Michelle Johnson's Blog

There are a slew of emotions an author can go through on a daily - or sometimes hourly - basis. Keeping the creative juices flowing is a task that must be mastered - and even still, those that have will continue to have what I like to call 'moments'.Let's take a look at how it all goes down, shall we?At first, your brain is so full with ideas, the words can't stop flowing majestically out of you. You're a damn genius!When your mind starts to slow and the momentum you so gallantly sprinted off with starts to dwindle, instead of becoming discouraged, you decide a change of scenery will be sure to inspire.Then, on a random, uneventful day you go to sit and write but..., all you manage to do is stare at the screen. WTF! Brain, have you gone on vacation? Think you could've given me a heads up or something?As hours roll into days, and days roll into weeks that slimy, sinister feeling of doubt starts to creep in to murder your hopes and dreams. Maybe you're not cut out for this writing stuff? It's freakin' hard dammit!Regardless of the dream killers that follow your every move, you push through. You've already gotten this far, why stop now! The decision is made to take a break and casually read through what you've put together so far so that you can become motivated once again to continue. It sounded like such a good idea didn't it? Until anger hits you like a tidal wave straight out of the underbellies of hell itself. What is this crap!After you've finally gotten your shit back together, calm takes over. It's only the first draft. All first drafts are awful! With tweaking and proper editing this story of yours will once again be the masterpiece you envisioned it to be.Low and behold after you receive back the final edits, your manuscript has become such an alluring thing of beauty you can't help but overflow with pride and emotion.Getting the first copy of your final printed book in your hands, a smug smile pulls up your lips. This story is so damn golden..., You. Are. Gonna. Be. Rich!But then sales bring you back down to reality.And you wouldn't trade a single part of any of this for the world.

By now - being the seasoned bibliophile that you are - you've developed a system for how you go about buying books. Let's take a look at some of the different types of book buyers and see which one you fall under, shall we?1. The in-and-outerYou are not the type to be swayed. Once a book has caught your attention and you figure out where it can be purchased, you know what you have to do. So, when the day comes to pick up your new read, you enter that bookstore with one sole purpose. Get what you need, and get out. Sure other books might cause your eyes to sneak a quick peek, but that’s all you’ll allow. Nothing will break you. What you’re looking for, is what you’ll get dagnabit!2. The sleep-on-it-and-revisit-erCommitment is not quite your thing. Should you be in a situation where you have to make an immediate decision, automatically your subconscious sounds of the alarms. Abort! Abort!! You like to take your time. When visiting a bookstore, you peruse the aisles, picking up books that catch your attention and will maybe even read a chapter...or two. Then you walk away. Once back in the comfort of your own home, you start to evaluate and decide a good night’s sleep will provide the answer...and it always does.3. The online shopperBookstores? You mean, like, actual bookstores that you have to drive or walk to and actually go inside? Oh hell no. Ain’t nobody got time for that! You are all about convenience and prefer the virtual world. Buying a new book online in your opinion, is ten times more convenient than waiting in line. With the simple click of a button, you can nestle in your fav reading spot - jammies still on - and start reading without ever having to go outside. Ahhh, now that is the life!4. The hide-your-credit-cards-before-you-shop-erIt’s possible that once or twice, you’ve wondered if such a thing as rehab for book buying actually exists. Control is out of your hands. The moment you feast your eyes on the latest books, you can not be held accountable for your actions. It’s not your fault all the books you happen to look at sound so juicy! So, after realizing debt is not something you want to live with, you’ve put yourself on a book detox. You now only go into bookstores with a limited amount of cash - purposely keeping your credit cards out of reach. It’s the only way to not appear on the next episode of Hoarders: Buried Alive.5. The cover shopperShouldn’t judge a book based on its cover? Yeah, ok. The covers are what draw you in, seducing you with their beauty and compel you to read the back. It’s true, you may have been deceived a time or two with gorgeous covers and reads that came up short. But, you just can’t help yourself. You figure, if the read wasn’t as great as you thought, at least your bookshelf will shine and stun with it’s colourful beauty!6. The author shopperYou consider yourself a loyal book lover that will go above and beyond to support your favourite authors. Every single published book of theirs sits proudly on your shelves. This isn’t specific to just one author - how could it be when you have so many favourites? A visit to the bookstore first involves seeking out your go-to authors to see what’s new. Mind you, there have been times when you’ve left disappointed and empty handed. However, other times you’ve given someone new a shot and low and behold have found a new fav!So...Which one are you?

