It has been a long time coming, but Mara Prose is finally taking off in ways that I never imagined. At the beginning of this journey, I lacked the focus, determination and drive that I have now. Each day that passes, I find myself closer and closer to my dreams of being a published author. As sweet as this endeavor now is, it is certainly not without its challenges.

For one, I find the actual writing process arduous. My ideas tend to flow in abundance and I just can’t seem to type fast enough to get them all down on paper. I am also my own worst critic and as much as I try to resist it, I find myself constantly editing myself. It takes a lot effort for me to break this vicious cycle and stay on track with the progression of my book.  I pour over every last detail in regards to research, character structure and the overall plot of my book.  It is exhausting how anal I am with my work.

Another challenge is finding uninterrupted time to really just dive into my work and think things through. I cannot wait for the day when I can wake up and all that is ahead of me is day of writing and collaborating with my peers. I have to schedule pockets of time to devote to my book, and while that helps, there are just not enough hours in the day. Time can definitely get away from you quickly and I am in the process of teaching myself the true discipline of a seasoned writer. I will get there eventually, I hope. 🙂

Building a following for my blog and my books to come is a full time job in itself.  I am currently utilizing several different social media avenues for promotion.  It is important to me to maintain a personal connection with my followers as much as time allows.  I am constantly implementing new ways to reach out to my readers and engage them in my journey as much as possible.  It is nice to have a support system to regularly provide encouragement and motivation towards my success

Despite all the many challenges I face on a daily basis, I am truly amazed at how far I have come. I certainly could not do it all alone and I am very blessed to have a small team of people helping me with the vision for my book. I have reconciled myself to the fact that even the most minute of steps equals progress in some form or fashion.

I would love to hear more from my readers who are going through or have gone through the process of publishing a novel. Tell me what challenges you faced and how you overcame those challenges. What are some tips of the trade that I can incorporate into my current journey? Leave your comments below or join me tonight via Twitter at 7p CST using hashtage #LetsTalkProse and let’s all share our experiences, woes and excitement in making our dreams come true.

Until next time, enjoy wherever your journey leads you!

~ Mara Prose