There’s a
saying about women “slaving over a hot stove”. They’ve worked hard to provide
meals for a hungry family. It was also said because they’d worked hard all day
to keep things going.
Well, I’m
talking about slaving away over a hot computer. I’ve always said that I’ve
never had as much fun as when I’m writing, but I tend to leave out the part
about it being hard work.
Some writers
are prolific and crank out books frequently. That doesn’t mean each book wasn’t
a lot of work. It means they’ve got it together and they’re probably pretty
organized, and maybe they’re a lot smarter than someone like me. (I’m smiling
when I say that.)
A few writers
have commented on life getting in the way of writing time. It happens. In the
meantime, that Work in Progress (WIP) sits and waits for the story creator to
get back to it. In my case, my house is for sale and I’m spending a lot of time
packing, cleaning, and working on my yard. Oh, and I can’t forget about the
garage. It’s a three-car, boat deep garage and it’s jam packed with stuff.
Gotta love “stuff”. Of course, the dogs want a lot of attention, too.
Frankly, I
can’t wait to get back to my current WIP. And reading. Oh, how I miss reading.
I have very little time for that lately, too. Maybe when I move things will get
back to normal – whatever normal is.
I know that
some people write as a hobby, or they have only one book they want to get out
of their system. That’s good and their book is a worthy project, but there are
others who are writing as a career. As a career, the author has to not only
create a good story, but they have to market, promote, try to come up with some
unique ideas to get their names out there, and hope people enjoy what they’re
offering. While they’re doing all of these things, that hot ol’ computer is
sitting patiently, waiting for them to return and put in some long hours.
I have a
wonderful friend (and you know who you are) who does everything she can to
promote my books. Everything she does makes me feel like I’m doing something
worthwhile. She wouldn’t go to great lengths if she didn’t like my writing. We
all need a friend like this who cares so much.
Shout it from the rooftops
Word-of-mouth
is the best advertising. When you read a book that you enjoy, stop and remember
that the author has put a lot of hard work into her/his story or you wouldn’t
be thinking what a great book it is. Tell a friend. Tell two friends. Three is even better, and hopefully they’ll read the
book you recommend and tell their other friends.
Okay, let me tell a friend. Right now I’m reading “The Silver Sleigh” by Dorothy Bodoin. I’m also reading “Murder Run” by Shelly
Frome. It’s slow going because of my current busy life, but I’m enjoying both
of them. I hope I reach a point where I can simply sit down and read to my
heart’s content.
Hmm. That’s
it for this week. I simply wanted to remind readers that a book doesn’t just
happen. It requires hard work.
Have you read
a good book lately? Did you happen to think of what it took for the author to
produce this piece of entertainment? Have you ever wondered about the process?
Think about it – and then tell a friend about the great book you just finished.
Until next
week, I hope you have the reading time you desire and that you make the best of
it.
CLICK HERE to
visit Marja McGraw’s website
CLICK HERE
for a quick trip to Amazon.com
Remember, you
can ask for specific books at your favorite bookstore if they don’t carry what
you want. Just an afterthought.