Once upon a time, you had an idea. An idea so big and so great that the thought of keeping it to yourself seemed like blasphemy, so you made a decision to share it with the world. You spent months planning, writing and perfecting and then moved on to doubting, questioning and revising. This idea took over your life. It became your world and a part of your daily routine until one random, insignificant day your mind gets blown when it finally registers that there’s nothing left to do. Excitement hits then, and revitalizes you with a new purpose and drive to get out there and share your story with everyone and anyone that will listen. So off you go, spreading the news like wildfire day in and day out, running as fast as you can using your excitement - that’s still fresh - to give you the momentum you need to keep going. Friends and family tell you how proud they are of you and vow to also spread word to keep the fires blazing! Bloggers and reviewers are responding to your requests like crazy and posting amazing reviews! Sales are coming in daily and your emails are being filled with praises from new fans! Everything you ever hoped for is coming into fruition and your dream has become an actuality…until one day, the universe decides to serve you up a healthy and hearty dose of reality.Family and friends start to lose interest and figure you’ve got a good grip on things, so they stop reposting and referring. Bloggers and reviewers become too busy and start putting your book on the back burner. Sales come to halt and slowly your high withers. Your fire starts to dim and panic begins brewing inside you at the thought of failure so you push harder. Which works for a while until you start getting hit with negative reviews, and just like that…your fire dulls into embers.You ask yourself, what happened? Where did I go wrong?To pursue a career in writing, you must fully wrap your head around the fact that things take time. Of course everything is rainbows and unicorns when you start just like anything else in this world. It’s new, fresh and exciting! The moment the adrenaline wears off you are left to run on fumes, which can only take you so far.So what now? How do you get the kindling you so desperately crave to reignite your flames?First, you must exhale. Once that long exasperated, stress-filled breath leaves your lungs you can now focus on what’s needed to get back on track; The winning formula.Consistency: Take the time to map out a schedule that you can follow when it comes to blogging, writing and social media. Make your presence known on a consistent basis to stay relevant. Research the best times you can reach your audience and topics to keep them engaged.Motivation: Understand that this is a business, and businesses need investments to grow. In order for you to grow as a writer you must keep yourself motivated. The best way you can do this is to join writing groups or attend seminars. There’s a certain power in being around other creative brains that can inspire, and recharge.Network: Never stop putting yourself out there. Look into becoming a guest blogger on other websites or reviewing other authors; it’s about reaching the masses and keeping your presence known.Once you start applying this formula, you’ll get back into a steady groove and learn to pace yourself for the long, windy road ahead.Your fires will be roaring again in no time. Don’t give up.

Growing up, I always had a love for books. The way each story could magically take me away to a new world was something I continuously craved. Especially being the weirdo that I was – excuse me, that I still am - with my obsession for vampires and paranormal things, reading made my world of fantasy, a reality. In fact, if it had not been for my love of reading I would never have pursued becoming an author.A creative mind must be handled with care. I’ve come to learn over the years that if I expect my imagination to preform at it’s very best it must be nurtured. Reading has always been my primary source of sustenance to refuel my creativity when it’s hungry for more. Entering into these worlds created by authors and their overactive imaginations, not only inspires me, but also constantly teaches me new things. It’s been proven in studies that reading has many benefits like expanding one’s vocabulary, reducing stress and giving readers stronger analytical thinking skills. That being said, reading has become just as important and crucial to my daily routine as an author.Many authors can surely attest to the fact that as wonderful as writing may be, it has the potential to completely drain you emotionally and mentally. Some scenes require so much emotion and concentration that when completed, not only are you a basket case, but you’re mind is so drained it’s a miracle you can manage to remember your own name. I have found that the best way for me to decompress after writing is to read! It allows me to shut everything off and just escape, while still giving my mind the stimulation it needs to reboot and preform at its best the following day.Since I’ve rekindled my love of reading and have made it a daily priority, I’ve noticed a remarkable difference in my writing. Ideas seem to form more quickly and words have begun to fill the page effortlessly and organically. By exposing myself to different writing styles, I’m also learning different methods authors are using to engage readers with plot twists, character development and how to effectively pace a story. Not to mention, it serves as a great form of research to know what books are popular amongst my target audience and see for myself what makes them so engaging.Therefore, I challenge all aspiring authors, writers and poets out there to find time alongside writing, to read. Immerse yourself within the pages of a book and experience the effect you wish to give your readers. It makes a difference.

