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. Summer says

    What?!?! No tours in California…specifically, SAN DIEGO-CA?? Aw, c’mon!!! San Diego is awesome and we’re DIY junkies like everyone else!!! :)

    Reply

  2. Olivia says

    I can relate to this! I’m a perfectionist and the idea of putting yourself out there so publicly is definitely risky & scary. That’s one of the reasons I’m so impressed with you two – you’ve created an archive of fun & useful info with this blog and opened the door to the good and the bad that comes with it. But your blog shines because you are talented and hard-working. The book will be an extension of that and therefore, I’m guessing most people will love it. One of my favorite sayings is, “Done is better than perfect.” Even if your book isn’t “perfect”, you will have published a book!! How cool is that??

    Reply

  3. Erin Ramczyk says

    Thanks for bearing your soul! Honestly, the nerves are a testament to the fact that you two have given this all you’ve got, which will undoubtedly shine through to and be appreciated by your readers. Also, have you checked on Brene Brown’s presentation about vulnerability from (I think) last year’s TED Conference? “Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.” = true story. IMO, you’re not giving yourself enough credit! While you might feel “scared,” the fact that you put yourself out there and took that leap shows a ton of courage. Congrats on your book from a 3-year reader – can’t wait to read it! :) XO

    Reply

  7. Morgan says

    Oh Please!!! Make that possible Atlanta stop a reality! I have already preordered the book, but would love to have a signed copy.

    Reply

  8. Jennifer says

    It’s like the quote – “If your dreams don’t scare you, then they aren’t big enough.” I can’t wait for the book. I’m sure it is fantastic. Stoked to see NC added to the tour. Wish it was Raleigh, but Charlotte is manageable : )

    Reply

  9. Elizabeth Wiggs Maas says

    If I may, I’ll offer you a smidge of advice about your book: don’t read reviews. I promised myself I wouldn’t read the reviews of my book, and one day I made the mistake of looking on Amazon, and…well, yeah. You have to have willpower. Unlike a blog post, you can’t go back and edit if someone finds something wrong, and you can’t clarify if someone didn’t like what you had to say. So don’t bother worrying about stuff you can’t change.

    Congrats!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I’m with ya! I totally plan on NEVER LOOKING! Heck, I was looking at the reviews of my three favorite books and the mean ones had me near tears for them, so I’m 100% sure I can’t handle it. Haha. Ignorance = bliss!

      xo
      s

  11. Michelle says

    I cannot wait for your book! It is SO on my Christmas list…unless of course, I just buy it for myself before then! You guys inspire me all the time and I can’t wait to flip through the pages of your book over and over again! It’s funny that you should mention a nightmare about a magazine scooping your ideas because just today I sat down to read my Country Living magazine that arrived yesterday…I turned a page and saw your ombre dresser and thought, “Omg. They copied John and Sherry.” Then I read the article…how fun to find you guys in one of my favorite magazines! Congrats on the magazine feature and of course, THE BOOK!

    Reply

  14. Kathy says

    Is it incredibly corny that I get teary-eyed because I’m so excited for you? I looked forward to seeing your new baby!

    Reply

  15. Emily says

    AAAAAH so excited you’re doing an event at 918 F Street! I’ve been to classes there through LivingSocial and they’re awesome. Can I go to the event at Flor *and* the event at 918 F Street? I want to craft with you!

    Reply

  16. Jessie W. says

    Congrats Congrats Congrats!!! Can’t wait for my pre-ordered book to arrive!

    Also I’m really hoping your before and after tomorrow is the map cutting board from Target. I went and scooped one up the day I saw it on your blog. Can’t wait to see what you do with it!

    Reply

  17. Steph says

    I knew a Jersey girl like you had to have a NJ signing! I’m actually still a little embarrassed on behalf of Philly that they haven’t settled anything with you guys. They better get on that :) I live in NJ but 5 minutes from Philly!
    I’m sure it’s normal for you guys to have these feelings, but I can assure you that whatever few, negative opinions there may be, the outpouring of positives ones will be MUCH bigger :)

    Reply

  18. Melinda says

    Long time reader, first time poster here – I just wanted to point out what I think is the really cool thing about you guys publishing a book. If we have questions, problems, notes about anything in there, you guys can choose to address them in blog posts. I think it makes it a cool interactive addition to your book. Try to remember that! x

    Reply

  19. Chelsea {Whatcha Makin' Now?} says

    I’m so happy for you guys! I’m so excited to own your book and proudly display it in my home. Don’t be scared – everyone will love it!!! Oh and I hope you add a tour stop in Kansas City – that would be awesome! (I’ll stop with all the exclamation marks now.)

    Reply

  20. Syl says

    I’ve run across your blog only 2 weeks ago and have read every single last page. Yup. All of them. From the start. I won’t say I’m a fan of everything you do, but I do love your flair and your no-nonsense about things. And yes, I’ve got your book on pre-order now with amazon.co.uk. I’m starting my life over again (many years married but now traded in for a younger, prettier model) and I’m slowly finding myself again. And I want my house to be a reflection of me. It’s big. It’s scary. It’s good. Pretty much like birthing your book I imagine. I don’t know if my house will ever be fan-ta-bu-lous, but it’ll be mine. Same as your book will be yours. And that is something extremely gratifying.

