I can trace the roots of this dream back realllllly far.
In 2015, I started creating + sending out a weekly journaling kit, and have sent out a weekly journaling kit every week since then!
And then in 2017 I self-published 2 guided journal/colouring books which are no longer available. And, of course, my Journal Cards for Dreamers.
I loved those books and cards, and I had ideas for dozens more, but it didn't quite feel like the right time, and other projects took precedent.
Then in the last year, this dream came back with a vengeance, and with much more clarity and heft.
In hindsight, I can see that I needed to develop my ideas which became Creative Dream Alchemy and the Dream Book approach to journaling while also developing my visual voice (by creating the weekly journaling kits) for how I want to create the guided journals.
Everything fell into place... except the logistics around publishing, printing, sales and distribution. Just that little piece 😉
I've had a lot of ideas for how to do this.
I've done a lot of research.
And I got very tangled up in everything I learned.
This is a TOTALLY NORMAL stage of creative dreams. When you dig in and start looking at all of the details OF COURSE you will get lost in them.
In 2017 I published those books through Amazon because their self publishing system is really simple. They make it easy to sell your book almost anywhere in the world.
BUT seeing how much profit Amazon made during the pandemic while not paying taxes or treating their employees well, I stopped using Amazon as a customer and didn't want to use them with my business.
So I went ahead with a non-Amazon option.... but by the time I had my first journal ready to publish, the retail cost was $200 - plus shipping! It was a GORGEOUS journal with luscious paper but I really don't want these journals to be precious.
Then as I sat with this tangly mess of ideas and obstacles and dreams and wishes I realised that I have only THREE priorities right now:
- Dream Book: both as a participant and leader
- Making new guided journals
- Epic Self Care/feeling good and enjoying myself
That's all.
I don't want to gather and manage a team and build a publishing empire... right now.
And I don't want to keep figuring out the details of the physical journals.
The idea of just making my journals and putting them out there in a simple way by myself feels REALLY REALLY GOOD.
There are no real rules when it comes to your dreams, but for me, the simplest way is often the best way.
You can refine and embellish and expand as you go. But start with whatever way feels do-able to who you are today.
So, for now, I am going back to Amazon.
Later on I can do it differently! In fact, my research showed me an AMAZING way to build the Creative Dream Incubator Press... but it will make more sense to work on that part AFTER I have a bunch of journals completed.
Amazon makes it easy for me to put out there, and easy for people to buy from anywhere in the world.
I've spent A LOT of time and energy working through details and plans and also processed A LOT feelings about this and I am not interested in feedback from anyone at this time. Amazon is not how I wanted to do this AND it's the right way for me to do this right now. I think it's a really beautiful metaphor for how our dreams help us build a better world, but to get there we need to be present in this world, as it is today.
I am now getting ready to publish THREE new guided journals! It's a series called Let's Do This: Guided Journals for your Impossible Project.
It's three journals for the three stages of working on your project:
- Going from "OMG I want to do this and OMG I don't know if I can and OMG am I stuck? and OMG this is too hard, is it??!?!" to feeling ready to begin.
- A journaling process for creating MOMENTUM out of little steps, and learning as you go. (Build The Path By Walking)
- A whole journal of journaling processes for navigating the INNER work of growing into the version of you who definitely CAN do this thing.
Watch this space!
