I was 35 years old the first time I made a major decision that I didn't then turn around and spend an inordinate amount of time second guessing. I decided to go ahead and self-publish my first novel, Again and Again, instead of shopping it around to see if I could attract the attention of a major publisher.
Three years later after publishing my work through iUniverse, I have no regrets or doubts whatsoever. Let me tell you that being satisfied with a decision I made is a new experience for me as I've had trouble making decisions with everything. When I was 19 my dilemma was whether or not I should change my major from journalism to something (anything!) else. After college I worried about where I'd live-suburbs, college town or city? Then there's the consternation over my writing. Should I focus on feature stories or romance novels?
You name it and I can pretty much guarantee you that I spent countless hours fretting and worrying over the decision-even after the decision was made. I have to admit that it took me a while to research my self-publishing options however once I chose iUniverse, I never looked back.
If you want to decrease your chances of making a bad decision you might later regret, follow the advice of best selling author Mira Kirshenbaum and chose what's "closest to your heart."
If you're in a confusing situation, you may not have the answers to all of your questions, "But you just might know what...is closest to your heart," writes Kirshenbaum. While Kirshenbaum is referring to choosing between two relationships, I can see how knowing what's closest to your heart can help you clarify what to do when you're muddling through anything.
"All my research and clinical experience show something really interesting," continued Kirshenbaum. "...if you get the one thing that's most important to you, if you focus on the one thing that's closest to your heart, then that's the way you will most likely find the happiness that's available to you."
What's closest to my heart right now is convenience. I'm taking care of children and writing so I want to do as much as I can from home without traveling. Also I live in a New York City apartment so I don't want a lot of "stuff." So print-on-demand was perfect for me. I could control the entire project from beginning to end. No deadlines unless they were self-imposed. As Kirshenbaum advises I made the decision based on what was most important to me and I'm satisfied with the results, completely.
Leah Mullen, Author of AGAIN AND AGAIN
Please visit my site http://www.leahmullen.com/ blog: http://mylifeisapageturner.blogspot.com/ life coaching column: http://www.bellaonline.com/site/lifecoaching Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/leah_mullen Do we read the same books? check out my shelf http://www.shelfari.com/leah_mullen Visit my profile on http://www.amazon.com/ to see my latest book reviews and guides including "Be a Self-Actualized Black Woman!"