    Reply

  21. Milly says

    Haha! I love the end of your post. I literally laughed out loud at work and thought “…this chick is crazy!”

    Don’t be nervous! There are hundreds of people waiting to get their hands on your book. If the book is anything like your blog it will be the bomb:-)

    Can’t wait to see you guys in NYC!!!

    Reply

  22. Lauren says

    Don’t worry- we love you guys! Your book will be amazing and fun just like you. Thanks for keeping it real and sharing your world with us! :-)

    Reply

  24. paintergal says

    Pre-ordered my copy from Amazon. So excited for it to arrive!
    Have to admit I squealed a little when I opened up the new issue of Country Living and saw projects from you two. That’s not quite as thrilling as your own book- but it’s an honor as well.

    Reply

  25. Heather says

    Maybe this is the right time to chime in and say I had a random dream this weekend that I was getting ready to go to your book signing (I totally will be in Minneapolis, btw!) and went into this bathroom…and Sherry was there! And I pretty much embarrassed myself with random flattery/craziness/fawning. I just remember thinking, “Oh no…now I can never go to their book signing”. Ha!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I totally can PROMISE that I’ll be a total weirdo in the bathroom with anyone who ends up in one with me. Seriously, I cannot keep my cool in the bathroom. I’ll be trying to talk to people through the stall and forgetting to wash my hands and everything. I’m a mess. Haha.

      xo
      s

  26. Natalie Royall says

    I am sooooo excited about ya’lls book. I try to read your blog everyday, so I feel like I know you guys now. (I swear in a not creepy way, Ha!) Super excited about the extra Richmond stop, since the tickets were sold out to the first one. November 6th is ELECTION day, my sis-in-law finds out if she is having a boy or girl AND your books gets released. WOOHOO!!!! IT’s going to be a good day.

    Reply

  27. Brittany says

    One of my least favorite things to do is back paddle. NYC to Wilton to Ridgefield then to Boston!! You are good people!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Brittany! We just go where they tell us. I can’t imagine how hard it has been for our publisher to coordinate everything! So grateful she’s up for it!

      xo
      s

  28. Megan L says

    You guys do such an amazing job on everything you get your hands on. I can’t wait to see your latest masterpiece! Please come to Southern California!

    Reply

  29. Jessica says

    If you feel scared or nervous about us having to pay for it, remember that we WANT to pay for it! I’m dying to put it on my coffee table and share it with everyone. It’s just not practical for me to buy an extra iPad, permanently keep it open to your blog, and leave it on my coffee table at all times to share with people.

    Reply

  30. Casey says

    You just made my 2013! I am so happy that you are coming to Charlotte! (I just hope it isn’t when I’ll be out of town for my brother’s wedding.)

    Reply

  31. Megan says

    I don’t know if this makes you feel better, but I’d happily buy your book even if it was terrible! I’ve received so much value from your blog over the past few years – we never would have had the guts to paint our ugly brick fireplace, or our dated wood paneling, if not for you guys. :) Your advice and how-tos have been priceless! Whenever my husband is hesitant about a project, I just say, “Well, I’m sure John and Sherry would think it’s a good idea …” and I’m golden. And I’m a soon-to-be proud owner of your book.

    Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment!

    Reply

  32. Emma says

    You know, I’d be a little worried for you guys if you WEREN’T nervous about this! You’re right, it’s a HUGE thing, and it’s permanent.

    When I worked for a regional, biannual bridal magazine, I used to have nightmares every press week that the issue was filled with typos, that we’d forgotten to put in the photos, that we’d spelled someone’s name wrong. And then it happened. We spelled a bride’s name wrong RIGHT ON THE COVER! It was mortifying. And then we moved on. Yeah, I still had nightmares, but when I woke up, I was able to say to myself, “Oh, if that really happens it’ll suck, but it won’t be the end of the world.”

    Same goes for you guys :) Can’t wait to get a copy!

    Reply

  34. Alison says

    I’m so excited too! And I love that you’re so honest about the fact that you’re skeered. You guys are super and I hope the tour goes super well and that you don’t find any typos and that no evil magazine copies all your projects before the book comes out. So excited for the tour! Yay!

    Also, it might not mean much coming from an IIF, but I have every faith that the book is going to be wonderful. Even if it contained nothing but the few sneak previews I’ve seen, I would think it well worth the price to support you guys for everything you give the world. Thanks!

    Reply

  35. Jen @ RamblingRenovators says

    I know the feeling Sherry! I felt the same way with our books. How many typos were there? Were people going to think I had no business writing a book? Did I even sound half-way intelligent about the subject? Not to mention the recurring nightmare that we wouldn’t sell ANY books. I know that giving an advance is a risk taken by the publisher, but my stomach was in knots thinking that they may have been so far off the mark with their sales projections. Ugh.

