Write For Yourself: Because YOU matter too!

Inspired by the blog, "The Other Side of the Story" by Janice Hardy, author of The Healing Wars Trilogy.


As writers, we all have times when we just struggle on certain parts of the process, and even though we keeping telling ourselves to be patient and keep trying we'll one day achieve the results we strive for, and being patient with ourselves can often be harder than waiting to hear an editor or agent wants to buy our book(s).


"I Write For Myself."


How many times have we heard or been told this same advice from other writers, often those who've achieved some level of success that is noticeably greater, if not eons beyond, what we have experienced so far, and I believe while many of you, like myself, really want to believe it, it simply may not be easy to achieve, simple as it is to say. 


Does that mean we're pathetically lazy or impatient? 


I don't think so. 


Contrary what I hear from some writers, some of us don't find adopting this mindset an easy, or straightway thing, and here's why-


We just lost our way. Nothing else to it.


This is what happened to me, AGAIN, and it's a strong part of why I've been MIA from the blog so long, and I really missed those of you who are T.A.A. faithfuls, and I continue to appreciate the support my fellow bloggers and writers have been gracious to give me during this time, and I hope I can return the favor someday. 


While I'm still in recovery mode, and even if my updates remain inconsistent for the foreseeable future, I will keep it going, because I love doing it, and hope sharing my journey as a writer and reader will ease some of the pain of writers who feel or have felt similar frustrations.


If I can help one writer among you feel less alone and hopeless, I consider that a special kind of success, and you can't measure it with money or stock charts, but that also means we all have an equal chance to give it, and maybe get some back ourselves, because at day's end, we need community and understanding now more than ever.


Even in those times when we must stand alone to face our fears and right our wrongs, we need to remember the community who got us to this point, I believe we all need some amount of it, this just varies from writer to writer, no different than books that work for some readers versus others.


We spend so much time thinking of our readers needs, and I'm in no way saying this is a bad thing, all writers and readers who don't write need to stretch their horizons, but we can't let allow it to devalue and neglect our own personal feelings and taste in books, and that's not fair or healthy to us, because we're readers too. 


Tomorrow, I will talk about what's helping me climb out of the new hole I fell into this year, and share what's helping me fight back, and I promise an update tomorrow, and here's some encouraging proof, I'll give the first two replies to Friday's post the following prizes-


Reply Prize #1:  $20 Barnes and Noble E-Gift Card*
Reply Prize #2: $10 iTunes gift card*


(*Prizes can only be awarded to residents in U.S. or Canada)
2nd Note: Hawaii and Alaska are eligible! I hate contests and giveaways that leave them out They're part of America too.)


Check back tomorrow, I look forward to lots more discussion, and if you've got questions or would like to comment on your personal battle with this subject, feel free to share in the comments, or if it's more personal or intricate, but would help writer's morale, e-mail me, and you can chose to be anonymous, but give me an alias so my responses can read natural on the blog. I'll update my new contact info later today.


Until then, May The Fantastic Fauna be with you,


Taurean
T.A.A. 
Editor-in Chief
Resident Frazzled yet Unflappable Literary Rat


P.S. If you're interested, read the post on Janice's blog that sparked this topic here.