The Thing

The thing that makes writing hard is the same thing that makes it great. Now, that thing id different depending on which author you talk to and what stage they are at in their writing journey. Touring the country and doing talk shows might be the hardest thing for some authors. For me, that is not the case. For me, it's getting my work out to the masses. There are as many ways to do this as there are authors themselves. Budget and time constraints are very real when you're an author with a family and a full-time job. But I push on. I prefer the organic approach: getting out there and meeting readers. I absolutely love meeting new readers, but I adore the exchanges with readers who have bought my books in the past and enjoyed them enough to buy my latest work. There is an immediate validation in that exchange that tells me that I am not an imposter, that I can entertain strangers with my work. That is very fulfilling. It's a big part of the reason I do what I do. It's my cold drink on a hot summer day, and I appreciate every single one of them more than you know.

But the thing I love is also tiring and sometimes comes with disappointment. I am always able to sell my work to people. I was blessed with the gift of gab, and my covers are great, so that makes it easy. That doesn't always mean I sell enough to cover expenses. Most of the time, I do, but not meeting expectations is part of the process. Sometimes, the reward is beyond financial or even practical. I have met some wonderful authors at events and have become friends with so many of them. The camaraderie is always wonderful and recharges my soul. Knowing that every author struggles with something makes this ride a little easier to take. Since being a writer is a largely solitary experience, meeting others who partake of the same life can be refreshing. From bestselling authors to those who are just starting out, we all share the same passion, and that's pretty cool. We all have our thing, our struggle, but we help each other out. I don't see other authors as competitors. There are plenty of readers out there for everyone.

But you know, having a struggle, a thing, isn't unique to authors. We all have a thing. Often, our significant others know what it is, but few others do. But the special thing about having "a thing" is having someone else to share it with, who will help you work through it. As an author, I strive to lift up as many authors as I can to help them reach my level. It's one thing I'll always do. I love my readers, I love my author friends, and I want more of each. That's my thing, and I think it's a pretty neat thing to have.