FEATURE Parenting a Book

 

Your heart is racing with excitement as you prepare to embark on a journey like no other. You are scared, but you are overcome with an urge to nurture something precious into existence. Is Karen Barrett describing becoming a parent of a book, or a baby?

 

Both!

 

Let’s look at the amusing parallels that tie these seemingly unrelated life journeys together.

 

You have followed your heart and decided to self-publish your first book, just as you might have decided to try for your first baby. Whether it is dreaming of someone yet to be born and writing endless lists of possible baby names, or dreaming up the perfect story arc and writing lists of character traits, you have endured many sleepless nights because you know this choice will change your life. It has been on your mind for a while. You are motivated. You have made the choice. You begin the necessaries… lots of late nights and you are making progress.

 

Then comes the point of no return. You have made it happen. You have told friends and family. You have already bought some of the paraphernalia. That baby of a book might not be here yet, but failing to prepare is like preparing to fail. You do your research, you put in the hard work, the time, the effort to prepare for that exciting day. You are itching to meet it, whether it has arms and legs or a front and back cover. The birth of your baby is due on a particular day but, as with most things in life, things change.

 

One final push

 

The unavoidable delays are excruciating. You are anxious. You are tired. However, it is time for that final push. It is painful to watch as further complications develop. Then it arrives. You have done it! The day you have been waiting for. Your energy levels are low, but your adrenaline is high. Your friends congratulate you, send you their best wishes, say how proud they are of you. This sweet baby is getting attention! You are one lucky parent.

 

Studies indicate birth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts around 17% of postpartum parents. A newly published writer may experience this as mental burnout, anxiety buildup, or onset depression. You have this sweet thing in your hands, and it is everything you imagined it would be, but the journey is not over. In fact, the journey has just begun. After everyone has acknowledged your little creative beauty and returned to their normal lives, it is time for you to find that energy again. Now you must give this new, vulnerable bundle of joy all the opportunities that it deserves and nurture it.

 

Every day is a step out of your comfort zone. You may feel like people are judging you, comparing your actions to those who have done these many times before. Are people supporting you like they said they would? Do they doubt you? Despite this, you decide to ‘fake it until you make it’, because you believe in yourself, even if others do not.

 

First outing with "the baby"

 

You must now leave the house! You have no choice but to pack your bag with snacks, fill your travel mug, leave self-doubt at home, and encourage confidence along for the ride. You may be nervous at first, but you know you will find your feet after a while.

 

Having your baby is great. However, people are already asking when the next one is due. You are still trying to raise your first, still discovering where your baby belongs, still dealing with those initial costs, still introducing it to friends and family, still nurturing it and working hard to give it the best possible start in life. It is a fun and satisfying time. It is a time of reflection, to reminisce about those things you did not think you could do but you did, to remember the challenges you had to face, the systems you discovered, the processes you had to learn, the words you never knew existed, and the tactics you used which proved to work no matter how much they made you cringe.

 

A natural parent

 

As a proud parent, you are experiencing a combination of joy, love, and a deep sense of accomplishment. You feel a warm glow in your heart when you see your baby achieve something, no matter how small. A rush of nostalgia pushes you to reflect on the growth you have witnessed both in yourself and your first-born. The wider world has not changed, yet your world has. You feel a sense of connection, motivation, appreciation, and gratitude. You feel capable and confident. Your heart is racing with excitement as you prepare for your next journey.

 

These journeys may seem unrelated at first, but they both begin with a choice. Choosing to follow your heart feeds the soul and encourages you to grow stronger than your former self would have thought possible. There are just over eight billion people on Earth, and no one can offer what you can. The world needs your book baby.

 

Warning: Parental responsibility is a mental minefield and is best ventured into with an open mind, a little patience, a lot of courage (and snacks), and a sprinkling of luck.

 

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Born in Cambridge, England, Karen had administrative jobs for 13 years before realising that colour-coding emails was just not creative enough!

 

Being described as “the most organised author I have ever worked with” by a Pan Macmillan editor encouraged her to turn her literary dream into a reality.

 

When she is not reading her debut children’s board book (The Adventurous Panda Bear Visits Asia), writing stories, poetry, or to-do lists, you will find her enjoying the Devonshire countryside with her family, who she considers to be the most precious thing in her life.

 

Find out more about her at www.karenbarrett.co.uk.