{"id":6271,"date":"2025-12-09T14:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T14:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/09\/write-of-passage-get-somebody-else-to-do-it\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T14:10:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T14:10:00","slug":"write-of-passage-get-somebody-else-to-do-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/09\/write-of-passage-get-somebody-else-to-do-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Write of Passage: Get Somebody Else to Do It"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-6271-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/181121247\/cbb29f865759c35257428abe7db0b603.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/181121247\/cbb29f865759c35257428abe7db0b603.mp3\">https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/181121247\/cbb29f865759c35257428abe7db0b603.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>Every writer, whether we want to admit it or not, is an entrepreneur. We create a product\u2014a book\u2014and then we turn around and sell it. Sometimes we sell part of our interest to a traditional publisher like Simon &amp; Schuster or HarperCollins. Sometimes we go the indie route, selling directly to readers through a website or through a behemoth like Amazon. But no matter the path, one truth remains unshakable:<\/p><div id=\"vanes-1147999031\" class=\"vanes-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 2px;margin-right: 2px;margin-bottom: 2px;margin-left: 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\" aria-label=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?fit=1706%2C2560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1706&ssl=1 1706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"569\" height=\"853\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><strong>We are in business for ourselves.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We are the CEO, the marketing department, the shipping department, the PR team, and the person answering emails at 2 a.m.<\/p>\n<p>We promote the product lines. We show up to the events. We handshake and livestream and book club ourselves into the good graces of the reading world.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m doing that now. As we gear up for the launch of <em>Fire Sword and Sea<\/em>, I\u2019ll will be heading to D.C., Severna Park, Virginia, St. Louis, Mo, Austin, Texas, and of course Atlanta and all her glorious suburbs. Meeting readers is actually one of my favorite parts of the job. There\u2019s nothing like seeing that gleam in a reader\u2019s eye when they tell you what moved them, confused them, or delighted them.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s nothing like digging into the myths and the hidden histories that shaped a story.<\/p>\n<p>And when I say hidden, I mean hidden. I will chase a fact to the end of the earth. I will travel to the places I\u2019m writing about. I will battle through foreign language and archivists to get firsthand accounts. I want to <em>return these people to you whole<\/em>\u2014the people who lived the stories I\u2019m writing.<\/p>\n<p>For <em>Fire Sword and Sea<\/em>, I boarded an old-time frigate\u2014one that very easily could\u2019ve been a pirate ship back in the day. I wanted to feel what it was like to sleep in a hammock practically touching tens of others, to understand how close the hull was to the crew cabin, to hear the groan of wood and water the same way they did.<\/p>\n<p>There is no way you couldn\u2019t hear the moans of the enslaved in the cargo hold. In the 1600s, human beings were the universal coin. People traded enslaved bodies like currency. That\u2019s how they moved stolen property.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the 1600s were wild. Theft was legal if you called it piracy. Danger was so normal it barely had a name. But it was also a time of reinvention. A time when you might have to disguise yourself\u2014your gender, your class, your entire identity\u2014to have the life you dreamed of.<\/p>\n<p>And honestly? It doesn\u2019t feel that far from being a small-business owner today. We change disguises, the various roles, to get our jobs done. And sometimes we forget why we got into this in the first place. We forget passion. And focus on market shifts. We ignore hunger to unleash something new into the world and get stuck in all the boxes that have to get checked\u2014editing, research, marketing, PR, scheduling.<\/p>\n<p>Recently I found people fight you or deprive you of resources when they don\u2019t want your story told. In business, a Walmart will come and undercut you to price you out of the market. In the writing world, it will be the use of algorithms or the lack of oxygen to starve a book.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, some folks don\u2019t want the truth. They don\u2019t want to hear of a world where everyone could become a slave. They definitely don\u2019t want to hear women who escaped and became pirates who led and commanded ships. I really think, some wanted me to write about a jolly old male crew singing sea shanties all day.<\/p>\n<p>In <em>Fire Sword and Sea<\/em>, you\u2019ll get adventure. You\u2019ll get sailing crews. You might even get a spirit filled song asking for God\u2019s vengeance. I wrote the truth. You\u2019ll see the complicated leadership choices women in disguise had to make. You\u2019ll see the danger of wanting something so badly that you risk everything to get it.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll see the success, the heart break, and the compromises that may rot the soul.<\/p>\n<p>Back to my small business.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, I\u2019m negotiating dates, confirming travel, juggling time zones, sorting release-week logistics\u2014not to mention championing every other author whose book is coming out in January. It\u2019s prime season. Prime real estate. Everyone wants and needs attention. I am no exception. If you preorder <em>Fire Sword and Sea<\/em>, I hope you feel the stories worth, believe the hassle, the grind, the late nights, and the tears.<\/p>\n<p>But Lord\u2026 how many times have I said to myself, <em>\u201cI wish I had somebody else to do this\u201d?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Let me bust a myth: even if you\u2019re traditionally published, for the most part nobody is swooping in to handle your career or your new shiny book. You will still grind. You will still hustle. Traditional publishing gives glamorous promises\u2014books everywhere, audiobooks, store distribution\u2014but it does not give you a full marketing staff or sometimes the feeling that they give a damn.