It's been said time and time again that overthinking kills happiness. We've all heard it before and more than likely have agreed with the statement at some point. Why then is it so difficult to adhere to its message? Certainly no one is trying to be unhappy. Could it be fear of trial? We're all advocates to the saying until left alone to face it head on. One glimpse of a challenge along our unrealistic smooth, straight path is often all it takes to give in to the contagious nature of doubt.Before making the decision to pursue self-publishing, I made it my goal to gain as much knowledge as possible beforehand to know what I was up against. I consider myself a control freak; knowledge is my superpower. The more I know, the better I can approach the situation. Be advised however, that the purpose of making the Oleah Chronicles a reality was not to become the next J.K. Rowling. Far from it. The purpose was to share a story that I fell in love with and I hope that others might be able to relate to and enjoy the story with the same passion. So I set off on my quest, reading countless blogs and articles on what to expect and not to expect as a first-time author and self-publisher and yet I still find myself taken aback by the outcome, knowing in the back of my head that Rome was not built in a day. However, I’m still finding it confusing that these so-called "foolproof" methods are not magically making me run faster than everyone else. I decided then, to go back and double check that I followed steps one through five efficiently and effectively:1.Create a presence online.Check!2.Free giveaways.Check!3.Market, market, market.Triple check!4.Brand, brand, brand.Noted and check!5.Be consistent. Okay, got it! Thanks!So ... what's the hold up? That's when it hit me: I've been infected. Somewhere along the way I lost sight of my goal and let my defences down, thus allowing myself to become vulnerable to the virus that is overthinking. Of course my solution was to quickly seek remedy, but I have found myself at the same walk-in clinic, waiting in line (the end of the line) with countless other authors experiencing the same symptoms.Maya Angelou once said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Many authors - myself included - develop tunnel vision: getting caught up in the beauty of the end goal - the butterfly - and becoming discouraged when we realize that we don't just wake up one day with everything we've ever wanted. We have to work for it like everything else, and it takes time. If I ever expect to one day become the "butterfly", I must continue on as the caterpillar, working hard each day on my cocoon until it's finally ready for me to step inside and begin my transformation.So how does one go about doing this?For starters, break the habit of overthinking and obsessing, and make a new habit ofcreating short-term goalsthat can be easily achieved. The little successes along the way will promote motivation and better productivity, which bring with them a sense of accomplishment.Self-affirmationsgo a long way as well. No, they're not just for hipsters. They're important for newborn and veteran authors alike. It builds confidence and strengthens the mind against doubt. Lastly, understand that quality outweighs quantity. Shortcuts are great and everything, and will get you ahead for a while, but like all fad diets, it won't last long. The quality of your efforts, time and writing will eventually speak for itself.I'm looking forward to one day meeting my butterfly. Aren't you?

Still sorting through the uncharted waters of the book world, there are still so many things that I still have yet to learn, and things I am coming to learn each day. Everything is a challenge, but one that continues to excite and push me to become more educated within the field.When I decided to self-publish, the thought never crossed my mind that the title “self-published author” would present itself to some as such a large scarlet letter on my garments. I perceived it as more of an experience, and quite the cool one might I add. The thought of creating something, then bringing it to life in the physical form as something that I could proudly add to my bookshelf was too irresistible to resist. This project started nine years ago – three out of the nine were what I like to call the “dark years” where I wrote absolutely nothing. I’d brainstormed, obsessed, nit-picked and practically drove myself nuts with this. It consumed me, springing ideas into my mind at random hours of the day and night. I’d invested so much of my time and heart into it. Why not see it through to completion? I must confess that fear held me back more than I would have liked it to, but the positive feedback I received from friends was too strong to ignore.I’ve never been the type to do something with a dip-my-foot-in attitude. It’s always been go big or go home. I decided to put everything I had into it and if I was destined for failure, I could always say that I at least tried. So I set off full speed ahead, researching everything that self-publishing had to offer, and came up with the following pros and cons.PROI had the freedom to have full reign on the formatting, graphics, size, fonts, everything! The graphic artist in me was literally salivating at the mouth.With the site I had in mind (lulu.com), I had access to a wide distribution channel of popular book sites and retailers.I could customize my distribution and choose which sites I wanted out of the list provided.I could set my own pricing. Sure, there would be commissions that would have to be paid out, but it wasn’t so bad.I could be in control of all marketing.Should I decide to do a paperback, a print-on-demand option was provided to me.The list seemed pretty legit. So, I had to weigh out what in my mind was the only major con:marketing.There was no help. It was all me. If I wanted the Oleah Chronicles to gain momentum, get followers, sales, etc., I had to be the one to do it. Lucky for me, I’ve been in the advertising and marketing industry for more than ten years. It was a challenge I accepted with open arms.It’s been about