Category: Beginnings

My First Book Fair as an Indie Author

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, Mindset, Writing

There are things I never thought I’d do.

Like participating in a book fair as an indie author. I thought that’d take me years to do. That I needed at least ten books published and commercial success to feel like I belonged in these kinds of events.

I had the opportunity to try something new at the Indies and Oddballs Book Fair. I completely ignored that mindset of “you need to be an established author”. I’m proud to say this was my first live event. I felt like I was discovering a new world of possibilities, even while still fighting my mind talking me out of that. Luckily, my curiosity for this experience was greater than my fear.

As I waited for the big day, I came across a few things that helped me approach it with a more grounded and optimistic lens.

Kobe Bryant on Failure

Kobe Bryant was once asked if he was a player who loved to win or hated to lose. His answer is one of the wisest things I’ve ever heard.

I play to figure things out. I play to learn something. If you play with a fear of failure or you play with the will to win (…) it’s a weakness either way. 

If you play with the fear of failing, you’ll have the pressure on yourself to play to capitulate to that fear. If you play with the sense of ‘I want to win, I want to win’, then you have the fear of what happens if you don’t. But if you find common ground in the middle, then it doesn’t matter. You’re unfazed by either, and that enables you to really stay in the moment. Stay connected to it and not feel anything other than what’s in front of you.

 

Watching this interview before the book fair helped me stay grounded. I thought it’d be beneficial to not get obsessed with sales or what could possibly go wrong. I could see that the best attitude was being fully present in the moment.

This made my experience much more enjoyable. Every moment at the fair was full of opportunities to learn from everyone around me.

Depeche Mode as Beginners

I came across this video on YouTube. Watching Depeche Mode perform live in their early days is wholesome. A simple stage. Small venue. All four members playing for the love of music regardless of the number of people around.

It hit me: Everybody has to start in one way or another. As an indie author, I’m in that phase too. Learning. Participating at book fairs even though I have zero experience.

Whether we are musicians, writers or any kind of artist, we’re there for the love of the craft. Not for the number of people who show up. This video was a beautiful reminder of that.

A Seasoned Author’s Voice

I read an article by author Chuck Sambuchino’s article on how to maximize a book festival appearance. He provided nine tips, and all of them were spot on.

As I kept doing some more research, my main takeaway was this:

The point of these events is the connections we make. While the number of sales is an important aspect, being able to talk about our books and the stories behind our stories is what allows connection.

That also helped me approach the day with a different perspective. On that day, I got to meet lovely and inspiring indie authors. I also chatted a little bit with some people who came by and got curious about my book. I was happy to go beyond the salesy pitch.

Connecting was, by far, the best part of this experience.

 

How wonderful that life is always offering first times at any given moment. I’m so glad I went for it. I’m so glad this was my first event ever.

I’m now more motivated to keep going.

New Year, New Unknown

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings

Happy New Year!

May 2026 bring you fantastic opportunities to discover more of you.

Whatever your profession is, wherever you go, however you’re choosing to approach your challenges, may you remember that you’ve got everything to face any challenges.

This is exactly what I love the vibe of a new year. We all begin with a clean slate. We believe this time something can be different.

It already is.

You Don’t Have to Start Quickly

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings

First of all, happy new year!

May you have a wonderful 2025 full of great experiences. May you accomplish all you have planned for yourself in the next 12 months.

Whether you are full of energy or not, here’s an interesting approach to consider as you take the first few steps into your goals/resolutions:

Austin Kleon always has a great perspective on beginnings.

Remember: you can go slowly and still reach your goals.

When Building Creative Identity, Consistency is a Superpower

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, Mindset

What’s your creative identity? If this the first time that you ask yourself this question, let me give you a starting point: consistency is an element of it. It’s a superpower that is yours to discover. It’s present in the small things you do every single day to move forward with your creative projects.

Actually, the ‘small’ things, are not so small.

I accumulated small but consistent habits that ultimately led to results that were unimaginable when I started.

James Clear

Consistency is born from building habits. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, is well known for his insights on tiny changes that bring remarkable results. His work has introduced profound perspectives on identity-based habits for lasting change. Among his many notable proposals is the idea of creating a new identity that reflects the behaviour of the creative person you want to be.

How is creative identity linked to consistency, and how does that help? According to Clear, you’ve got to start believing new things about yourself and prove them through small repeated wins.

