People are always shocked to discover I’m a writer, usually asking for an introduction to my publisher so they can get their unpublished manuscripts published or if I’m rolling around in mountains of money. Little do they know the truth: becoming a successful author takes more than just writing!
Alas, most people are never published these days. Instead, many have to find contentment with writing as a hobby and pour their soul into stories that will never see the light of day. Since publishing houses no longer accept queries from unknown writers, you need to be proactive and research what is needed to get your work noticed by those in charge of acquisitions. If you think that’s all it takes to succeed, then you’re mistaken—few ever reach Stephen King status.
Writing helps us look at painful situations and difficult truths straight in the eye instead of turning our backs on them like we usually do.
Writing forces us to confront pain instead of running from it. It also underscores truth, which makes the falseness stand out.
We tend to glamorize hurt (or chaos) in our day-to-day lives–write about it instead of living it! This can help us exorcise demons that lurk beneath everyday problems.
Writing is about finding joy in the craft.
Initially, Luce didn’t want to commit suicide; she just wanted to get past the pain of a lost relationship and the feeling of failure to save a life. Rayne wanted to escape an abusive father and the loss of her love in the 1800s. While I have never had to deal with failing to save a life or having an abusive father (nor live in the 1800s), I did go through thoughts of suicide to deal with pain and the want and need to move past a point in my life. I did have to deal with lost relationships. Haven’t we all,
My experiences which I translated to some of my characters, did turn into a source of happiness, in that I found writing therapeutic; I found joy in picking up the pen and leading my “voices” to happy ever after.
I found pleasure in developing my characters. If you don’t find joy and happiness or a sense of pride in what you write, whether it is ever published or not, chances are you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
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