Mildly Delusional and Patiently Persistent

Our speaker proposed those are the best two mindsets a writer can have when on her or his journey to publication. I just completed my first writing conference. It was a weekend packed with information about writing, marketing, options for publishing, and maybe making a buck or two. Spoiler alert: profit for writers does not often occur until the third book.

I’ll write a handful of future entries about what I learned, but my brain is absolutely fried at the moment. I wanted instead to drop a quick post about writing and mission.

Why are you writing your book?

This was asked of conference attendees a few times over the past three days. It may have been to soften the blow of “You’re going to invest money and time into this, but you are going to be lucky to break even.” However, I appreciated the question nonetheless. Among all the talk of target reader, Amazon optimization, rapid releases, and publishing options, it was a valuable come-to-Jesus moment with myself.

Why am I writing an urban fantasy series?

1. For myself. It sounds selfish, but I had to get the story out of my head and work through it on paper. I’ve struggled with processing all The Horrible in our country and the world over the last four years. This dirty, broken, vulnerable, strong, and fierce lady werewolf protagonist helped me to begin doing so.
2. For my fellow females who are looking for a strong heroine. The protagonist and I have been companions for the last eight months. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her as we’ve explored the challenges of navigating society as not only a werewolf, but as a woman. I feel there are readers out there that will feel this connection with her as well. The woman part, anyway.
3. Readers who would enjoy a fun urban fantasy story arc with a female protagonist and a dash of mystery and horror.

So Is Writing a Book Worth the Commitment?

I spent a lot of time this past year writing and editing Book 1. Currently, I’m in editing again after receiving the book draft back from beta readers. Their feedback was great, and I’m excited about how it will improve the story. Beginning on November 1st, I’ll be participating in NaNoWriMo to write out the first draft of Book 2 within the month.

I’m enjoying my time writing about these characters and watching their relationships evolve. I’m having fun seeing how they grow as individuals too. It’s entertaining to spin storylines they attempt to duck and weave through. I get to explore and challenge societal expectations. I am able to question widely held beliefs without the fear of repercussions. Maybe these stories will allow readers to do so as well. If that’s the case, I’d have to say it’s worth every minute.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh from Pexels