As I was getting ready for bed, anxiety washed over me. Earlier that day, I had placed a copy of my book on the shelf of free materials at the entry of my parish. Was I really ready to share it within my parish? I thought.

It would be ridiculous to go back to the church at this hour, I thought. And tomorrow I am going out of town so early. By the time I get back, the Saturday Vigil Mass would have already happened.

I took a deep breath. I thought about countless PraiseWriter interviews where the guests have shared moments in which they have needed to overcome fears to create and share their work. 

I acknowledged the discomfort and fear, and chose to follow through with offering my book.

A couple of weeks before, the shelves had been getting bare. I reviewed my Amazon wish list and skimmed publisher websites, curating a set of books to offer. I thought back over PraiseWriter interviews and members’ books and delighted in celebrating and supporting their work.

As I waited for the books to arrive, I thought about how over the years, I had shared a range of books on that shelf, but that I had not yet shared my own.

It’s time, I thought. It’s been over a year since I published it.

I was finally working up the courage to share it in that way. When all the books arrived and I was arranging them on the shelf, I felt a pull to not just share it but to put it on the upper section with greater visibility, rather than tucking it away on the lower tier.

Nonetheless, I placed it on the bottom left of that upper section, choosing other books to prominently feature front and center. 

When I returned from the youth rally and attended Sunday Mass the next day, I passed by the shelf as I entered the church, moving a little quicker than typical as I glanced to the side to see whether my book was still there–it was. 

When I left the church, I noticed the young adult skimming the titles. I smiled as I quickly exited. 

Shortly after I met with Sophia Lebano, someone I learned about because of PraiseWriters, and recounted the scenario with a laugh. 

“And when it’s gone, you replace it with another,” she replied. 

Not just offer it once, breathe a sight of relief (alongside joy) and move on, but to keep offering it.

When the time came to bring another copy, I placed it in the center. 

Questions for Reflection:

• Can you relate to finding it easy to celebrate the writing of others but finding it hard to promote your own?
• When it comes to sharing your writing, in which ways are you already comfortable? How might you intentionally step outside your comfort zone in order to expand your confidence?
• Who has encouraged you to share your writing? How might you remind yourself of previous encouragement in those moments when you recognize your confidence is faltering?  

At the core of Amanda Villagómez’s work is a belief in the value of story–learning from the experiences of others and exploring the themes woven throughout our lives just waiting to be discovered. Through her writing and teaching, Amanda invites you to consider: What’s the story of your soul? She would love to support your process of writing and inquiry.