four years now that the Oleah Chronicleswent live and the thing I’ve come to discover more and more is that there is still this stigma that tends to associate itself with self-published authors. A good amount of book bloggers, reviewers and even some other authors don’t take you or your work seriously. You are a pariah. Ouch! There have been countless times I’ve gone to submit my story on various sites and within their policies lie that one dreadful – and usually bolded – statement.Cue in dramatic music please! * WE DO NOT ACCEPT SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS! *Womp, womp! It’s understandable to a certain degree I suppose. There are many who enter into this world with the intention to get rich, become the next big thing! If Paris Hilton could release a book, why couldn’t they, right? Well, already being a minority, I can relate to the stereotypes that tend to associate with a group based on a bunch of bad apples. However, these closed doors actually drive me to push that much harder. This industry is not for the faint-hearted, but for those that are willing to put in the work – for a while … a long while – in order to see the fruits of their labour blossom.For any writers/authors out there looking to self-publish I say this to you. Don’t give up. Do your homework and make sure you’re ready for a long-distance run. We all would love overnight success, but the reality is that if you want something, you have to go out and get it. If this is your passion, your drive, the very reason your heart beats, then don’t give up. There are so many helpful support groups out there for emerging writers and authors as well as so many informative reads that can help make the transition more fluid.In the words of Maya Angelou: “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”You got this.

Growing up in the nineties, everything was an adventure. My friends and I didn’t have all the fancy gadgets or apps of today like iPhones, tablets, or social media. If we wanted to be entertained, we had to find creative ways to do just that. We’d make forts, play elaborate games at parks, jump rope and buy teen magazines just to get that supersized poster of our favourite heartthrob that we could plaster on our walls. Originality was everything. Thinking up fun new games we’ve never played before made hanging out with friends exciting and rewarding. Nowadays with all the advances in technology, kids no longer have to be physically present to hang out with one another, thanks to FaceTime and other apps. Creativity/originality can now be found online. Virtually anything and everything your mind could possibly think of can be put into Google Search and sure enough, something will come up. Crazy isn’t it that nothing is really “original” anymore?Think about it. There are billions of people living on this planet with trillions of thoughts and ideas. Now that the Internet has provided these billions of people with an easy and accessible outlet for these ideas and thoughts, you’re guaranteed to find duplicates everywhere. I can specifically remember being a teen and constantly drawing this one character that I swore I would one day present to Disney, and it would be the next big thing. Sure enough, a couple years later, I’m casually flipping channels and there it is. Staring me dead in the face. My character. On TV. Someone took the thought right out of my mind and made it real. Heck, more than real – identical! Convinced that someone must have stolen a sketch from my sketchbook, I was infuriated and can recall having quite the tantrum about it.Unfortunately the cold, hard truth of the matter is that no thought is ever truly original. Someone somewhere has already thought it. What it boils down to is who puts it out there first and how they do it, which makes me think of this new exciting world I’ve entered with my novel.Thousands upon thousands of authors are all trying to get their story told, using social media to the fullest in order to reach masses and become the “squeaky wheel that gets the oil”.While perusing through other book reviews, I’ve noticed what I like to call a trend – the comparison trend. Reviewers and booklovers have the tendency to say things like: “It reminded me of…” or “similar to…” or “had a _____ vibe to it”, which brings me back to my thought. Is anything really original anymore? Sure there are copycats out there who deliberately suck out as much as they can from other authors. But what about those who have a story and finally decide to tell it only to discover … it’s already been told.What do you do? Give up? Certainly not! In my opinion, everything we approach in life is about understanding its monster. Once you wrap your mind around inevitable facts like: every story with a hot teen vampire will be compared to Twilight, or every story with teens living in a dystopian society will be compared to The Hunger Games and Divergent, you’ll see that at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. What matters is the story and how it makes readers feel.It’s the tiny details that make all the difference when it comes to a great read. A compelling story should grip its readers and consume them. Okay, so it may be similar to x, y, z, but as an author, the “how it’s done” is everything. Finding out what makes our story unique and playing that up as much as we can is crucial to be set apart from everyone else.As I’m currently writing the third and last book to the Oleah Chronicles series, I find myself captivated in the details. As an avid reader, I thrive on stories that can take me away and let my mind work its magic to create the world being described, stories that can utilize the power of my mind the way I used to as a child. Exciting and thrilling is what I strive for.The marketplace for authors and writers is ruled by opinion. Everybody’s got one. Therefore, instead of worrying about comparisons, focus on the story. That is, after all, what everyone still seeks: a great story.Click here to subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates and get first dibs on giveaways, contests and prizes!

