My Thoughts on Things...

So lately I've been doing a lot of book promotion on here or interviewing other authors or talking about books...I guess today I'll be taking about writing in general and publishing and reviews and lots of different subjects.

We'll call this, Rebecca's Random Musings. Shall we?

It's not that early as I write this, 7:30 AM is a very reasonable time to be awake, however I've been up since 5:30 thanks to my four month old son so while 7:30 is downright civilized, 5:30 was hell. On mornings like this, I'm always glad to see the sunrise.

I've been reflecting a lot lately on writing and I couldn't pinpoint exactly why this was until I realized that exactly a year ago, I made my first sale. It was this week--I know because it's the same week my kid's have from school every year--that I made the sale. I've learned a lot since then, I hope.

What do I know now that I didn't know then?

I live very close to NYC and perhaps it's the location or maybe it's just luck, but I've been very blessed to know a lot of professional actors. Not the Hollywood kind (although some of them do head out to LA) but the Broadway professionals. Just recently I had lunch with one. She told me as I was lamenting about a review 'Look Rebecca, if you believe the good ones, you have to believe the bad ones so don't read them at all.'

She was right. I do read them still...more of a curiosity thing at this point than anything else or, to be fair, to see what the reviewer thought of the book as a reader, but I don't live or die by them anymore. I hope the reviewer liked the book...I'm grateful and happy when they do but if they don't it doesn't sideline me for twenty-four hours.

What else have I learned?

There's nothing in the world as important as a good editor. I've had three. They've all be fabulous. Bless you ladies.

In my heart, I'm still a voracious reader and a huge fan.

A lot of writers stop reading. They just don't have the time. This seems counterintuitive to me. I became a writer because I love to read. Someone said (and I really can't remember who at the moment) that with the invention of the laptop computer everyone decided they could write a book. The tool of the personal computer made it easier for people to do. I can see how this is true. I'm sitting in my living room right now, baby attached to my side, as I write this. If I'd had to put him down somewhere to do this, it would be much harder. Having said that? If everyone who loves books...and don't writers by nature love books?...stop reading them who is going to be left to buy our books?

I love reading. Frankly, if I had the time I could read two books a day. I'm a huge fan. I love established authors and new authors. I love Goodreads because I can talk to other people who love books. Something gets lost if it all becomes about our own writing and never anyone else's. The best writers I know LOVE other people's writing. They rave about other authors, learn from them, have joy in the work other people do. It's not an ego thing.

Also, in the last year I've found that I am equally as excited about other people's success as I am my own. When Annie Nicholas' Bait released from Liquid Silver Books, I was beyond thrilled. I remember when she first wrote that. It couldn't be better. If Sandra Sookoo makes a sale, it's a great day. J. Hali Steele has a huge fan base and that is thrilling to me, she's earned it and she's so incredibly talented. Another writer friend just got 'The Call.' If you're a writer, you know what I mean, she made it to the big time. That is great news. I love to see other writers have success. It's so inspiring to me. I can't wait to see what RKCharron is writing and where it goes!

I'm waiting with baited breath for Lora Leigh's next Breed release. (It's Jonas!!) I haven't lost my joy for reading.

Also, someone said something like (and I'm paraphrasing here) "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." My resolution for this year: If something is not working in my writing, I'm going to stop doing it. If something has to be changed, I'm going to change it and not let inertia keep me from moving forward.

Best to all of you and all of your writing and reading.

RR