What keeps a writer writing? Not the promise of riches,
because most writers don’t reap the royalties that Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann
Krentz, and others do. Those authors are the exception. For writers in my situation, I write because I can’t help
myself. ☺ I have so many stories I am compelled to share. When a reader buys my
book, that’s a bonus.
Receiving an email from a reader who enjoyed one of my books
is like a drink of cool water after struggling through desert heat. If that
reader also leaves a good review on Amazon or Goodreads, I am especially thrilled.
An acquaintance announced that when she was a certain age,
she would retire from writing. She is past that age now and writing as much as
ever. You see, writing is like an addiction and there is no 12-Step Program to
help us.
Do artists see possible paintings wherever they go? Do
sculptors see a design in every cliff or stone? I can only speak for writers.
Yes, we see a story in everything.
When I’m riding in a car and see an old house that’s
been deserted, my imagination is ignited. Who built that home? What happened to
the family that the building has been deserted? My mind creates stories of the
residents.
Every news story and conversation is fodder for my imagination.
I think “but what if” to create a new ending or more beautiful journey. In fact, a lot of my stories start with “what
if”.
There are heroes and heroines rumbling around in the
creative portion of my mind who are eager to have their stories told. I suppose
being a writer is a form of insanity. We hear voices and see people no one else
can—at least not until we commit them to paper or e-book.
Creativity has many forms. Writing stories is the one that
has chosen me.
My latest stories are BRIDE'S ADVENTURE for Debra Holland's Montana Sky Series Kindle World. If you read MURDOCH'S BRIDE, you'll remember young widow Amelia Douglas. She's the heroine of BRIDE'S ADVENTURE. This is available for $1.99 http://a.co/7GoiVFD
GRANT ME THE MOON is a contemporary western romance that was in the anthology COME LOVE A COWBOY but is now available as a single title. I'm warning you in case you purchased that anthology so you won't buy a book you've already read. Currently, it is $2.99 but on April 10th, it will go on special for 99 cents for three weeks. After that time, it will be $2.99. The next in that series, CAPTURE A STAR, will be released in late May. GRANT ME THE MOON is available at http://a.co/geC7w79
Enjoyed your post very much--especially your comparison: "Receiving an email from a reader who enjoyed one of my books is like a drink of cool water after struggling through desert heat." So true!!
ReplyDeleteCaroline, Everything you said is so true! I would write whether anyone was buying my books or not, but that they do and I hear from one now and then that they enjoyed the story, that is "like a drink of cool water after struggling through desert heat." Excellent post! And I do see stories every where I look. So many in my head so little time!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who hears voices and sees people where none exist! Abandoned cabins and old barns speak to me, too, and make me wonder about their history. "What if" is a great place to start a story.
ReplyDeleteThose darned stories just keep noodling at us, don't they? I'm really glad you keep thinking of new stories because I enjoy reading your books so much!
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing.. everything has a story!
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