When this site first went live, this was one of my first blogs posted. So I've decided to bring it back around to as it still reigns so true for me today. Let's take a look back, shall we?What do graphic designers and writers have in common?Many of you might scratch your heads trying to answer this. The truth is both professions share more of the same skills than you might think. How would I know? I am what some would consider a hybrid of the two: a graphic designer and an author. This being said, I know that had it not been for my background in design, I would have never stepped on to my new path as an author.This epiphany occurred to me while brainstorming for Truth. To keep it simple, allow me to break it down into three points.1. Graphic designers and writers are storytellersAs a graphic designer, your task is to take an idea from concept to creation. Designers must bring forth life through visual elements in order to connect with the target market and tell its desired story. As a writer, your task is also to take an idea and bring it to life through words. Having a background in graphic design helped me to visualize the story in my head so that I could find the right words needed to describe tricky scenes. Once I had created the visual, the words were then able to flow and take shape.2. Graphic designers and writers are problem solvers.Many times when creating logos or advertising, a problem will arise due to many circumstances like space, images or fonts. Graphic designers must use their creativity to work around the problem and still deliver a finished product that the client will be proud of. Writers also encounter many issues along the way like character development, finding the right references or experiencing writer’s block. They must find solutions to overcome them in order to complete their book. I found that when I was having trouble with a scene, I would analyze the situation from a designer’s perspective to see how I could go about finding a solution. This, thankfully, helped on more than one occasion.3. Graphic designers and writers are very visual.It's very common to find a graphic designer that is also an experienced illustrator or photographer, using their knowledge of design programs to create characters or construct a scene that did not exist. Writers, too, are visionaries, painting what they see in words. This allows their readers to use their imagination and envision the world the writer has brought them into. This aspect definitely worked to my advantage. I had created a character that was challenging to explain visually. However, with my experience, I had the opportunity to put a face to the vision in my head, which in turn saved me the cost of paying someone to design a cover for my book.In summary, throughout the writing process I was able to use my skills in design to help communicate my ideas to a different type of audience. Although the tools were different, I was surprised to find the similarities that presented themselves along the way, which helped me to realize that when faced with any new endeavour, incorporating your strengths from other avenues is all it takes to provide the confidence you need.

Alright, it's true that originality in a story is important. An author constantly longs to thrill and wow their readers with mind blowing concepts and plot twists that will leave them experiencing the woe's of a book hangover for weeks. However, I must say that as much as I am all over that bandwagon, there is a part of me that craves the clichés. The amount of times I'm in the mood for a new book and end up picking up certain titles or genres because I know I'm guaranteed for good cliché, is more than just a handful. What can I say? There's something about them that readers can't get enough of. Same applies for movies or TV shows, sometimes we watch because we know what to expect and that's exactly what we want! If you deny any of this, you're clearly lying to yourself. All good. Deep down inside, you know the truth is sitting there tucked away in a back corner. This weekend while perusing through Netflix and stumbling across one of my favourite movies (La La Land) it got me thinking about clichés, and what it is about them that I love so much. Hence the reason for this lovely list below where I'll be counting down my top five. Let's get started shall we?1. Good girl falls for bad boyUgh guys! I know so many of you cringed just reading this, but seriously this is one of my ultimate guilty pleasures! The nerdy, average girl, is drawn to the jerky, arrogant, misunderstood bad boy. Naturally she tries to shut down her feelings, deeming them utterly preposterous. However, she can't help herself. She's intrigued and he doesn't even know she exists. Until something brings them together and they both soon come to feel the electricity between them. YES! YES! YAAAAAS!! Hate all you want folks, but here's transparency at its finest!2. The doomed loveYou know the ones. Two people, absolutely perfect (and I mean PERFECT) for each other in every sense of the word that can never be together due to circumstance. You know they are madly in love with each other. Hell, there have been several occasions where they almost kiss, get together or hook up, but it never goes down for whatever reason. Something about this constant tease, sucks me all the way in. I'm the one rooting in the