If You Love an Author

Look. I’m going to be really frank here, because I think we’ve been friends long enough that I can do that. And if we haven’t, I hope you’ll bear with me for a minute, because this is really important.

If there is an author in your life, and that person happens to be important to you on ANY level, but especially in a familial or close relationship, there are some things you should know.

I’ve avoided this subject for a while, for various reasons, one of them being an inherent belief that I have no business telling someone how to love anyone else. But in a recent moment of clarity, I realized that that is not what I’m about to do. What I’m telling you isn’t how you should love them, but rather, the most important way you ought to be showing that love. Because authors are emotional, sensitive people who pour those emotions and those sensitivities into our work for the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD to read.

What we write is so much more than just words on a page, or a screen, or in a book. These stories often come from the very depth of our souls, distributing pieces of ourselves to everyone who reads them. Luckily, for every slice of ourselves we give away, we grow new, grander ones to share.

Since we are writing to share our deepest, most intimate souls, the hope is we will be joined in this special place by our closest, most beloved people in the world. Our spouses. Our children. Our parents, siblings, extended families, and closest friends.  

Because our stories mean so very much to us, it’s difficult to understand why our loved ones wouldn’t be absolutely dying to read our newest (or oldest) work. But all too often, our loved ones aren’t even interested. And that lack of interest, of support—to us—translates to a lack of personal value.

If you love an author—for whatever reason and in whatever capacity—read their work. I don’t care if you buy it, tweet it, Facebook it, share it, talk about it, or even review it (all of which you should ALSO be doing, but that’s another blog). READ IT. Do not offer explanations or excuses about why you “can’t” or tell them you’ll get to it when you have more time (next year, perhaps?). You might as well be telling them you “can’t” find the time to love them. (And let’s not talk about how short life really is here.)

FACT: Time it takes the average author to write a book = 6 months to one YEAR  .

FACT: Time it takes the average reader to read that same book = 4-6 HOURS (7 if it’s long or you’re a slow reader).

FACT: The average American wastes approximately that much time every week (if not every day) watching TV and/or surfing the internet.

If you love an author, value the time they have spent dedicating themselves to their stories. Read his or her work. Do not make excuses. We are smart people. And you are missing out on the best parts of us.

And that, my dear friends, would be the saddest story of all. 

The Things that Matter Most

I recently listened to a speech given by a man who is a well known and highly prolific author. This man has been hugely and highly successful in his field. In large part, this has had to do with his ability to take on every project or idea ever thrown at him, which has—in turn—given him the opportunity to produce as many as four-six bestsellers EACH YEAR.

Wow, right?

But as I listened to this man speak, I found myself pondering my own abilities and what assignments like his could do to my private and personal life.

Truth=I wouldn’t have one.

As much as I want to write bestselling novels, or make a living as a writer, or, heck, even get another novel published—there are things I want even more. Things that are eternally more important to me.

My children. My husband. Other people who are an important part of my daily life. Even my writer friends.

The central theme here is people, which basically breaks down to relationships. And relationships with people take work. And time. And the ability to give back to others—something I don’t know how I would be able to do, were I to take on so much huge responsibility as the man I heard speaking.

Granted, I write a lot. Every day, I dedicate a certain amount of time to my career as an author. I’m good with deadlines, speed-writing, and knowing what to give up and when to get my stuff done. But I also know my limits.

As much as I’m happy for the success of the above mentioned speaker, I don’t envy him. Clearly, he’s really good at working with his hands full. Good for him that he can pull it off and still manage to have a wife and kids.

Unfortunately, I am not like that. I need my sleep. And my family. And at the end of the day, I will always choose to prioritize relationships. If that means I can only write one, or two, or three bestsellers a year, well. I’m okay with that.  

Because even though writing is an important part of my life—there are other things that matter more.

What about you? What are your priorities?

AuthorPalooza and Things I Love, Day 2: Being an Author

In keeping with my goal for the week, I'm stopping for a minute to reflect on the things I love. I'm thinking about AuthorPalooza on Saturday, and how it feels to sign my name inside a book I created. Well, okay, so I helped create it anyway, since I wasn't alone in the work.

And how it will feel to have my name on the cover of another book I can then sign. It makes me think back to what has happened since I started writing, and the incredible growth I've experienced. All the people I've met who are now my friends. People I might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.

These people are another group of friends for whom I'm eternally grateful. And whether I'm close to them or just getting to know them, my author friends are special to me. We're there to help each other learn and grow and become successful in the writing and publishing industry. I love them all.

At the signing event on Saturday, there were 40 of us, and I was so proud to have met most of the other authors. The rest...well, I've met them now. I think. Most of them. (It's entirely possible I missed someone, and if you're that someone, I'm so sorry! Track me down next time and we'll meet for real.)

Before everyone left, I took a few minutes and ran around the store snapping pictures. Granted, I was in a hurry (because I left my signing table and we'd had a steady stream of people) so some of these are blurry and bright--but pictures are still pictures and I'm happy to have them.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Today, I love being an author and creating stories from life experience and pure imagination.