Why am I Writing a Book Here?

I like to do things differently.

I decided to write a fiction book a long time ago. I started it when I was 18-years-old. Over twenty years later, I published the first page of my book on Medium.

I am not sure if it is the same book I started then. I don’t think I ever started a new one. I brainstormed for decades and here is why it has taken so much time…

I was scared.

I believed that my great idea had to be clearly communicated to the right people for me to be successful. This thought made me doubt myself. How could I create a book that was new and exciting?

I knew that a lot of work was required to publish a book. I would need to write out this idea and invest a lot of time to sell it. I would need to communicate this idea to a literary agent and a publisher. If they did not like my idea, or think it would be profitable, what would I do next?

I let this fear paralyze me for years.

I never really stopped trying. I kept thinking of things and writing a few pages here and there. I devoured any idea that interested me. I studied things on the internet. I visited the library. I learned whenever I had spare time. I also returned to school. I am on my second journey through higher education right now.

About a year ago, my idea surfaced.

Something clicked and I was able to see a big picture. I saw a story that was very big and exciting. I knew it would work.

I like to do things differently than others.

I thought about how I should write down this story. The old way was hard and could be toxic. I would have to sell the rights to my ideas. A company would be able to determine how the story went.

My book is about humans taking back control of our society.

It seemed silly to instantly give up control of this idea. It would be almost hypocritical. I needed a new way to create this thing.

I decided to self-publish.

I think self-publishing is the way to go because it allows the greatest amount of freedom. I have watched how new technologies have disrupted industries around the world. Good examples of this are music and journalism. Artists and writers now have more freedom, but this can come at a cost.

An author can publish a book without help.

They must also be an editor. They will also need to do their own marketing or their book will not be noticed. This requires a lot of learning. I have studied strategies to do this. I have worked in roles that gave me the experience. I am ready. It is time to get started.

I am writing a book for my friends, family, and most importantly, my children. My first draft is currently underway. I could sit down and write my book and then publish it all at once. That is the old way.

I am doing something new.

I am publishing pages while I write more. I am adding non-fiction, pictures, poetry, videos, music, and more to my story. I am letting my friends read and help me edit while I go. I am letting my readers influence how this fictional world changes.

This journey is awesome!

I am a few months into my publishing process. I have reconnected with old friends and made so many more. I am learning from experts and building a network. I am publishing my book as I write it. One page at a time.

Let's take a trip and I will tell you a story.

My story never ends and I don’t know exactly where it begins. It is a journey through time, space, and the minds of a species that has innovated our way towards extinction again. My book is not a book. It is a story across mediums. It is something that has no classification that I am aware of yet.

I’m calling it a story. I hope you enjoy it. I hope you help write it and that we can save this world.

Chris

Thanks for reading. I wrote this piece for a presentation in a communications class at Governors State University. It is a true story. Read the rest of this story at ChrisWeberWrites.Medium.com