Young House Love

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Behind The Scenes Details Of Writing A Book

It’s Tuesday afternoon, which means it’s high time for some over-sharing (aw yeah, let’s talk about feelings, shall we?). The very first hot-off-the-presses copy of our book arrived via Fed Ex yesterday and it kind of melted my brain a little, I think.

Book Here1

We couldn’t stop beaming at it and saying things like “It’s real! It has pages! It has a cover! It has our names on it!” – but I’d be lying if I said that “crazy-pants excited” was my only response to seeing it there on the floor looking all real and book-like.

Book Here2

I’m also skeered. Really scared actually.

And since I’ve spilled my guts about 14 months of breast feeding, owned up to a bunch of my unglamorous $herdog quirks, and even a copped to a beyond embarrassing teenage moment caught on video with a certain platinum-haired rapper, I’m cool with dropping this whole “jittery sweaty-palmed fear is actively happening” truth bomb. I mean I think I can be described as a lot of things, but I wouldn’t call myself especially brave. I have normal insecurities and self-doubts and all that. The book is a really big thing, so it feels especially scary. And for some reason I thought that pouring my heart out in a little online ditty could be the emotional equivalent to owning it (and perhaps others who’ve struggled with similar things might chime in and make me feel less weird). So here it goes.

Book Styled

I think it’s one thing to keep an online DIY diary for the world to read for free, but somehow putting out a book that then exists in the universe forever feels a lot more intimidating. Sure it’s hardly a high-profile thriller or much anticipated non-fiction, but there’s something crazy about not just being able to toss up an update if there’s a sentence that’s unclear or a typo that sneaks through like we do on the blog. The words that we wrote in that manuscript back in 2011 are printed and soon they’ll be on a shelf. Lots of shelves. And it just feels a lot more weighty and permanent.

Book Editing

Plus people have to pay for it. We worked darn hard to keep the price down, and even though books are returnable or re-sellable (and we got on our publisher’s last nerve to keep that price down) it still feels a lot… bigger. More complicated than a blog post by about 500 percent. I mean it’s 336 pages long with 243 suggestions/tips/projects, so it’s sort of like secretly writing 243 different posts and then publishing them all at once for a fee and then not getting to update or edit them if anything about any of them calls for a little note. Wait, it’s not sort of like that, it’s exactly like that. Maybe that’s why it feels a lot scarier.

It was also pretty intimidating to plan the entire book over three years. Finalizing the outline a year and a half in advance (that’s when we pinned down every last project) and shooting all the projects nearly a year ago (in an epic three week marathon at our house where neither of us remember eating or sleeping) was definitely like nothing we’ve ever done.

ShootDay1 Messy Living Room

It was nerve-wracking in that “what if we regret these color or fabric choices later?” kind of way.

BookTimeline

I’ve even had nightmares that there were typos on every page, chunks of blank pages, and even a particularly vivid one about some fictitious magazine that somehow recreated every last one of our projects identically (same exact fabrics and colors!) and scooped us by publishing them before our book came out. Oh yeah, my brain can go a little nuts whirring away while I’m laying in bed thinking of all the ways this endeavor could make me want to crawl under the covers a la Burger:

DayLife 25 Burger In Bed

But this little freak-out fest does have a silver lining. The thing that I feel the most – even stronger that the jitters and self-doubt – is actually gratitude and pride. Not “I’m an author, look at me” pride, just “wow we actually did this” pride. Sometimes I can’t believe that I somehow convinced myself (and John) to put ourselves out there and write a book. Knowing that just like our blog not everyone will love it, and that’s ok. Blogging has taught is that we can’t please all of the people all of the time, so we want to focus on the positive and amazing aspects of this experience. Whenever I’m feeling especially clammy I just remind myself that there hasn’t been a single book on the planet that was beloved by everyone who ever read it (some of my faves have 5-star reviews as well as 1-star ones) so that helps me let go of that “be perfect or you suck!” voice in the back of my mind. Imperfect = real life. Like this crazy seconds-from-a-paw-yank family photo from last week:

About Picture3

So you can find me hiding under the covers with Burger when I get that guts-in-knots feeling, but don’t get me started about how excited I am for the tour. I know meeting you guys will be awesome and I’m literally giddy with excitement to thank you guys in person for the love you’ve shown us. And speaking of the tour, they added four more signings! Woot.