Continue reading “When Building Creative Identity, Consistency is a Superpower” →

A Fresh Idea for 2023: Your Time is Not a Democracy

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, Mindset

As a new year unfolds, here’s an idea that I think it’s worth reflecting on: your time is not a democracy.

A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast episode on The Chase Jarvis Live Show entitled “Your Life is Not a Democracy“. I thought about the same idea, but applied to time and how it’s our responsibility to make the most of it to live a fulfilling life.

Time can be tricky. Time can be a blur. There isn’t enough time for everything at once.

Some days, you wish you had more hours to work on as many projects as possible; however, other days, everything just seems to be moving slowly, and momentum fades away. Regardless of what any given day brings, it’s you the one deciding where your focus is.

Then again, your time is not a democracy.

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On beginnings: why you need to get started now

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, Thoughts

I want to share a few thoughts on beginnings:

Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.

alan cohen

Reading that quote reminds me of different conversations I’ve had with friends or colleagues. When talking about big life projects, I would often hear: “I need to get really good at ‘x’ thing to then start my own business.” “I need a few more years of experience.” “I’m waiting for the perfect moment.” “When I become an expert, I’ll get started.”

I can relate to all those thoughts. In the past, I used similar phrases, too. It’s scary to begin something when you feel you’re not good enough or when circumstances make it seem almost impossible.

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Seek to be worth knowing and the rest will follow

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, InspirationLeave a comment

Sometimes, an idea or a thought are enough to acquire a new philosophy. A spark is all you need to keep lighting your own way. Recently, I came across the idea “seek to be worth knowing,” proposed by Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC).

I’ve always admired him. His teachings focused on self-cultivation, emulation of moral exemplars, and skilled judgment rather than knowledge of rules. I thought that, when it comes to creativity, the same principles apply.

On self-cultivation, the following idea is marvellous:

Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.

Confucius

In a creative journey, you start from zero. Nobody knows what you do or what messages you’re trying to convey. However, the important part is not producing a masterpiece after a masterpiece to gain fame and become a recognizable face. It’s about sharing who you are through your ideas; through your craft.

You build a reputation from something that matters to you. As you keep sharing your work, it resonates with others. They get interested, and then they decide to connect or ‘buy’ you. It’s that resonance that makes you a person worth knowing.

So don’t worry if you don’t have many followers on social media or enough subscribers on your newsletter. Avoid obsessing over numbers and stressful metrics. Above all, make sure your work is worth exploring.

Discipline will get you there.

What are your thoughts?

Long term over short term games: choose one to play

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, InspirationLeave a comment

I’ve been thinking about the meaning of choosing long-term over short-term games in any aspect. You name it, personal goals, business strategies, career paths and so on. There’s an urgency to see results as soon as we start working so that we feel accomplished. However, in the game of life, processes to achieve results are non-linear.

“How can I easily reach my goals this year?” “What are the best hacks to find the quickest path to success?” The truth is, there’s no shortcut. It’s important to understand the game we want to play. Anything that’s worth achieving requires a long-term journey.

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How to approach the editing process when you’re a new author

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, Writing1 Comment

Last month, I experienced one of the greatest moments of joy that a writer can savour: finishing a manuscript. Seeing every chapter full of life, dialogues and monologues was glorious. Celebrating such an accomplishment was certainly meaningful; however, the work doesn’t stop there. The next immediate action is seeking an editor.

I did my own rounds of editing, but I’ve always known that, when it comes to ensuring that your story flows properly, a fresh pair of eyes is a must. This is the first book that I’m self-publishing, and it’s crucial to invest in its quality so that the world can enjoy it.

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Ideas to nurture your creative self: How an hour of your time can make a difference

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, InspirationLeave a comment

The more you reinvent yourself, the more you become you. This is one of the ideas that resonated with me the most at the Adobe 99U Conference. For a few years now, I’ve been dying to attend this conference, which usually takes place every year in New York City. In 2020, though, organizers adapted all keynotes, master classes and workshops in a digital format.

We’re still getting through the pandemic, but it hasn’t extinguished our desire to lead a creative life. In uncertain times, redefining ourselves is the best way to find solutions to our challenges at personal and professional levels.

Continue reading “Ideas to nurture your creative self: How an hour of your time can make a difference” →