Tag: creative writing

No Author is an Island

When I first started writing my book, I labored under a misconception. It was an easy mistake to make. I made an assumption about writing, one that, by all outward appearances, is apparently true. When you pick up a novel in the store, whose name do you see on it? The author’s. Maybe a few more names listed on the dedication page, a word of thanks to friends and family, but not much more. Oh, maybe the publishing company’s name, too, but that’s a business, not people. The writer is the one who gets the credit for the work.

As a self-publisher, I thought that writing was a one-person deal.

I am happy to say that I was very quickly proven wrong. Authors are not islands unto themselves, safely isolated from the hassle and responsibility of working with others, nor are they alone and dependent solely on their own skill and luck. Behind an author’s name are many, many other names, most of them willingly anonymous.

I wrote the book. Then I hired an editor to review my work. And I’ll contact an artist to create the book’s cover art. And then I’ll purchase my ISBN number and my business license so I can legally publish my work. And there is the commercial outlet through which my book is made available to the public. And yes, there are the friends and family who support me.

And let’s not forget the most important ones of all: the people who actually buy the book!

Even you, dear reader, are part of this process. Your very presence on this blog means that you’ve shown an interest in my work, maybe a passing interest, or maybe you’ll stick around for a while. Either way, you’re sharing in this journey alongside me. Interesting thought, isn’t it? No writer can truly say they made it by themselves. I find that oddly comforting. Writing isn’t lonely. It draws in folks who share a common interest and goal. It’s an unexpected side of the literary industry that I never expected, and I’m happy to have discovered it.

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So … What’s This All About?

It’s a question we all have from time to time. Why do we do the things we do? I’m not talking about jobs or chores. That’s just stuff that needs to be done. I’m talking about what we like to do. Why do you write? Why do you paint? Why do you fish? Why do you do yoga, or boxing or football?

It’s like the climber who was asked why he wanted to climb the mountain. “Because it’s there!” he replied. Well, while my answer isn’t quite as glib, I can sympathize with that sentiment.

Why am I pursuing a writing career?

I can’t claim to speak for everyone, but this is how I perceive it. The best way to describe it is an itch. I have to write. It’s a necessity. It’s a little nagging feeling in the back of my skull that can’t be ignored, and the alternative is … madness! Okay, okay, I exaggerate, but I’m not kidding when I say that the desire to create is very, very strong. I think everyone has a bit of it in themselves, whether they know it or not. We all want to look back at our lives and say, “Yeah, I did what I loved. I made something I’m proud of. I accomplished something that I value.” A 9-5 job may pay the bills and support a comfortable lifestyle, but that’s not everybody’s idea of fulfillment, is it?

When you have a good idea, a good story bubbling up inside you or a great masterpiece that you want to paint, or even if your dream is of the perfect fish to draw out of the lake or that Holy Grail of puzzles found in some hole-in-the-wall dollar store, then you have your goal. You pursue that goal. It makes life fun, don’t you think, having something to achieve? So, my goal is to publish good, entertaining stories. There you have it.

A tad melodramatic? Yeah, maybe. And if you’re thinking, “Gee, you kind of sound like you’re describing an addiction,” then don’t get me wrong. It’s not that kind of tyrannical need that bullies you into submission. It’s a passionate need, an act of joy. And hey, if I’m going to write, I might as well as write for an audience, yeah? Where’s the fun in creating if you can’t share it with others?

Which is where this website comes in. I’m just getting started , so things are a little spartan around here at the moment. But it’ll grow. I’ll publish stories and trace my writer’s journey through this blog. I hope you’ll tag along for the ride.