Stepping Out of my Comfort Zone
With the Support of my Vocal Friends
So, I've done something I didn't plan on doing. I'm not normally a spontaneous person; I put a lot of thought into what I'm going to do. When I first came across Vocal in the last of June of 2021, I thought about the pros and cons of joining for a week, with the tab open, before signing up. What decided me was the fact that if nothing else, I could start as a reader until I was brave enough to post.
As each of you can tell, I finally got over my silly cowardice about posting my little stories and poems. I originally began one day in July of 2021, for my enjoyment. Just to write about a dream I had, for me to read later. Mist and Smoke didn't get any reads that year, but I didn't care, because I wrote it for me.
I didn't start writing poetry for Vocal until two years ago, when they ran the Distraction Acrostic challenge. Fun fact about me: I hated poetry in high school, and until I decided to enter the acrostic challenge that year, I hadn't written one piece of poetry in 30 years. To say I was rusty wouldn't be wrong, that was for sure. The only reason it received any attention at the time was that it was entered into a challenge. I appreciated each read and comment, but once again, I wrote for me and to see if I could. The Distraction of the Thunderstorm was the start of my addiction to writing poetry on Vocal. Now I can't seem to get enough of telling a tale through verse.
Well, it's been a long journey, almost four years. Some of you, like Jay Kantor, Doc Sherwood, and Dharrsheena Raja Segarran have been around since nearly the start. While others like Celia and River in Underland, Mikeydred Singleton, Kelli, Randy, and many, many, so many others, have become family later on.
Many have encouraged me to take this final step. A step I never did plan. You see, I've been happily coasting along inside my comfort zone. Enjoying the fact that not only were my stories and poems entertaining me, but now they were entertaining my friends and family who followed me. Then, I posted the poem Sunshine and Butterfly Kisses / Sean and Old Lady Moore - and something changed.
The response was overwhelming. Many enjoyed the poem, saying it had a nursery rhyme feel to it, and loved it so much. Each comment made brought so much joy to my heart, and a tear to my eye. Then Rommi spoke, and Tiffa-go, Paul, Euan, Dharr, and D.K. also added to their agreements, Children's Book, all the way. Hitting on a long-forgotten dream of being a Children's Book Author. ~ ~ Synchronicity ~ ~
So, here I am. I went and decided to self-publish. Mainly because I am a controlling arse, but also because I wouldn't have to deal with too many people. After all, I am stepping out of my comfort zone here. Sometimes baby steps seem huge.
So, without any more prompt and circumstance, let me introduce you to Sunshine and Butterfly Kisses / Sean and Old Lady Moore, published on Amazon with extra pictures! ~ ~ In no way is this a plea for you to buy my book ~ ~
Once again, thank you to all my friends and supporters for encouraging me to get this far! I appreciate you all more than you can know.
Also, thank you to this platform, Vocal, for giving me this outlet to use and helping me improve my self-esteem through challenges, top stories, and leaderboard awards.
All of you ROCK!!
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Comments (25)
Congratulations, Mother! I will have to leave this up on my computer so I can come back to it once I've caught up.
What a great step forward... Congratulations on publishing and this placement!
More pleased than punch for you! What a journey! As authentic as they come and I am mega-proud of you Creative One. Congratulations on a great read and leaderboard placement!
This is so exciting! Your journey on Vocal sounds so much similar to mine (well, at least how I started and finally working it up to share more vulnerable work like poetry that were surprisingly well received). Congrats on your leaderboard placement and wish you the best with your book💖
MC, this was such a relatable piece of me!! I felt all of it, from the starting as a reader to the eventual publishing of my first book!! I love that your first is a children's book and it's sooo cute!! Congrats!!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your Leaderboard placement! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉
I'm not healthy enough yet to be back but I wanted to say congrats on your bobb and the leaderboard placement, M.C. both great accomplishments!
Get it Mother! So happy 4 you! You will be on my booklist when I get paid! I hope that you sell a ton of books! Yay! Congratulations! 🎉
Just recommended this for a Top Story in Raise Your Voice here https://shopping-feedback.today/resources/raise-your-voice-thread-06-19-2025%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Out if the comfort zone is the way to go! Happy for you Sharon! Is this a compilation of similar verses?
This is awesome. Congratulations on such a huge step. You've certainly got the talent to chase your dreams. But having the courage is sometimes much more rare.
You rock, MC!! Of course I just bought a copy, and of course I'll enjoy it, haha. 💛💛 A giant congratulations. So very happy for you! This will be the first publication of many, right? 😊 Also, that's relatable about not liking poetry back at school but enjoying it now. It must be something to do with the way schools teach it. Poked my little heart with that little shout out, lol. Thank you. I had a little read of the story and poem you attached (couldn't resist). Great job on everything, MC! Wishing you the absolute best!!
Omgggg, you finallyyyyyy did it! I'm soooo happy for you! 😍😍😍😍😍😍 I'm proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone for this. Baby steps go a long way. I wish you all the best for whatever may come your way. Hehehehe I'm soooo excited!
Congratulations, Sharon, on publishing a book! It’s a big step and I wish for you that it finds its reader.
Congratulations on taking that step and now so many more will read your poetry! Yay for you! 💕🎈🗣️🥳🎉
Turning a dream into reality is a momentous occasion! Congratulations!🎉🎈🍾🎊
Congratulations Sharon. I am working on my first book myself, as the spreader of smiles. In my case - no matter how old I get, I am trying new things. In fact I am trying new things more now. I am happy for you. I found your name again because Paul called you by your first name. At 75, I don't feel comfortable calling you Mother. Nicely Done!!!!
Omg, that's amazing! Congratulations 🎊 I've always wanted to write a children's book, but I haven't really written any fiction stories, so I have no idea where to start.
Ooooh, this will be added to the ever-growing list of "must-buy Vocal books" Congrats, Sharon and hope it goes well. Proud of you and pleased for you. EXciting stuff and well done on stepping outside your comfort zone. It takes guts, but is worth it when it's for something like this!
Congratulations and good luck!
Thanks for sharing this, and being on Vocal allows to self publish. I am so happy for you
Congrats, keep writing and keep growing. 👏👏💖🌺
That's so amazing, Mother!!! I'm so happy for you! Maybe this is where your journey has been leading all this time. To realize and actualize it is something to be proud of! Best of luck with your new baby! 💖
Aw sweetheart. YOU ROCK! Its a big step and its bloody awesome 💜