Courage

"Everyone is afraid of something." Isn't that what 'they' say? We say we are afraid of the dark, when in truth we are afraid of what's in the dark that we can't see. We say that we have a fear of heights, when it's the falling that we fear.

My husband is a deputy sheriff. He does things in any given day that send chills up my spine and goosebumps down my arms. He just shrugs it off and takes another bite of dinner.

How much courage does it take to put yourself out there, to submit your writing for other people to read and (gasp, swallow hard) reject? It takes a lot of more courage than some have. There are those of us who muster up this courage and send our work out to editors and agents, hoping to get back positive word.

Now what kind of courage does it take to self-publish?

Some may say none. After all, you don't have to deal with the rejection of the highers, but I disagree. Recently someone near and dear to me (*cough* Sarah) just released a previously published book with an updated cover and new sheen of polish. (Have you *seen* this cover?)

To me this is an amazing feat, a study of self-confidence and intestinal fortitude. I find it inspiring and...inspiring.

Am I announcing an intent? No, not yet. Just an idea, something to muse about this Monday morning.

How about you? How do you feel about self-publishing? Is it courageous or dangerous?

Arachnophobia means afraid of spiders. Does anyone know the word for "afraid to self-publish"?