<\/p>\n<p>Indies wear about 50,000 hats. Traditional authors wear about 32,000. Either way, your neck and back are still tired.<\/p>\n<p>And that is why every writer\u2014I don\u2019t care which path you choose\u2014has to ask:<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are you willing to do to have what you truly want?<\/strong><strong>What are you willing to carry?<\/strong><strong>How high are you willing to climb to make people hear your story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Because at the end of the day, there <em>is<\/em> no one else. There\u2019s no system. No machine. No cavalry.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s only you.You, shouting your story from every rooftop.You, standing on every chair.You, daring the world to listen.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re less than a month away now, and soon I\u2019ll be taking Fire Sword and Sea across the country to talk about Jacquotte Delahaye, <strong>Lizz\u00f4a Erville, Michel Le Basque, Laurens de Graaf, and more: <\/strong>pirates who were\u2014brave, reckless, brilliant. You will see them take to the took to the sea because no one else would do it for them.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe that\u2019s the lesson for all of us.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, there is no one else.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s only the person who wants the dream badly enough to carry it forward.<\/p>\n<p>And that person\u2026 is you.<\/p>\n<p>This week\u2019s booklist are books also coming out in January that need a little more love:<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/11160\/9780063421189\">With Love, Harlem<\/a><strong> by ReShonda Tate<\/strong> \u2014 This is a fictionalized version of Hazel Scott\u2019s story. She\u2019s a jazz prodigy, a glamorous film star, a fierce advocate for civil rights, and she breaking barriers and rules.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/11160\/9781668051948\">The Seven Daughters of Dupree<\/a><strong> by Nikesha Elise Williams<\/strong> \u2014 A multi\u2011generational family epic following seven women of the Dupree lineage as they unearth dark secrets.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/11160\/9781250326263\">Burn Down the Master\u2019s House<\/a><strong> by Clay Cane<\/strong> \u2014 A searing, urgent exploration of race, identity, and power in America.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/11160\/9781250326263\">Last First Kiss<\/a><strong> by Julian Winters<\/strong> \u2014 A second\u2011chance, slow\u2011burn romance about an Atlanta event planner reuniting with his first love when forced to cover a high-profile wedding.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/11160\/9780736990363\">Happy Habits for Successful Women<\/a><strong> by Valorie Burton<\/strong> \u2014 A practical, empowering guide that encourages women to adopt mindset and behavioral habits to become healthier, more resilient, and more aligned with their goals and values.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/11160\/9781662529696\">Behind These Walls<\/a><strong> by Yasmin Angoe<\/strong> \u2014 A twist\u2011driven psychological thriller in which a woman infiltrates a wealthy family\u2019s mansion under false pretenses.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/11160\/9781496750822\">Murder From A to Z<\/a><strong> by V.M. Burns<\/strong> \u2014 A cozy\u2011mystery in which bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington and her sister uncover sinister dealings at a retirement village when a seemingly natural death turns suspicious.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>This week, I\u2019m highlighting <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.blackpearlbookstore.com\/\"><strong>Black Pearl Books<\/strong><\/a><strong> through their website and <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/shop\/baldwinandcompany\"><strong>Bookshop.org<\/strong><\/a><strong> .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Consider purchasing Fire Sword and Sea from <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.blackpearlbookstore.com\/item\/Vus7kAU5V3VC0mTd8pTV_Q\"><strong>Black Pearl Books<\/strong><\/a><strong> or one of my partners in the fight<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\"><strong>, bookstore\u2019s<\/strong><\/a><strong> large and small who are in this with me.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Come on my readers. Let\u2019s get everyone excited for January reads.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Show notes include a list of the books mentioned in this broadcast.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanessariley.com\/\"><strong>VanessaRiley.com<\/strong><\/a><strong> under the podcast link in the About tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So Boss, <strong>Our stories matter\u2014tap like, hit subscribe, share, and let\u2019s keep this movement going with <\/strong><strong><em>Write of Passage<\/em><\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thank you for listening. Hopefully, you\u2019ll come again. This is Vanessa Riley.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>This is a public episode. If you&#8217;d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_2\">vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"vanes-392579728\" class=\"vanes-after-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 3px;margin-right: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;margin-left: 3px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Listen to the Write of Passage Weekly Podcast\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=768%2C960&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"540\" height=\"675\"   \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every writer, whether we want to admit it or not, is an entrepreneur. We create a product\u2014a book\u2014and then we turn around and sell it. Sometimes we sell part of our interest to a traditional publisher like Simon &amp; Schuster or HarperCollins. Sometimes we go the indie route, selling directly to readers through a website [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,793,9,620,756,694],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-stories","category-politics","category-recommended-reading","category-syndication","category-technology","category-tv-and-film"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/868e47b3cb6225f07387ec4256c0d39a.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}