NetGalley Blues by Barbara Rachel (& Barbara Chalom)

Generally speaking, I am a person of caution. 

I plan, I schedule, I research. 

Sure, I ride the occasional roller coaster, but I don't throw caution to the wind. Yet, that is what I've done by writing a book and asking for feedback.

Promoting a book while juggling a full-time career, staying present for my family, and writing a second book has been a life-changing experience. I don't know how well I'm executing it all--but I'm trying. 

Here's the thing about this. The late nights. The research. Chasing down feedback from others over email. The --just-one-more-part-and-I-will-go-to-sleep--all of that goes into the book. And I still forget to dot an "i" or cross a "t." I forget the end of sentence punctuation. I've been through that first novel dozens and dozens of times looking for errors. At some point I had to draw the line and decide that enough was going to have to be enough. Let it go.

Then there are the reviews. Most reviews have been positive, and that is nice to here. But constructive criticism is rare (yet so appreciated). I had to learn some things about me: I think in full words and not contractions. So, I write that way. Some people DNF'd the first version of my book because the lack of contractions made them feel insane. (That's a quote, by the way.) The thing is--that's how I think, and I wasn't even aware of it.

I had to learn to write dialogue in my characters voices and in a less robotic way than I apparently think. I had to think through my universe and edit for timelines, continuity. So many things. I've had to learn to format, the bane of my ADHD existence.

Some people gave constructive feedback that I have noted and hope to carry into my next book. 

No matter how much I fretted and worked, some people hated my book. I'm talking went out of their way to give it 1 star, wished there was a way to give 0 stars and tell me how they really felt. It's a bitter pill. Some people are just mean. I mean they want to sound smart and snarky more than they want to be kind or constructive. No, I'm not surprised. It still was hard for me, but in the end, it's all worth it.

The thing is this: I wrote Alarm Fatigue as something for myself and my loved ones. Maybe a vanity project. But some people loved my writing and the story I told and so I wanted to get it out there. Let more people have a chance to digest it. There's no way to do that without some risk.

Was it worth it? Yes. I never could have admitted before 2024 I wanted to be a writer. I would never choose it as a profession--too risky. But I'm so thankful I wrote that book. I loved the characters ang getting to know them. I really enjoyed how they had a journey, and I was able to put it out into the world. There is nothing quite like it. 

Apparently, I enjoyed it so much, I can't wait to do it again. Not only do I have something in the works, but I'm also thrilled to show how much I've grown as a writer. (See what I did there? contractions, IYKYK.)

Here's to 2025. Another year. Another book. Another group of characters with a story to tell.