Several careers ago, I was an event planner. I planned corporate meetings, fundraisers, team building activities, volunteer programs, even a couple of art shows and talent night skits. It was a fun job with lots of perks – no two days the same, lots of energy and excited participants, never a dull day at the office.

BUT. There was always a moment in the planning where I had to shift from all the things I *could* do, to deciding what I was *going* to do. And there was always a small period of grieving for the possibilities that weren’t going to happen.

Turns out it’s the same with planning my debut launch. There are so many things I *could* do, but with four months to go, it is time to focus on what I’m *going* do.

The Shift

Last week I listened in to a webinar hosted by the excellent Jane Friedman (a pillar of the writing community, and also a University of Evansville alum – pep and vim, Purple Aces!). She moderated a discussion with Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey -who, in addition to their individually published books, publish together as Ali Brady- about working with a publicist. I tuned in, not because I planned to hire a publicist (good thing, as I learned you are supposed to do that a year in advance of publication), but because I never say no to free education. And boy, am I glad I tuned in. After a great discussion of the difference between marketing and publicity (I didn’t realize there was a difference), Jane asked a question that brought all of my four-month feelings to a head.

The question was: “How are you defining success for this launch?”

Now, I have been thinking for months about what types of events I want to do and setting aside full days for research marketing; but what I had not considered were the three little words “for this launch.” It stopped me. Because I have been overwhelmed by thinking about everything I want to do as an author. I mean, I’m in this writing thing for the long haul, and I want to do ALL the things. But “for this launch” is a different context. I’m a debut author at the beginning of my career. A successful launch for me for this book at this time, is what I need to be considering.

To quote my buddy Keanu Reeves: “Whoa.”

(Just kidding. I don’t know Keanu Reeves. But he messages me a lot on Instagram.)

So What Now?

When I started writing, success was getting from Chapter 1 to The End. When I finished writing, success was signing my publishing contract. Now that I’ve signed the contract, the success is introducing my book into the world.

Success for me FOR THIS LAUNCH is sharing this book that I love with people I love. It’s showing my kids -and myself- that there are many roads to achieving your goals and that its never too late to try for something new. Success is having a big, fun launch party and seeing my book displayed in my favorite bookstore. It’s finding out people enjoy my story. It’s learning that how I string words together connects me to others. It’s meeting new people and connecting over shared experiences.  

“FOR THIS LAUNCH” is how I am shifting from *could* to *will*. It’s how I decide what I can do and what I can let go of. The path is getting narrower, but the destination is becoming clearer.

Thanks for coming on the journey with me! I am glad you are here.