Alan O’Hashi, Whole Brain Thinker Craft

Stop Waiting for Perfection: Embrace Messiness

By Jennifer Braddock, Editor

Rooted in Zen principles, yet crafted for modern lives, the book invites readers to loosen their grip on flawless outcomes.

It encourages rediscovering the value of process, presence, and incremental growth. It’s a book about creativity and also about sanity.

This book doesn’t ask readers to overhaul their lives all at once. It asks them to make small, intentional shifts. There’s a practice known as kaizen, which is continuous improvement without self-judgment. The Zen of Creative Imperfection speaks to that moment with clarity and calm.

If my keyboard charged me a dollar every time I backspaced, I could’ve funded my own book tour by now. I’ve rewritten this sentence nine times already.

Guess what? It’s still not perfect, but here it is. I hit “submit” anyway.

It’s the beginning of a new year, and what can you do to keep on your writing journey? Did you put off your creative projects because you were too busy?

You might think your first draft should read like a Pulitzer winner. I get it. We want to be the genius who shows brilliance from the start. It’s like Mozart composing symphonies without a single missed note.

We’re not Mozart. We’re more like that raccoon with the cotton candy. He tried to wash it and watched it dissolve in sad confusion. That’s our writing process when perfection gets in the way.

The pursuit of perfection is a fancy form of fear. Fear of judgment. Fear of being “found out.” Fear that if you reveal your typos, rough metaphors, and imperfect logic, people will see who you really are.

Spoiler alert: they already do.

Your obsession with perfection isn’t making your work better. It’s making it slower. That sparkling first sentence? It can’t carry the whole novel. That brilliant first paragraph? It will get cut in draft three anyway. Meanwhile, the story that wants to be told is stuck in limbo while you try to polish your outline’s fingernails.

What Zen Says: Zen doesn’t care about your perfect first draft.

Zen says: “Before enlightenment, harvest rice, carry water. After enlightenment, harvest rice, carry water.”
Translation for writers: Before writing a bestseller, write messy. After your best seller, still write messy.

Perfection is an illusion. Imperfection is reality. Zen embraces impermanence, the incomplete, the irregular. Ever seen a raked Zen garden? It’s full of swirls and randomness. That’s your draft.

Doubt is natural. Perfection is optional. Progress is sacred.

There’s no need to sit in silence on a mountain top: What if your writing isn’t perfect? Neither are your socks, and you still wear those. Let go of perfection. Let go of doubt.

Adopt a little Zen and just keep writing. Finish the page. Finish the chapter. Finish the dang thing. Then bow to your draft and whisper:

“Thank you for being gloriously, usefully, and beautifully imperfect.”

Do you have questions or comments? Ask Besty Bot about the writing craft and how to publish your book with Best Chance Media!

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Zen says, “Let go.” Your inner critic says, “Rewrite that sentence for the 19th time.” Guess who’s slowing you down? Perfectionism is just fear in a fancy outfit. Want to actually finish your book? Embrace the mess. Your first draft isn’t meant to be perfect—it’s meant to exist. 🧘‍♀️ Breathe. Write. Let go. #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FirstDrafts #Perfectionism #WritersLife #ZenWriting #CreativeProcess #LetItBeMessy #WriteAnyway #FinishTheBook https://bestchancemedia.org/2026/01/01/perfection-slows-you-down-and-everyone-knows-youre-not-perfect-anyway/

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Alan O’Hashi, Whole Brain Thinker best chance blog 2025, Craft

Turning Rejection into a Book Deal

By Jennifer Braddock – Editor

I received my first rejection letter in 1987. It was polite. The envelope looked steam-opened. Whoever did it wasn’t even that curious.

My manuscript? Printed on a dot matrix printer from a Tandy TRS-80 Model 1 back when computers sounded like dial-up demons.

My rejected pages went into a box filled with high school trophies, college memorabilia, and expired dreams.

Fast forward a few decades. Before I attended the 2019 Wyoming Writers, Inc. conference in Laramie, that rejection was still my only one. I know, it’s a unicorn story, but stick with me.

Back in the day, my Uncle Jake ran Pioneer Printing in Cheyenne. I edited Wyoming Graffiti, an anthology of newspaper columns I’d written about Wyoming and its culture. The writings included a piece titled, Beyond Heart Mountain. It was about a Japanese American woman I met on a plane from Denver to Riverton. She was interned at the Heart Mountain camp and was flying to Worland for a family get-together. It was also a throwback to my childhood growing up in the once-vibrant Japanese neighborhood of my hometown.

Years passed. Life happened. Then, I watched a local TV interview about the Japanese community in Cheyenne nudged my memory. I dusted off those old essays. They still held power.

At the WWI conference, I pitched the idea to Wintergoose Publishing. Not only did they not reject it—they accepted it on the spot. I wrote 80,000 words by October and had a contract in November.

I’ll be the first to say that this is not the norm.