background, dying a slow, agonizing death every time they almost make it, and proceeding to then cry out in frustration every time they don't. The struggle is real, and I'm here for it!3. Cinderella storyMovies LOVE this one especially. The lead female is always the supporter of her family, or has been supporting herself her entire life. Struggling to get by, living paycheck to paycheck, hoping and praying that she'll finally catch a break. That's of course when the most gorgeous man she's ever seen rolls in, sparks fly and oh, would you look at that, he's rich! So he spoils her rotten and gives her the life she's always dreamed of. Ah yes, the fantasy. How I love it so.4. Revenge Listen, there's a certain captivation when a story has something so intensely tragic happen, that the entire life's purpose of the main character is to get revenge. Whether it's the mafia or criminals murdering their family, sexual abuse, or bullying, I love watching the character transform from victim to bad ass. You experienced their pain with them and want the sweetness of the revenge almost just as badly. The satisfaction of watching karma come back to do its dirty work, is one I will always sign up for.5. Underdog becomes superstarAt some point in life, I feel we can all relate to the underdog. The nerds, ghosts, or "freaks" of society. All they want to do is fit in, yet all they end up doing is getting by without making many friends, and keeping their heads down. They know they have something special about them and one day, someone will see it. Maybe they sing, dance or play an instrument of some sort. Whatever their gift may be, it's exactly that. A gift. Setting them apart from the norm and eventually leading them towards success beyond all measures. Ugh, the feels!Well, there we have it. What are your favourite book clichés?

There's no question that every story an author completes is truly a labour of love. So much heart goes into narrating a novel to successfully relate and touch its readers. Whether the inspiration comes from real life experiences, or just ones creative imagination, there's no dispute that the connection an author has to their story is deep. So much so, that many completed works have probably actually never seen the light of day because the author can't seem to let it go. Whether that be overanalyzing every single element, falling into the hole of edits that literally become never ending, or simply being too protective/sensitive to have anyone critique it. I can one hundred percent attest that it's hard to let a manuscript go. Especially one that you've truly poured your entire being into. Nothing ever seems good enough and there's always another tweak you find after you've reread it for the thousandth time. This resonates even harder for first time writers. Well, it's time to get out of your head and get your story told! Here are some tips that can help assist in releasing untold stories into the world.Get a trusted source to read it first.Sure I could tell you that if you're having anxiety about the quality of your tale, have a trusted friend or family member read it first. This way you can be comfortable in knowing that any advice you get back will be truthful and sensitive to your feelings. However, here's the thing, when your target market reads your book (which they will) they don't give a rats ass about your feelings, and will be brutally honest when writing a review. Therefore, I say hand it over to a professional editor or beta reader to get an unbiased opinion. This is the best way to rip off the band-aid. Which leads us into the next point...Don't shoot the messenger.Understand that when you have your manuscript professionally edited, you're going to be told things you don't want to hear. Whether it's suggesting to change a part you convinced yourself was sheer perfection, or cutting out something altogether. You have to be open to critique. Don't get me wrong, it's important to go with your intuition on things you think are valuable to your story, it's a different thing altogether if all you're going to do is fight and argue about every suggested change. Yes, you wrote the story, you created the characters, you crafted it all piece by piece..., but you could very well not be the target reader. If this is the case, you have to understand that certain elements are going to have to change to speak to your target so that they can devour it whole. Be open to finding out what those things are. Take notes of all the consistent things you hear about your manuscript and make changes accordingly.Trust in yourself.We are our own worst critiques and at times, our own worst enemy. I can't tell you the amount of times I worked myself up into an anxious mess when someone was reading my story because I was certain they were going to come back and tell me it was utter crap. To be completely transparent, sometimes they did, but 8/10 times the response was positive and praising. You will not be everyones cup of tea, and that's ok. If you know in your soul that your story has potential and are open to possible changes from editors, or beta readers, trust yourself. Never doubt your worth and keep in a positive headspace with daily affirmations. You CAN do this.At the end of the day, the only person that will hold you back from telling an amazing story is yourself. So do yourself a favour and get out of the way.