Happy New year! I hope you are enjoying the hope an expectation of fresh beginnings. I know we are! But before I tell you about that, take a look at what our group of authors has put together for you, detailing the best, and worst, parts of being an author…
Robin Lythgoe
Author of As the Crow Flies
I love being an author. It’s my answer to that age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Of course, then you have Neil Gaiman’s advice: “Growing up is highly overrated. Just be an author.” Being an author is fun. Except when it isn’t.
Patricia Reding
Author of Oathtaker
In general, I prefer to end things on a positive note. Thus, I shall first set forth my “worst.” For me, that’s fairly easy. Some say it’s the editing. But no, no, no, not for me! That’s actually one of the best things for me, as it means that my thoughts are already down. From there, I can manipulate them to my heart’s content. I just need . . .
Parker Broaddus
Author of A Hero’s Curse & Nightrage Rising
My own musings on the best and worst aspects of being an author will be rather short this time around. Which will perhaps illustrate the blessing and curse of the vocation aptly. First, the worst. The worst aspect of being a writer? It can be put off.
There it is. The bald, ugly truth. You can put off writing. You can put off the practice of honing words, of shaping worlds and spinning tales. In fact, as terrible and awful as it is, it can be put off…indefinitely. There are many great writers who never wrote, and even more great stories never told. And that truly is a heavy weight.
So too often I do put it off. I fill my time and don’t make space for inky words that have the potential, with time and patience and some skill, to make the world a better place.
The best part about being a writer? I could jokingly say the best part is being able to put it off. 😀 This week in particular the putting off was a welcome respite as we just had a daughter!! She came as a joyful surprise on Tuesday, January 1st. (We thought for certain we were having another boy). We have a new joy and a fresh beginning.
But the real joy of being a writer, the truly best thing? It’s having the capability, the potential, to change the world. To make something better. To make this place more beautiful. That’s the best thing, easily sabotaged by the worst thing, but always there, beckoning and calling ~ “onward and upward.”
Such lovely sentiments, Parker. Thank you! I especially loved this line: “There are many great writers who never wrote, and even more great stories never told.” That is true of so many things, isn’t it? The saddest losses I can contemplate are those experienced because someone who could have, someone who had the skills to, someone who was blessed with the talent for, didn’t. . .
🙁
Congratulations on that lovely and wonderful surprise!
First, congratulations! What a beautiful, sweet little baby! Someone new to tell stories to, and to inspire you…
I’m so glad you don’t put off all your story-telling. 🙂 It’s a terribly easy thing to fall into, and not a very easy place to crawl out of. Fight off the demon! Keep shaping worlds, spinning tales, and making this a brigher world!