Turning a World of CAN’T to a World of CAN
by Jadie Jones
I jumped at the chance to contribute to Indiestructible for two reasons. First, I would’ve killed for something like this when I navigated the waters of querying and publishing for the first time. No, it’s not a how-to guide, but it is a voice—a collection of voices—telling you exactly what you need to hear: you CAN do this, so keep going.
Publishing can feel like a world of “can’t”. We’re here to tell you we felt that way, too; that it’s perfectly normal to feel like you’re drowning in a giant ocean without a soul in sight. We’re also here to tell you that you’re not alone. We’re all in that dark water together. Some of us are in phases of our careers where we’ve pulled ourselves up on something that floats. Some of us are finding a paddling rhythm, and others of us have just been dropped headfirst into the icy cold realization that we, at the deepest, most secretive part of ourselves, MUST write … and how do we go about such a thing?
On the whole, I have found writers to be one of the most supportive groups of strangers I’ve ever met. We are bonded together by that unceasing desire to put pen to paper and create. And 99.9% of the time, writers are more than willing to help others, be it simply by imparting their own experience, as I’ve done in my Indiestructible contribution, or by promoting covers, beta reading, giving opinions (and we are an opinionated lot,) steering first timers towards services that worked well for them, hosting each other on blogs and other sites, and reading work for review. It’s a tireless, endless cycle of give and take, but that’s true for the industry’s big picture, too. Just because a writer has been around the block one, two, twenty times doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t struggle through a first draft or have a moment where they want to scrap it all together (and sometimes we do.
Now for the second reason I signed on for Indiestructible: the cause. Sales from Indiestructible will go directly to BuildOn.org, a NFP organization that works to break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty. Growing up, I sat down in classes with a few kids who came to school hungry or weren’t sure what they’d go home to when the bell rang—if there’d even be somewhere to go. How do you concentrate on learning when you’re stomach hurts or when you didn’t have a bed to sleep in the night before? In turn, how do you gain an appreciation for learning and the knowledge you need to lift yourself out of your circumstances when you’re forced to focus on basic survival? It is a vicious cycle. On a personal note, reading helped me escape some of my darkest days—and I grew up with a roof over my head and food on my table. Teaching people to read not only helps their futures, it helps their todays, and I really, really want to contribute to this cause in any way I can.
I hope you do too!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE INDIESTRUCTIBLE
100% of proceeds will be donated to BUILDON.org, a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.
Contributing authors:
Alex J. Cavanaugh <> Angela Brown <> Anne R. Allen <> Briane Pagel <> C.S. Lakin <> Ciara Knight <> Cindy M. Hogan <> D. Robert Pease <> Dawn Ius <> Emily White <> Greg Metcalf <> Jadie Jones <> Jessica Bell <> Karen Bass <> Karen Walker <> Kristie Cook <> Laura Diamond <> Laura Pauling <> Laurel Garver <> Leigh Talbert Moore <> Lori Robinson <> Melissa Foster <> Michael Offutt <> Michelle Davidson Argyle <> Rick Daley <> Roz Morris <> S.R. Johannes <> Stephen Tremp <> Susan Kaye Quinn
About Jadie Jones:
Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went. She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she’s not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she’s either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.
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Genre – Non-fiction
Rating – G
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