Write Louder! Unspoken Volumes & the Self-Publishing Hustle

Write Louder! Unspoken Volumes & the Self-Publishing Hustle

Hey fellow wordsmiths! Buckle up for a hilarious (and hopefully relatable) descent into the self-publishing rabbit hole. Today, I'm chronicling the glorious chaos of getting my new book, Unspoken Volumes: Write Characters with Communication Challenges, out into the world.

The Edit-pocalypse: A Never-Ending Brawl with the Grammar-Hungry Horde

My manuscript is currently barricaded in a safe house, desperately trying to fend off the relentless waves of the grammar-hungry horde. Self-editing checklists are my emergency rations, but they can only hold back the ravenous comma splices and misplaced modifiers for so long. I've rewritten, restructured, and reread so much the manuscript looks like it survived a zombie apocalypse (multiple times). The question that keeps me up at night, like a bad case of writer's block: Will this manuscript EVER escape the clutches of the undead editors?

The Investment Conundrum (or, Why Do I Talk to Myself?)

Adding fuel to the fire, I've already invested in an ISBN number and a drop-dead gorgeous cover that practically begs for a bookshelf debut. Something I've never done before.  But a tiny voice whispers in my head, "What if it just gets lost in the digital abyss, collecting virtual dust bunnies (because who even cleans their cloud storage these days)?"

The Social Media Juggle (or, How Not to Become a Social Media Clown)

Then there's the ever-expanding social media circus.  Twitter, Facebook, Instagram – each platform with its own set of confusing dance moves. Trying to maintain an online presence while juggling my day job as a speech therapist (looking for speech therapy activities? Check out these resources!) is enough to make anyone want to crawl under the covers and forget the internet exists.

The "Give Up?" Gremlin (My Least Favorite Shoulder Devil)

The worst part? The insidious "give up?" gremlin that keeps popping up on my shoulder. It whispers sweet nothings about abandoning ship, finding a new hobby (competitive scroll
ing, perhaps?), or switching to a different creative project altogether.

But Here's the Thing (Because There's Always a Light at the End of the Tunnel, Even if It's a Headlamp)

Despite the exhaustion and self-doubt, that initial spark of inspiration that ignited this journey still flickers. This book, with all its quirks and imperfections, has something to offer the world, especially writers who want to create characters who come alive despite communication challenges (stuttering, hearing loss, apraxia, aphasia, to name a few).

Introducing Unspoken Volumes: My Magnum Opus (or at least that's what I tell my dog, because my cat is judgy)

Unspoken Volumes: Write Characters with Communication 

Challenges helps authors breathe life into characters who struggle with speech, hearing, social interaction, and more. It's all about real portrayals, inclusion, and acceptance. Every voice deserves to be heard, and every story deserves to be told.

Want to know how to write characters who stutter, use sign language, or navigate the complexities of aphasia?

Stay tuned for more sneak peeks and writing tips that won't put you to sleep (unlike my latest editing marathon)!

In the meantime, let's commiserate!

So, What Now? (Because a Plan is a Beautiful Thing)

A good author always has a plan, right? Here's mine:

• Fresh Eyes: Recruiting trusted beta readers for some much-needed sanity checks (beta readers for self-publishing).
• Focus Fire: Picking ONE social media platform to conquer first. Baby steps, people!
• Schedule Sanity: Carving out dedicated writing and revision time. Goodbye, all-nighters fueled by questionable snacks!

The Takeaway:

Self-publishing is a wild ride – exhilarating, terrifying, and exhausting all at once. But remember, you're not alone! If you're feeling the revision blues, the social media scramble, or the "give up?" gremlin, reach out! Let's commiserate, share tips, and cheer each other on as we navigate the path to publication.

Struggling to write characters with communication challenges? Want to add depth and authenticity to your portrayal? Leave a comment below sharing your self-publishing journey, and send me a message with your email address. I'll send you a free Communication Disorders Character Sheet to guide your character development, along with bonus AI Writing Prompts to spark creative ideas and help you bring your characters to life!

Now, who wants to hear some hilarious stories about the joys of speech therapy? (Just kidding... mostly.)  

Signing off, still not lost in the digital abyss (fingers crossed!),

Jennifer Tillock (aka Christine Tellach)




Pen and paper by Steve Johnson from Pixabay

Zombie computer Image by Xandra Iryna Rodríguez from Pixabay
Social Media Craze by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Light by Otodex from Pixabay

Book Cover Design by Mel Graphics