The Surprising Truth About My Channel Nobody Tells You (Be Yourself!)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

You’re doing a great job juggling so many things. And from what I’ve seen your talent as a writer just keep growing.

[@M-J]

It’s helps when you have the most amazing friends too. Thank you 🤗

[@BookBlather]

Hard to juggle everything. Admire your commitment to the writing 🤗

[@M-J]

It's not always easy, but I try!

[@eriebeverly]

I know how much you valued your workouts so the loss of the gym must be difficult even if you are saving drive time. And good for you going the traditional publishing route. Indie should always just be a fall back because who doesn't want an advance and a publicity department? Looking forward to that novella.

[@M-J]

Yep, it’s a tough adjustment but a needed one. I’m going to give it a go. I have nothing to lose.

[@AuthorE.LSummers]

It’s nice to see that you were able to find balance I struggle with it because there’s the pressure to want to do all the author things

[@M-J]

I think the keyword is "am." I really do try to bring a mindfulness practice to my days and my time. It's not easy, but I try.

[@gingerbibliophile]

That is amazing how much you’ve gotten done! Hope to see you on the shelves soon! And I love your outlook that each rejection is just proof that you’re getting closer. They’ll be kicking themselves soon! Loving the new hair too btw! Rest, relax, and happy reading! 😊

[@M-J]

Thank you. If I took the rejection in another way I wouldn’t still be writing. My stylist thanks you. ☺️

[@bighardbooks770]

Proud of you for sending your work out to publishers/editors, and _not go_ the route of Vanity Press. 📝

[@M-J]

Thanks! Well, I’m not there yet, but I’m en route. To each their own - no harm, no foul, no shade. I respect whatever people want to do. 😊

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

Lovely update video. Nice to see you chilled and content. Good luck with the stories and novella next year!

[@M-J]

Thanks buddy, means a lot. ☺️

[@ATPennington]

Wishing you all the best with your writing goals for 2025, M.J. Good luck to you! 🙂 I’ve always written in some capacity, but after a fairly bleak year last year, and not many finished projects to be proud of, I decided at the start of this year to actively participate in and submit stories to as many writing competitions as I could find. I haven’t won anything yet, but I’ve had a few top five finishes, a few highly commended stories and some really encouraging feedback. I’ve also had stories that I was really proud of and that I thought were the very best of what I was capable of writing, and they had no success whatsoever! It can be really crushing, especially with very personal stories. But I’ve been really grateful for the motivation and the opportunity to write, and the upside of taking part in these competitions is that I now have 20 or more finished stories that I’m really pleased with, whereas this time last year I had none. I always love discovering new channels through your videos - this is definitely one of the most wholesome and supportive corners on the booktube community! - and I try to search out the newbie tags whenever I can. Keep up the amazing work. 😊

[@M-J]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your thoughts!

[@zachreads]

Thanks for always sharing the love! Wish you luck and happy holidays!

[@M-J]

Aww, thank you so much!

[@book-ramble]

I hear ya about rejection... it seems that with certain stories agents will not [at the moment] push the button for fear of various things.... mostly failure; and so the round of the same old same old. 'Tis what it is, and I wait until it changes.

[@M-J]

Yep, for me it’s all a part of the process. Cheers!

[@JohnSaxon-vw5vi]

Prayers and blessings for you and your husband and your families love your Aussie family friend John xxx keep up ⬆️ with your amazing work and content love 🥰 it good luck with your book 📕 journey can’t wait to read it my friend xx

[@M-J]

🙏🏻

[@JohnSaxon-vw5vi]

@ ❤️❤️

[@CGRatedBooks]

Awesome stuff, MJ. Thanks for the vid!

[@M-J]

Thanks, the more good stuff in life the better!

[@polyglotreading]

Thanks a lot for sharing your writing experience, - it's inspiring to see your consistency an purposefulness on this (I hope I'm using the right English words). Keep on keeping on... Best regards from Germany 😊, -David

[@M-J]

Thank you!

[@TimeTravelReads]

Good work writing and trying to get published!

[@M-J]

Thanks! Twice in one year isn’t too shabby !

[@stuartgriffin1001]

Some good tips. Thanks for sharing them

[@M-J]

Most welcome

[@JessBookgirlTV]

Well said!

[@M-J]

Thanks Jess!

[@AuthorE.LSummers]

I binged the while ACOTAR series love the characters

[@M-J]

I think it’s fun!

[@inerdius]

If you ever want to do a Zoom call and maybe an interview video to talk writing, let me know! I've been at it since 1990. I've had minor levels of success over the years, with some paperback anthologies publishing my stuff in the 1990s, and more rejections than I care to think about! There's a reason I have a playlist on my channel called "Writer's Tears" (aside from the fact that it's also the name of a great Irish whiskey).

[@M-J]

Thank you so much!

[@unlimitedreads]

MJ, I'm getting back into writing myself and I'm planning a collection! Hit me up and I'd be happy to be a Beta reader, to have a look over your stuff because I'm not a bad editor either :)

[@M-J]

Aww, thanks so much for the offer.