Writers in online groups talk about 60, 70, 100+ rejections. Publishing can feel like playing whack-a-mole in the dark. So how do you increase your odds of success?

Put yourself in positions to succeed: Writing is solitary, but success isn’t. Go to readings. Attend writing conferences (especially ones with pitch sessions). Show up at art events, gallery openings, and open mics. Say “yes” more often. Relationships matter. Sometimes more than the perfect manuscript. People remember people.

Your odds improve when people can connect your face to your voice, and your voice to your work.

Get off the couch: Dig out your dot matrix pages. Check your iPhone Notes app scribbles. Look at your coffee-stained drafts—and get out of the house. You’re not just building a book. You’re building a network, a reputation, and maybe, if you’re lucky, a “yes” that changes everything. Rejection isn’t the end. It’s just a reroute. Success doesn’t always knock. Sometimes you have to knock first.

Get writing. Get pitching. Get out there.

Do you have questions or comments? Ask Besty Bot about the writing craft and how to publish your book with Best Chance Media!

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📚 My first rejection? 1987. The manuscript typed on a TRS-80 and printed on a dot matrix printer. It took hours to print. Brutal. Fast forward to 2019: I pitched my old idea at a writing conference. I landed a book deal on the spot. 💡 Writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Show up. Speak up. Pitch your story. 📦 That box of dusty pages? It might just be your next book. #WritersLife #RejectionToRedemption #WritingCommunity #PitchToPublish #WritersConference #KeepWriting #AuthorJourney #WyomingWriters #AmWriting #NetworkingMatters #WriteYourStory #BookDealDreams https://bestchancemedia.org/2025/12/18/from-a-dot-matrix-manuscript-to-book-deal-how-i-turned-rejection-into-redemption/

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Alan O’Hashi, Whole Brain Thinker best chance blog 2025, Craft, Marketing 2025

Why Shopping Local Matters During Holidays

By Jennifer Braddock – Editor

The winter holiday season has been happening for months. Some stores put out the Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas decorations in October.

Time slips away faster than you can type, and the holiday hustle only accelerates. Amid the frenzy of deadlines, there is still one vital investment you can make. You can support our independent artists and local businesses.

When you choose to spend your hard-earned money within your community, you’re not just buying a book or a ticket. You are investing in the heart and soul of the neighborhood.

A Tapestry of Talent

Our local stages are alive with creativity. We see moving performances of community theater productions like our very own Christmas Carol. There are also dazzling local renditions of the Nutcracker. Independent writer book signing events and craft shows are narratives that resonate.

Musicians and dancers deliver performances that stir emotions. These emotions are stirred in ways big-budget productions rarely can. Then there are the unsung local craftspeople and artisans, whose handmade treasures add warmth and authenticity to our daily lives.

The Ripple Effect of Local Spending

Local businesses are more than storefronts; they’re community pillars. Research consistently shows that when you support local businesses, your dollars make a far greater impact. This impact is more significant than when you shop at chain stores or online giants.

For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, a significant part stays within the local economy. Often, this amount is between 60 and 70 percent. This phenomenon, known as the economic multiplier effect, results in more money for local schools. It leads to improved infrastructure and community programs. These programs further enhance our quality of life.

Large chain stores and online retailers often channel profits back to distant corporate headquarters. As a result, only a pitiful percentage of your money is reinvested locally.

By contrast, independent businesses nurture neighborhood talent, stimulate job creation, and foster economic resilience. When you buy a handcrafted ornament, you actively strengthen the community fabric. Enjoying a meal at a local bistro also contributes to this. Additionally, attending an indie art show supports the community.

Why Your Choice Matters

  • Cultural Enrichment: Independent artists bring unique perspectives that enrich our cultural landscape. Their innovation and passion add distinctive flavors to our city’s identity.
  • Economic Vitality: Keeping money local powers the “multiplier effect.” A significant percentage of your spending is reinvested into community services, local projects, and job creation.
  • Community Bonding: Local craft fairs, book signings, or a theater performance create spaces. These events allow neighbors to connect and share ideas. They offer opportunities for the community to celebrate together.
  • Sustainable Growth: Supporting local arts ensures your community remains vibrant. It also makes it diverse. This paves the way for sustainable growth that benefits everyone.

Your Call to Action

This year, as the days grow shorter and our schedules busier, take a moment to prioritize your community. Find that cozy local bookstore. Buy tickets for a local theater production. Choose an artisan’s handcrafted gift over mass-produced alternatives. Each small choice contributes to a cycle of community support and shared success.

Let your hard-earned money tell a story of hope, passion, and local pride. Stand with our independent artists and businesses. Together, we can build a richer, more vibrant community that shines even brighter during the holiday season.

Make your move: support local this holiday season and every day thereafter.

Do you have questions or comments? Ask Besty Bot about the writing craft and how to publish your book with Best Chance Media!