    And then one day, I walked into a book store and saw our book on the shelves. And all that doubt and worry instantly slipped away – because we had done it. I think you’re right to focus on that because just getting the darn thing written is a HUGE accomplishment. The rest is all icing from here on in :)

    Have fun with the fun stuff that is going to follow… your book tour will be super successful. I can’t wait to see you in Toronto! Oh, and you know what else is fun: Going to the bookstore and displaying your book on the shelf with the cover facing out, instead of the spine facing out. Small thing but sure to bring a smile to your face.

    You’ve done good Sherry and John!

    Reply

  37. Heather says

    Philly, Philly, Philly!!! I’ll bring you a cheesesteak :-)Also, everyone has those crazy insecure voices in the back of their heads, it’s just whether you choose to let them feed on you (which will eventually stop you from tasking risks all together) or whether you choose to challenge them and make the jump. I’m so inspired by you guys and I can’t wait for the book; I’m sure it will be great!

    Reply

  38. Kat says

    Welcome to the Published Author’s club! I hate to say this, as I’ve been published for about a year now, with a few books on shelves, but that “Pinch me! Oh God, what did we get ourselves into? This is incredible! This is horrible! I am so in love with this! I hate my life…” never goes away. LOL

    The scared feeling is real. But that’s what makes the elation and the positives THAT much more amazing and euphoric. Without the fear, there would be no feeling of triumph, right?

    Buying a copy for several friends for Christmas. Very excited! Congratulations!

    Reply

  39. Donna says

    I think it’s perfectly normal to be scared! I get a similar feeling buying a car or signing a mortgage; it’s like now you’re not just talking the talk – you’re also walking the walk. Enjoy the ride you guys, this is the stuff that makes life great!

    Reply

  40. Momcat says

    Sherry and John — I am thrilled for you. What a cool thing, to know you WROTE A BOOK. In this world of self-published e-books, writing and publishing a real book with real pages and a real cover — well now, that’s just something amazing. From a book lover who will NEVER totally be sold on e-books, I can’t wait to get YOUR book in MY hands! (Come on, preorders!!) And YES I will be at your book signing and buy another copy for my sister!

    It’s like having a baby — once it arrives, you can’t worry anymore about what MIGHT happen. It’s there (published), you can’t change it (typo’s), and now you get to love it. Forever.

    Congrats. Truly well deserved. :)

    Reply

  43. Jennie says

    Hi! I love ya’lls blog. My family has actually been going to Bethany Beach since I was little so I was so excited ya’ll have been there too. I am in Atlanta so I hope ya’ll stop by. Congrats again! Can’t way to read it!!!

    Reply

  44. Renee says

    Charlotte NC!!!! woo-hoo!!!!! i’m gonna come stalk…..i mean see you guys and visit Ikea all at once! how’s that for a DIY type of trip??? :)

    and i think your fears are totally normal and it just means you really care a lot about what you’ve done- as you should! and i have no doubt all your hard work, passion, and DIY love will pay off!

    Reply

  46. Morgan says

    You guys are amazing. And I am buying a copy of your book, so at least that’s one copy sold. :) I am thrilled you are coming down to Charlotte. I will attempt to not be starstruck but I can’t make any promises.

    Reply

  47. Tina Bland says

    Ok 1. I LOVE that you added a second DC date!! I was totally going to make that Wed the 28th work, but now that there is a Sat signing, I may come to that one instead. I work in an elementary school up in Bel Air, MD (near Baltimore) so getting down to DC on a weeknight could be dicey. YIPEEE!
    2. Most importantly, I love that you are being REAL in this post. I mean, you are REAL all the time, but I think it’ll be especially helpful for your nerves now that you have talked about it with “the world” :) This is a tool I use in counseling all the time…talk it out…it makes you feel better getting it out there!!
    I can’t wait for your book. I know I am going to love it. Honestly, you can be sure that those of us who love your blog are going to love your book. I can’t wait to sit for an uninterrupted amount of time and drink it all in!! What an amazing journey you guys have had!! Thanks for sharing it all with us!

    Reply

  48. Candice says

    I am so excited for your guys but totally bummed out that the tour doesn’t stop in the 5th largest city in the country, PHOENIX! Sniff sniff!

    Reply

  49. cat says

    a little bit of an inferiority complex butt kick before you set off on tour. apologies if i repeat others’ comments. there are a plethora of comments & alas, life is too short…
    in no certain order:
    – the book will incite people to check your blog. therefore, you could always post book updates/fixes/rescinds, etc. to the blog. added bonus: curiousity piqued blog readers will be reminded to scope the book. multiple platforms are what you want.
    – not to add to your worry, but to calm it: these days it seems like the internet is forever too. dont worry that the book is “real” whereas the internet isn’t. its all your creation & that’s great.
    – you are having an inferiority complex about the book payment. if people want to pay, they will buy it. again, obsession not warranted in this capitalistic society. rather, there is plenty of the pie to go around – to you!
    – writing a book is huge. its a physical manifestation of your time, energy, and passion. that’s huge. you *should* be all “look-at-me-im-an-author.” be proud.
    thanks for writing so honestly & vulnerably from your heart.
    big love from cleveland,
    c.

    Reply

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