Unexpected journeys.
It’s funny, how the journey we are on, can just change its course, in a flash. We expect journeys or plans to change over years right, but why is it always more unexpected, when it changes from week to week, or month to month, as if things aren’t going to plan? How do you feel when plans change, does it make you feel nervous or exhilarated?
Blogging
Only two blog posts ago, I lamented the fact, that I hadn’t kept my commitment to post regularly every two weeks, and now its been three weeks since my last one. Funnily enough, I don’t care as much because I have a good reason, although my reasons back then, were also really valid, so go figure! This time, my reason was that I had my head deep in my proposal, because after four months, I was finally in a place where it was nearly ready to go back to my editor, for a final review. So, I just needed to keep my focus, not get distracted and just get it done.
Except, every time I thought it was ready to go across, I’d spot something else wrong or something else I’d missed and then had to go back and re-edit and delete chunks of text, because I’d gone over the damn word count again. I was consumed by this process, which was absorbing, exhausting, frustrating and fulfilling, but I’d also gotten to the point where I didn’t think it would ever be good enough. So, I’m going to send it anyway and leave it for the experts to let me know what they think, what needs to change and what they love, because right now, I can’t see the wood for the trees.
I’ve also shared it with two friends for their feedback. One is a friend, who knows me and my journey. That one is fine. The other, is a new friend I’ve just met, who doesn’t know my story and kindly offered to read my draft. I’m literally shitting bricks, at someone I don’t know, but want to get to know better, reading my story, before they even get to know me. Into the fire, I go!
Stepping out
In my post Small Steps Is Still Progress, I talked about how I’d suffered from body dysmorphia, for twenty years. As part of my market research, I’d gotten in touch with The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation (BDDF) a few months ago, as I couldn’t find much data on the mental health pandemic, facing the South Asian community. Mental health and body shame, are things rarely talked about in my culture, so it was hard to find the data and stats that I needed to include in the proposal, to show potential agents, that there would be a market and audience, for my book.
Due to giving them the wrong email address, it was months before I heard back. When I finally chased, two things happened at speed. I was put in touch with someone by email, who was and is a BDD sufferer, as well as suffering from OCD and an eating disorder. Her name is Sandeep and she has been doing some amazing advocacy work, despite her mental health struggles, for the BDDF. She also recently fronted a campaign, BDDF launched in partnership with Monki, an ethical fashion brand, which was released on International Women’s Day this year, link below. Then in quick succession, I spoke with Sandeep, face-to-face on a call last week, to chat through our experiences in more depth. Afterwards, I couldn’t believe where my journey had taken me.
When I’d started writing my manuscript, I had no idea it was going to bring me here, to a place where I would be talking to someone who had suffered from the same condition I suffered from, in silence and shame for 20 years. For anyone, who might be suffering from this awful condition or knows someone who is, please do watch this documentary that was made about Sandeep’s experience The Angel and the Devil (from the 'Breaking the Silence' documentary series). I hope it can help you or the person you know, to not feel so alone in this.
AMMAI journal
I’ve also spent the last two years working on something, which I haven’t really talked about on here, because there wasn’t much to say, until now. Alongside, writing my memoir about my mental health struggles, I had also been working on an idea to design, produce and sell luxury leather journals covers with refillable pages, to be sold as a one-off or on a subscription basis.
Journalling is so helpful for managing mental health and once I’d finished my book, I realised how aligned both these things were. While still in development, I received a sample of the product that I had made, on the weekend, and have to admit, the sense of pride I felt, in bringing this to fruition.
My aim, is that when I launch the journals on this website and social media, a percentage of each sale will be donated to a mental health charity of choice, such as Mind or BDDF. The subscription model is also a great way of building a loyal customer base, through relevant and engaging content, so this is also very much part of my marketing plan, within the proposal.
What’s next….
Next week, I’m attending a one day Brand Strategy workshop and have also joined a 6-week online workshop, called How To Build A Personal Brand. Even though, I work in advertising, developing my own personal brand, for my own work, is completely out of my comfort zone and I need some outside help! My next post, will be on exactly this, because I think creating a personal brand, is key to building an audience, who will engage with your book, the message you are trying to communicate and mostly importantly, who you are as an author. In this digital world of ours, it’s essential to have a brand that people can connect with, amongst all the noise out there.
In meantime, I’d love to know more about your journey so far, how it’s changed and if its changed for the better, or even for the worse because a problem shared, is a problem you are halfway through solving.
Until next time.
X
