanted to take the time to go through the book one more time. But I had launch event plans and marketing plans! She then said that that might all be great, but in the end, once you put it out, you can't take it back again. She was right.
I think, at least for me, that there is a certain amount of editing-fatigue that sets in with a book. Don't get me wrong, I love the process, but even me, someone blessed with infinite patience (yeah, right) comes to the end of his rope at some point.
Once the book is out, something else happens. I warned my friend and collaborator Stefan about it. He seems fine, though. Ah, to be young again. When we were reaching the end of the publishing and our string of launch events, I told him that after it's all done, there might be a sense of loss, or a void. Once you let go of something big, something you've been thinking about every day for months on end, something you've put so much of yourself into, there might be a feeling like you're missing something.
Like I said, he seems fine. Me? I've been walking around the past week or two feeling pretty antsy, all amped up, not really sure what to do with myself. I can't relax and it's been hard to sleep and when I wake up in the morning I feel like I've got a hangover even though I hadn't a sip of alcohol the previous night.
The feeling will pass, it always does. I find something else to concentrate on, something to occupy my mind. Maybe there's a lesson here to think about? Maybe I should learn to relax more? Probably not, what's next?
Some big huge enormous thank you's to all the people involved with the Stories We Don't Tell book. Print or ebooks can be bought at most online retailers. And did you know that all profits from the book will be going to three charities:
Native Women in the Arts: Not-for-profit organization for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women who share the common interest of art, culture, community and the advancement of Indigenous peoples.
The Red Door Family Shelter: Since 1982, the Red Door has provided emergency shelter and support for women who are fleeing violence at home, families who are evicted, refugees, or young mothers who may have nowhere to go.
StoryPlanet: A non profit organization dedicated to amplifying voices and improving literacy skills through non-traditional creative learning experiences with children and youth in under-resourced schools and communities. They believe that empowering young people to share their stories, and respect the voices of others, will create a more empathic and inclusive world.
So, not only do you get a lot of great stories, you're also helping others. I mean, how does it get any better than that? Use the links below to find out all kinds of things about the book.
You're all the best!
Paul