TourDates3

You can see more general tour info on our book page (just click the tour dates button), but here’s the news that we have so far on the new dates:

  • RIDGEWOOD, NJ: Friday, November 2, 7pm – Bookends, 211 Ridgewood Ave, book signing. More info here.
  • WASHINGTON, DC: Saturday, December 1st, Time TBD – Living Social, 918 F Street, Talk, holiday crafting, and book signing. More details to be released here.
  • RICHMOND, VA: Sunday, December 2nd, 1pm – Mongrel, 2924 W. Cary Street, book signing. Store information here.
  • CHARLOTTE, NC: Early February. Other details TBD

*There’s also serious talk about an Atlanta stop while we’re nearby in Charlotte, so we’ll keep you posted! And of course other places like Philly & Cali are still being chatted about. We wish we had more control over what cities we’re hitting! It really is all about who invites us where (so it has nothing to do with how big a city is, it’s all about if a certain vendor or bookstore works with the dates/times/etc).

Anyway, thanks to you guys for being so excited and supportive about this whole crazy book journey! It’s kind of a big deal in our little lives, and you’re just the best readers ever. So in return we’re burning the midnight oil to churn out a bunch of projects for ya (even when we’re slipping through 20 cities we’ll be doing our best to blog at our regular pace, with lots of secretly stockpiled makeovers & projects of ours along with house crashing & window shopping adventures a plenty). Not to mention that we have another before-and-after-fest in the hopper for you tomorrow.

Not sure how to end this ramble-fest, so… word to your motha. $herdog out.

Comments

  1. epi says

    Dear Sherry and John…

    Congratulations on your book, i’m a biggest fan of DIY and both of you are such a great inspirations. I hope your book will be available in Indonesia :-). Congrats again and wish a more success in the future

    Reply

  3. teri woods says

    Just squealed like a little girl. This NC girl is very happy about your added stops!!!!! Nothing to be worried about because you guys totally rock and the book is going to be a huge hit…I just know it!!!!!!!

    Reply

  4. Sayward says

    SHUT UP!!! Tonight on the way home I was praying that you guys would end up in NJ or PA AND I’m already taking off of work on November 2nd because I’m going to see fun. in concert the night before. Best. November. Ever. I’ll try to score you some fun. swag, but I’m fifty million times more excited about you guys than them. Me and my one and only bra are totally there.

    Reply

  5. Julie says

    Worry not Sherry. Your book will be ahhhhh-mazing and the five star reviews will far surpass the one stars. I’m a print designer and there is nothing better than having your printed work in your hands – a real thing to hold! And I can tell you that the errors you see won’t be noticeable to anyone else, so breathe easy.

    Already signed up to see you guys in NYC and super excited (in a dorky kinda, star-struck way).

    To calm your nerves, lets move to food. Just saw your added locations of Ridgewood, NJ and Washington, DC. Having grown up in Northern NJ and lived for years in DC I feel like I need to give you some food recs. Up the street from Bookends is The Ridgewood Country Pancake House http://countrypancakehouse.net/ Literally over 100 types of pancakes that are larger than your head. It’s insane, soooo good and perfect even for dinner. And when you’re in Washington, DC, swing by Ted’s Bulletin for some home-made pop tarts http://tedsbulletin.com/ And when you’re here in NYC, well the list is endless :)

    Can not wait for your book and get started on some projects!

    Reply

  6. Erica says

    I think you would be crazy if you weren’t nervous! I would be too! It’s like an even bigger version of turning in a term paper because many, many more people are going to read it! I’m sure it will be great, and there won’t be any typos! I can’t wait to read it, and I can’t wait to see you on Saturday in Cincinnati!

