Let’s take a moment and recap my indie publishing tips so far:
4) Patience
8) Hold Everyone to the Same Standard
And, My New Tips are:
9) Find Your Tribe
10) Take A Risk
I’ve listed these together because they have something in common. Both are inspired by the same person – Jone Rush MacCulloch – who is hosting Poetry Friday this week. Jone is posting my answers to an interview she did asking me about my recent indie publishing experience for Picture Perfect Poetry: An Anthology of Ekphrastic Nature Poetry for Students. I hope you read her post.
Jone has become part of my tribe. We’ve connected over our love of nature and poetry. She’s been extremely supportive of the anthology project. We follow each other on Instagram. We email or text when we need a fast answer. But, neither of us has been needy or intrusive, just appreciative and respectful of each other’s talents. I hope I get to meet her someday.
I appreciate Jone. I hope she appreciates me. I am grateful for her interest in the anthology and for spreading the word about the new book. She’s part of my community of poets, teachers, librarians, and photographers.
I’ve noticed these things about Jone because I’m still trying to find my tribe where I live. We moved in June of 2022 to our cabin in the woods of Northern Wisconsin. I’m still figuring out who I’m comfortable with. I know I haven’t found my tribe here.
Last year, Jone (at least I think it was Jone) wrote about taking a risk. I’ve never been a big risk-taker. But, at certain times in my life, I have taken risks.
I flew (for the first time) by myself at 18 to Japan. That was a risk.
After working hard at getting my first Master’s degree in Nursing, I became a stay-at-home mom. That was a risk.
I started an Etsy shop in 2008 selling my handcrafted jewelry. This was a risk, not a financial one but a “putting myself out there one.” I still have that shop. It makes me happy. Making jewelry is another creative outlet.
Starting student and parent groups – and there were several – over the years was a risk.
- Founded and taught a garden club at our elementary school for second – to fifth-grade students. This lasted for 13 years! Again, a risk that was a success.
- Founding and leading a district-wide parent Advocacy Group for Talented and Gifted Students was a huge risk. This risk wasn’t worth it, but I learned from it. It was a risk not supported.
Writing is a risk. You share your thoughts and feelings with the world. Starting a blog was a risk. Will people read me? Seven years and almost 2000 posts later, I am still writing in this space.
Writing a book is a risk. Getting others to join you is a risk.
But, except for the TAG group that I sincerely regret I founded, all the risks I’ve taken have been worth it! Risks make you rise up and meet a challenge. I’m glad I took the risk to curate the anthology Picture Perfect Poetry. It’s been my pleasure.
Today is Poetry Friday. Jone Rush MacCulloch is hosting. She is featuring an interview of me and the process of the anthology which is now for sale on Amazon.
The Apples in My Orchard 
I so often go by the answer to “Will you take the risk?” with “Why not?” I just saw your tweet about the book being on Amazon – Hoorah for you and for all the poets who sent you poems, a risk, and now they’ll be excited and proud to show the book to friends & family. Me, too! I’ve thanked you a bunch, Carol, but I know you’ve worked so many hours for this, & one more time, thank you! Have a lovely weekend!
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Thank YOU, Linda! I appreciate your support and participation in the anthology project! The author copies are due to arrive on the 23rd and then will be shipped to all of you! My family has enjoyed the book – I hope others will too!
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Carol, congratulations! You so did take your own advice (and that you are kindly sharing with us) and you created a beautiful volume. I can’t wait to see it! Thanks for the tips, and thank you for your work on this anthology!
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Thanks, Denise! You are always so supportive and generous with your comments! Thank you for being part of the anthology! The author copies are due to arrive the 23rd and then will be shipped to all of you!
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The world needs it poets and its risk takers to all play a part, Carol. Keep pushing boundaries and making discoveries. Looking forward to the anthology.
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Thanks, Alan! I appreciate your kind words! I’m excited for you to see the anthology too! The author copies are due to arrive the 23rd and then will be on the way to all of you! I’m happy you were part of this project!
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Carol, I hope that you find a group that makes you feel supported and happy in your new community. You certainly have shown that you can bring people together! I am excited beyond words for your new anthology!
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Thanks, Tracey! Among those family members that have read the anthology – your poems are a favorite! The author copies are coming on the 23rd – soon to be shipped to all of you!
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What a great story about your writing-friendship with Jone! And good on you for taking risks, Carol. I think both finding your tribe and taking risks have a lot to do with trust. Trust in the time it takes.
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Thanks, Patricia. I agree. Trust is essential for both risk taking and tribe finding. I’ll try to be patient with the latter. I do have a support system but finding new friends while keeping in tough with the old is daunting sometimes.
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All great thoughts Carol! I agree about taking risks in writing. It can be scary, but it’s often when I create the writing I value most!
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Thanks, Sarah. I think to truly grow some risk is needed. I am glad I got over feeling paralyzed by the risk of putting my creative writing “out there.”
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What a fascinating post. I appreciate the advice that comes from your experience and your willingness to recognize risks you’ve taken as a part of your life’s story arc. It’s all learning, isn’t it? Many congratulations on this anthology. I look foward to paging through it and enjoying all the familiar poets.
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Thanks, Linda! It is all learning and I love to learn. I hope you enjoy the anthology when you see it.
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Risk-taking–so hard but can come with such great reward. I’m a bit risk-averse sometimes, so I appreciate this so much! Looking forward to reading the anthology.
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Thanks, Marcie. I generally avoid risk too but agree that sometimes the reward is great. The author copies arrive on the 23rd, I’ll get them out soon after!
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Oh Carol, thank you for including me in your tribe. I sometimes feel a tad nomadic (although my roots are solid in the PNW). Moving would be a huge risk.
I feel for you about this risk: Founding and leading a district-wide parent Advocacy Group for Talented and Gifted Students was a huge risk. This risk wasn’t worth it, but I learned from it. It was a risk not supported.
I am so glad you took the risk of the anthology. It is an inspiration for me. A friend and I have talked for a couple years of doing one with a monthly online writing group.
And yes, we will need to meet one day.
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Thanks, Jone. I had someone text me about the TAG Parent Group – saying I shouldn’t feel it was a wasted risk but it definitely wasn’t appreciated by the district. They “tolerated” me. It it hadn’t been so stressful and given me the feeling a target was on my back then maybe I’d feel otherwise. I’m glad I took the risk on the anthology too. And I appreciate your risk in being a part of it! Many thanks!
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Hurray for your risk-taking, Carol!
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Thank you, Karen!
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