I'm not going to hang it up, because I am at the tail end, where I know my writing days are numbered, and I have no intention of giving up any of them until I have to. But I still empathize with Ilona. I still feel the same way, even if I won't give it those same words.
I hope some of the comments or perhaps Kathie's blog gave Ilona answers she needed to hear. I loved the conversation, that for that day at least, someone's Facebook page was a meeting of friends. That's kind of a gift, isn't it? It's necessary, if we are to survive as writers these days in publishing, that we find, accept, and enjoy those gifts when we get them.
When I got a massage last week, Jessie, the wonderful therapist who makes me feel 10 years younger every time I see her, mentioned a blog I'd written for Window Over the Sink. It made some waves, got some comments, and created some thought. We talked about it, and when I left that day, she told me to "keep on being badass."
I got more than a massage out of that visit, and when my husband and I went to our favorite coffee house last night, owner Scott Johnson introduced me as a "famous author," told how many books I'd published, and said, "She's a badass."
Being called a badass twice in one week when you're 71 years old and lacking in professional confidence....wow. Those are gifts I'm going to hold close and enjoy. And I'll keep writing until I love it again. I hope you do, too, Ilona.
~*~
Reinventing Riley
Pastor Jake McAlister and businesswoman Riley Winters are in their forties and widowed. Neither is interested in a relationship. They both love Fallen Soldier, the small Pennsylvania town where they met, even though Rye plans to move to Chicago, and Jake sees a change in pastorates not too far down the road. Enjoying a few-weeks friendship is something they both look forward to.
However, there is an indisputable attraction between the green-eyed pastor and the woman with a shining sweep of chestnut hair. Then there’s the Culp, an old downtown building that calls unrelentingly to Rye’s entrepreneurial soul. And when a young man named Griff visits Jake, life changes in the blink of a dark green eye.
I think most midlist romance authors are feeling this right now, but oh baby, you are a badass... so glad to be included in your orbit! Keep writing! It's who you are! <>
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nan!
DeleteI feel every word of this, Liz. And I 2nd the whole "keep being badass!" Hang in. We can do it!
ReplyDeleteYes, we can! We have a good name, right? (Besides badass, I mean.)
DeleteYou definitely are a badass, Liz! I loved Kathie's blog post. Very inspirational!
ReplyDeleteWasn't it great!?
DeleteTo continue, I've decided to step back, and give myself some breathing room. I need to stop putting pressure on my 73 year old shoulders. Here's to us, Liz!
ReplyDeleteAn excellent point--we do need to put less pressure on ourselves.
DeleteWonderful post, Liz. I think we all go through those dark moments when we think about quitting. I think it's the dreaded marketing and promotion which sucks the life out of us. A friend just quit all social media except one. I think about doing the same.
ReplyDeleteI think we all do, too. Sometimes we are just tired.
DeleteGreat post, Liz. I, too, am going to hold on as long as I can--in spite of low sales. I love writing, but I have decided to publish less often. I think I damaged my health by trying to fit too many books into my schedule. In my mind, that's what lowered my resistance and allowed me to catch Covid last year. But a slower, more relaxed schedule gives me time to do other things as well as write. My husband has Parkingson's, and I want to spend more time with him. My daughters are both loving women and I want to spend more time with them, too. So, this is the easy-going writer, mellow and taking it a day at a time.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you in the doing, Carolyn. We all continue to learn from each other, don't we?
DeleteYou are all an inspiration to me. I would have loved to have started writing before this chaos- but in fact, I write for me. If someone likes it, all the better. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. And I'm sure even when the time comes that I DO quit, I'll still write for me.
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