    Reply

  7. Rebecca says

    Yes yes yes, please come to Philly! I and my best friend are avid fans, and as soon as I heard you were doing a tour we were crossing our fingers for Philadelphia!! We would love to have you, it’s an awesome city. ;-)

    Reply

  8. Kelsey says

    You should come to Kansas City! Rainy Day Books here does a lot of signings at the Kansas City plaza, which is this super cool area with fountains and tiled buildings based to look like Spanish buildings. Anyway, now I’m rambling but please consider Kansas City if at all possible. :)

    Reply

  9. you know who this is says

    Dear Friends,
    Words can not express how immensely proud of you I am. You are amazing. pure and simple. I am so very very thrilled that your little bundle of joy finally arrived and I am insanely excited to get my own grubby hands on my own copy. In fact, I may have to lay down on the ground in an L-shape when I finally see the finished product :)
    Love y’all…
    xo k

    Reply

  10. Paige @ Little Nostalgia says

    Ya know, I feel like it’s totally normal to be scared about a project this huge! I’d be kind of worried if you guys were just taking it all in stride and acting like it ain’t no thang.

    Also, you should add a *mic drop* the next time you end with $herdog out. Holler!

    Reply

  11. Riva says

    Who cares if your book has typos? When I read the first Twilight book I almost gave up during the first chapter because it had been so poorly edited (a “who” that should have been a “whom” was almost the straw that broke the camel’s back). That book sold a gajillion copies and then there were sequels and movies and action figures. It’s the content that matters! Your movie deal is probably right around the corner ;) (and hopefully it’s not the sexy shirtless husband with chainsaw version from that pitch you got before!)

    Reply

  12. Lori says

    Put your fears aside, Sherry. I’m sure there will be so many that LOVE your book that those who don’t will be slim to none. I, myself, can’t wait to get my hands on one. As for Atlanta, I’m keeping my fingers, toes, legs, arms and anything else that I could possibly cross that you’ll come here.

    Reply

  13. Anna H says

    Hi, I just want you to know that I do think that you’re both brave! You put your heart and soul into this blog and put yourself out there every single day, failures and successes and that takes courage! There’s alot to be said for what you guys do! You entertain me everyday with not only your projects, but it’s more in your writing style and humor! Both of you! And it’s perfectly normal to be scared and want to hide under the covers with Burger! I am too scared to pursue alot of my dreams, so you guys are one step ahead of me and I respect you for what you do! It must be hard to budget home finances, know when to do what project, etc. I’m wordy too, so I’ll wrap this up by saying that you guys are great, I cannot wait to buy your book, and I know that I’ll love it, because I’ve loved every other post you’ve written! Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  14. Michelle says

    Very excited about the second DC event! I RSVPed for the first one in Georgetown but that can be inconvenient on a week night. However, I’ll be there! A friend from Philly might come down for the second one and if so, I’ll be there then too! Congratulations :)

    Reply

  15. RebeccaNYC says

    If you were not scared, you would not be human. I for one am very very glad you are human. Well done, and now…onward!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we hope to post updates (they’ll probably go up on our Tour page with all the info that we linked to here, and we’ll shout them out in a quick update at the beginning or end of a post about something else. Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

  18. Nicki says

    I am so happy for the two of you! Any time you veer down a path less travelled, it is scary! But remember when you quit your jobs to do the blog full time? What can possibly be more scary than that?? You will do great! (I think my husband thinks you guys are actual friends of mine because I refer to you two and the things on your blog so often, LOL)!! You aren’t coming near me for the tour, but your book is on my Christmas list! Good luck!

    Reply

  19. Teresa T. says

    I am so excited that you will be in Charlotte. I live in The Winston-Salem area and I have a birthday in early February, so I know what I will ask for for my birthday!
    Thank you, Teresa

    Reply

  20. Emily Johnston says

    SoCal, gf.
    How many do I need to preorder to get on the list?
    :-)
    My fingers are still crossed for San Diego, tho I would’ve willing to trek to Smell-A (aka LA) for an autographed copy.
    Just sayin.

