Publish Afraid

Hi there! I’m Mia Brody, and my books have earned over one million dollars. Words are how I make my living, but today I’d like to share four numbers that matter more…

Twenty-five cents. It’s the amount of change I searched the couch for. Desperately clawing at the cushions and not letting the fat tears roll down my cheeks. Twenty-five cents would buy dinner, and I wouldn’t go hungry. That day, I told myself to take a long look around because I wasn’t going to live this struggle forever. One day, it would be my past.

Sixty-eight dollars. The number of dollars I earned the first month I published. 

Looking at the figure, I told my mom that I was spending far more to publish the books than I was making back. I was essentially paying people to read my work.

She said to keep going. To let it grow.

Ten thousand dollars. The first five-figure month I went to a furniture store and replaced the old couch I had so desperately searched for coins.

A hundred thousand dollars. That’s what I made from my writing the year I bought my first house.

Five years can change your life. Five years of too little sleep, too much caffeine and the knowledge that I could not—would NOT—give up.

If I were starting over again today, I’d give myself the same advice I’d give you…

Publish afraid.

Everything I’ve ever done in this career, I’ve done with clammy hands and knocking knees.

Every book published.

Every podcast interview.

Every speech or class.

Always terrified.

Maybe it’s supposed to get better or easier at some point. It never has for me, and I’m OK with that.

Make peace with your fear. Let it drive you to do your best work.

Then publish afraid.

Xoxo,

Mia