Learning Curves ~ Valerie Ronald

image by Pixabay

Perched on the edge of our chairs, hands poised over the keys, we waited for the timer to sound. Ding! And we were off, filling the classroom with the deafening clatter of multiple manual typewriters as we raced to type as many correctly spelled words as we could in the time given. Back then in high school I had no idea how useful the skill of touch typing would be in my future as a writer. Cursive writing is awkward for me as I am left-handed. Though many writers prefer the tactile process of handwriting, I still favour using a keyboard.

Keyboards and I go way back. From high school typing classes, to 1970s newspaper teletype machines and early personal computers, my fingers became an extension of my creative thought process. Standardized English alphabet keyboards mean I can write on most computers available to me. Many writers use the “hunt and peck” technique with some proficiency. I like the speed and smoothness of touch typing.

In fall of 2025 I embarked on a lifelong dream of writing my first book. Knowing I was a high school student back in the 1970s, you can assume my present age made improving my online technology skills a challenge. I needed to upgrade my computer in order to accommodate the word processing program required by my publisher. That meant two new systems to navigate. There were times when I shut down my computer and walked away in frustration. Often by the next day a solution to my digital dilemma would come to me and I forged ahead. My publishing editor was always available to help when I was really stuck.

Now that my book is published, I realize the importance of having a God-given calling and purpose in order to stay the course when things are difficult. Focusing on the end goal helps me persevere through the ongoing challenges of managing social media platforms and web-based tools as a means of promoting my book. Having learned what I did through the publishing process, I have confidence that I can master most of what I need to do.

The ethical quandary of promoting my own work is where I find it difficult to strike a balance. Before independent publishing became more accessible, mainline publishers did the job of promoting and selling the work of the authors they represented. I worked with a reputable publishing services provider that expertly guided me through every step of publication, including book marketing and promotion. They gave me the tools, yet I find it difficult to manage promotion of my own work without appearing self-important.

Initially I am using Facebook and Instagram to post quotes from my book and reviews from readers. As I become familiar with the elements of these tools, I hope to try new promotion techniques. By observing how more experienced authors handle social media, I can learn to do so tastefully. It will take a while for me to find an online promotion style suited to the book, and myself as an author. I welcome any helpful recommendations! 

Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction, and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk. She has recently published a devotional book, "Each Shining Moment - Lingering in God's Light."