    Reply

  21. Darcy says

    Yay Charlotte!!! I’ve been waiting on pre-ordering and I’m so glad I did because now I will get to buy a copy and see you guys at the same time! So excited for you and your book!

    Reply

  22. Kylie says

    Just wanted to say I am soooo in love with your blog and so excited for the book launch I will be putting in my preorder next week can’t wait to get it xxxx

    Reply

  23. Kitty says

    Just put a hold on a library copy. I know sales are important but I really am a library/frugal girl. Our library up in the far corner of the PNW ordered FIVE COPIES – yeah. I want to get my mitts on it right away.

    Reply

  24. Jocelyn Pascall says

    Yay! I am so excited for you guys! You know it’s funny, and I’m sure some of your other readers feel this way too, but I feel almost proud of you two, as if we have all been here, championing you along the way. As much as I love your ideas and suggestions, I also really like you both. You seem like nice, real and humble people and I feel nothing but happy for your continued success. Well done and I cannot wait to read the book!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw, you’re so sweet! We totally feel like you guys have been our best supporters and coaches along the way! We owe everything we have to you guys for continuing to encourage us and make us smile!

      xo
      s

  25. Sarah Blake says

    $herdog, i love you.

    That goes for you too, J-Boom.

    Seriously so excited, happy, giddy that you normal peeps are doing cool stuff like writing books and being scared that its so much more than your blog.

    Also I keep reading about this two book deal, so I’m gonna completely jump the gun and ask about what the next one will be like?!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, you’re so sweet Sarah. We love you right back. As for the second book, we haven’t even chatted about that one yet – probably because our publisher can sense that our heads might explode if we cross that bridge right now, so we’re going to wait for the tour to be over and life to go back to normal before we’re slapped with the assignment of outlining the next book. Haha! Although we haven’t pinned down what we’ll write about, it’ll most likely be like our blog (full of a mix of projects and ideas on the cheap) so it could just act like a Part 2 of the first book with a few hundred more ideas!

      xo
      s

  26. Samantha says

    I love looking at your site, I’ve been doing DIY for many years and have a background in Textile design and I’m not easily impressed, but both of you have a great eye, truly great! I am inspired daily and you always put an extra spring in my step as I go about my own projects.I am totally excited about your book and I can wait to get my hands on a copy. You guys are actually coming to NYC and I toyed with the idea of coming to meet you for the signing but I’m too shy for that kind of thing I think.I’ll just admire you and send you good wishes from a far and one day post my 2 apartment-into-one NYC renovation, complete with hand printed textiles for some feedback :)
    Best of luck on the tour!

    Reply

  27. Liz says

    the YHL book is a featured ad on my facebook!! So excited for you!! I would totally be freaking out if I had a book coming out but I know that you will rock it. :)

    Reply

  28. Shauna says

    So many great comments, but here’s another one. Fears…my own was actually this: Can I really be a house owner? Imagine that. And I’ve overcome that. You have to go there to overcome it. You guys are impressive in so many ways, and having a semi-permanent form on a coffee table of your brilliant post-like ideas is truly a gift to your public. Thank you!

    Reply

  30. Tonya says

    So excited about the Charlotte stop!! I must say I was bummed when I saw the initial tour dates… But now a North Carolina stop!!! I can’t wait to meet you guys!!!!!

    Reply

  31. Megan says

    I can’t wait to get your book, however living in Australia means that mine won’t arrive until December. It would be good if one of our stores wanted you over here but you’d probably get invited to Sydney and I’d have to fly in just to see you. Can’t wait I’m so evcited…..

    Reply

  32. Bethie says

    Woah! I just realised that I’ll be on tour in Florida when you’re all in Miami! I’ll totes be there! I’ll be the pasty chick amongst the beautifully tanned folk. ;)

    And feeling apprehensive and scared about something this big is super normal. I have similar emotions about my career as a singer. Once a performance, recording, Youtube video, etc. is out there, it’s out there! You’ve got to hope that you’re preparation and skill have been/are good enough. It is difficult to let go of that control but can be totally freeing once you really believe in what you do! Congrats!

