I've had a tough few years in this business. Lots of disappointments, lots of questions and reasons to question my decisions, just as I was starting to feel confident. Just as I felt like I was getting a handle on my craft.
But the thing is, that's so not unusual in this business. It lifts you up and then smacks you down. The very lucky few get enough ups to make up for the smack-downs, but even authors who are relatively successful tend to get more smacks than lifts, even though they don't advertise them as much as we yet-to-sell-a-novel writers do.
All that said, we continue to write and pursue publication.
Why?
Masochists, perhaps?
I don't think so.
We do it because we are writers. Because we love creating. Because we love making shit up. Because we love telling stories. Because we love the writing part of the process.
Funny thing is, probably 80% of the posts on this blog are about how tough the writing part is, about it being hard, hard work, about how much we hate it sometimes, about how difficult it is to keep going.
And yet we do. (Drinking helps.)
Everyone reading this who's writing, whether you're completing your first novel, or struggling through your twentieth... Stand up and take a bow. Now. Seriously. And then have a few drinks. You deserve it.
Cheers!
5 comments:
Awww thanks Maureen. It's 8am. Too early to drink or should I just take a little nip?
I hope you put something in your coffee, Kwana. ;-)
I toast you with Nyquil, Maureen! You're right. Writing is addictive. No matter how disillusioned I get, I can't quite get myself to quit.
Very nice, Maureen. So true. I know I must write for myself - but I also want to be read by others. Frustrating to create with no place to go. :)
It's funny I just finished a project that killed me - just hated that book. Now, I'm starting a new one and the buzz is back...it is so strange.
I will raise a glass with you Maureen and then I will raise sinead's glass too.
Post a Comment