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🎨🎭📚 This December, skip the mega-stores and shop where your heart lives—right in your own community. Support local authors, artists, musicians, dancers, craftspeople, and independent bookstores. 🎁 Go to the Nutcracker at the high school. Catch A Christmas Carol at your community theater. Buy a handmade ornament instead of a mass-produced one. Every dollar spent locally is a gift to your entire neighborhood. 💸❤️ #ShopLocal #SupportIndieArtists #BuyLocalArt #IndieAuthors #LocalTheater #HandmadeHolidays #SmallBusinessSeason #CommunityFirst #LocalLove #KeepItLocal #SupportTheArts https://bestchancemedia.org/2025/11/13/keep-the-spirit-alive-support-independent-artists-this-holiday-season-and-beyond/

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Alan O’Hashi, Whole Brain Thinker best chance blog 2025, Craft

Signs of a Legit Hybrid Publisher: Don’t Get Scammed

By Jennifer Braddock – Editor

For new authors navigating the wilds of the publishing world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Traditional publishing? Self-publishing? Vanity press? Hybrid publishing?

What do all these mean, and more importantly, who can you trust?

In this post, we will:

  • Break down what a hybrid publisher is.
  • Explain how it differs from a vanity press.
  • Discuss how authors are compensated.
  • Show how to tell if a hybrid press is legit or just lipstick on a scam.

First, What Is a Hybrid Publisher?

A hybrid publisher blends the business models of traditional and self-publishing:

  • You pay part of the cost upfront: These are offered on a menu for editing, design, and production, marketing, and distribution. Be sure your contract is specific and that you must approve any changes.
  • The publisher handles publishing logistics: Once you decide on the services you want, pay attention to the contract execution.
  • You retain more control and get higher royalties: Since you’re cost-sharing, your take is higher than with a traditional publisher.
  • Reputable hybrids are selective: You still have to pitch, they pick, and don’t publish everything that comes their way.

How Do Authors Get Paid?

Look at hybrid publishing as an investment. Even though you’re an investor in your project, legit hybrid publishers still compensate you after publication.

  • Royalties: Typically range from 50% to 70% of net sales revenue, much higher than traditional deals.
  • Sales Reporting: You should receive regular, transparent royalty reports and payments.
  • Rights: You often retain more rights than in a traditional deal, and many hybrids offer non-exclusive contracts.

In a best-case scenario, you’re paying for a professional service to produce your book, and then you’re earning back your investment, and ideally more, through sales.

Do Hybrid Presses Handle Sales and Distribution?

Some do, and this is a key differentiator between quality hybrids and glorified vanity presses.

Legit hybrid publishers may offer:

  • Print and digital distribution: Publishers of all types use IngramSpark, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and indie bookstore catalogs.
  • Library access: They use platforms like OverDrive, Baker & Taylor, or Hoopla
  • Marketing consultation or campaigns: All publishers assist with promoting your content to retailers and the general public, although these vary widely. Best Chance Media tailors strategies for its authors.

However, not all hybrids offer robust distribution, so this is an important question to ask when you’re vetting one.

Hybrid vs. Vanity Press

FeatureHybrid PressVanity Press
Author PaysYes (investment model)Yes (often overpriced packages)
SelectivityYesNo
Royalties50–70% of net revenueOften minimal, if any
RightsOften retained or sharedOften taken
DistributionOffered by manyRare, usually limited to Amazon
Editorial ProcessRequiredOptional or absent

Red Flags: When a Hybrid Press Is Really Just a Scam

Some shady outfits brand themselves as hybrid publishers to sound legitimate, when really, they’re just vanity presses in disguise.

Watch out for:

  • High upfront fees with vague deliverables
  • No editorial process or quality standards
  • No real distribution or sales strategy
  • Unclear royalty structure
  • No plan to help you succeed, only to get you to sign

Signs of a Legit Hybrid Publisher

A real hybrid publisher:

  • Is transparent about pricing, royalties, and services
  • Has a track record of successful titles
  • Evaluates manuscripts before offering a contract
  • Has a clear royalty payment schedule
  • Offers real distribution options, not just uploads to Amazon

Bottom Line

Hybrid publishing can be a great option if you’re working with a reputable press. I have three friends who have had great success with one particular hybrid press. Think of it as hiring a team to help you produce and distribute a professional book. Bo your homework: just because someone calls themselves a hybrid doesn’t mean they aren’t predatory.

Have you worked with a hybrid press or are you considering one? Let’s swap notes.

Do you have questions or comments? Ask Besty Bot about the writing craft and how to publish your book with Best Chance Media!

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Not all hybrid publishers are shady, but not all are legit either. Learn how to spot the difference and how authors really get paid. #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #HybridPublishing #VanityPressWarning #BookBusiness https://bestchancemedia.org/2025/08/28/what-is-a-hybrid-publisher-are-they-scammers-too/

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