    Reply

  33. Fe says

    YAY! You’re coming to Charlotte! QC Baby! I was wondering with my angry “we are a real city, ya know” attitude how you could skip over Charlotte. There are so many little cool houses here you would love! And Charlotte will love you. This will be my early birthday present to myself(march), I hope you sign my book!

    Reply

  34. Sian says

    Just ordered you’r book so excited to get it but it won’t arrive till December :( guess it takes a long time to get to the UK oh well lol can’t wait to read it good luck with the tour I know you will have a fab time x

    Reply

  36. Gabby says

    I wanted to comment yesterday but darn it, the computer went nuts so I couldn’t!!

    I have a silly question for you, but probably directed more towards Sherry. When you took the book out of the packaging, did you smell it? I LOVE the smell of a new book and always have a sniff of the pages when I buy one. Yeah, it’s weird, I know. You are not alone in the quirky behaviour!!

    Anyways, I just wanted to say that you’ll be a huge success guys and I wish you all the very best with the tour. Wish you were coming to Europe though. :(

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hah! Yes! I smelled it (mmmm, paper). And later I found myself hugging it (true story). And the next day I was sort of petting the cover. We have a very weird relationship, me and this book. Haha!

      xo
      s

  37. Becca says

    You’re going to be just fine. I love your blog because you guys are real. Easy to relate to. Fun. Not just crazy talented with great taste. A typo or two won’t change my opinion of you guys. So relax. You’re among friends.

    One last pep talk: When I was a kid, I was involved in Mock Law (you know, where you do competition things and act out a faux trial). I was an attorney and had to give my opening/closing speech. Whatever. This is all inconsequential. The point is: Someone told me before I went up there (basically), “Relax. You’re going to be fine. Just remember that everyone here is rooting for you. We are all cheering you on, not hoping for a mistake.” Somehow it made a big difference, to know I was among friends.

    You are, too.

    Reply

  38. Claire O'Connor says

    Sherry, I think it actually TOTALLY normal to ride waves of both excitement/pride and fear when expanding out into a new realm of endeavor. That’s how we’re wired as mammals. A also have found that dancing/moving, breathing and loving-what-is to be the best response. I think it helps re-wire my nervous system somehow to be comfortable at that next level of visibility. You rawk! Good on you both for bringing this baby on through to fruition!

    Reply

  42. Michelle says

    Good luck with the tour! I preordered my copy a little while ago, can’t wait to see it. It’s got a bit of travel to do as I am from Adelaide, South Australia. :)

    Reply

  44. Monika says

    I can believe that you are nervous/excited because I am so nervous about meeting you that I’m almost thinking of backing out of going. Isn’t that truly loser-ish of me?!?? I hope I get the courage. You guys rock!

    Reply

  45. Jenn @therebelchick says

    OMG You’re coming to Miami!!! I am so coming to your book signing! :)

    I am thrilled that you guys put out a book – I didn’t even know about this because I’m kind of a new reader. I bet it’s awesome!

    Reply

  46. L says

    I remember reading Helen Hayes’ autobiography (probably before your time, but she was a Broadway great when that meant something) and she said that she NEVER did not get butterflies before going on stage.

    You have book butterflies. That’s not only okay, it’s normal.

    And as your own comment note says, “it’s only decorating”.Great job, and enjoy your tour!!

    Reply

  47. sara says

    Hey y’all. I just wanted to let you know that my bestie and I pre-ordered your book months ago, and we’re mega excited (and constantly updating each other on how long til it comes out). We’re excited, and I know so many other are as well. You’ve done good, it’ll go well, and we believe in you.

    Reply

  48. Julia says

    I am so excited to see Charlotte on your tour! I have been reading your blog since early 2008 when I still lived in Providence, RI. I will definitely be out there to support you guys. Don’t be nervous–you are awesome and it is evident by the amount of people begging you to come to their state!

    Reply

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