For the love of books

If you’re a children’s book writer and you talk to people outside of the publishing industry about your work, one of the first things they always say is, “Hey, you could write the next Harry Potter.”  This has been my experience, at least.  Then you have the choice to either nod and smile (because, hey, maybe you could be the next J.K. Rowling) or tell them the truth that the odds of you being the next J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer are slim.  This is not to downplay any talent you have or any goals you might want to accomplish, this is because of that darn thing called reality.  Fiction writers and reality aren’t always the best of friends, but it’s important to have a balance when it comes to publishing.

I think as a writer it’s important to have confidence in your work, but also recognize those fantastical publishing-success stories are, well, fantastical.  They happen, but they’re rare.  And this bring us back to the idea of why we write.  It’s not to make a million dollars, though that would be nice.  I write because I can’t not write.  It’s the pulse in my wrist.  If I don’t write, I don’t sleep.  It’s that simple.  So when the uninitiated ask why I’m shuttling off to the library four nights a week and working countless hours if not for the money, I say it’s for the love of books.  I love books and story and the joy of creation.  That’s what makes it worth it.

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