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… as much as you do.
THE BIG PARTY
I’m not saying that no one gives a hooey about what you’re writing or have written. Maybe you’re so blessed that the day you turned the knob and let yourself out of the writers closest your cheerleaders fell into formation, practiced and ready to spin a dozen perfect cartwheels of support over your heartfelt endeavors. They bought your book, tooted your wordy genius to their circle of friends, posted on Facebook, tweeted from sea to shining sea. Possibly even set your heart to singing by posting a review on Amazon and/or BN. They told you how proud, excited, impressed, joyful they are over your accomplishment. They begged for a sequel and your smile stretched so wide it nearly split the seams of your face from ear-to-ear.
C.O.D
You’ve worked hard. Persevered across the fiery coals of doubt, rejection, and uncertainty regardless of how much it never failed to sometimes hurt. You’ve paid your dues and can at long last bask in the radiant light of an accomplished dream. It feels good. Because it should.
BEWARE THE BURSTING BUBBLE
Whether it be weeks or months later, the thing is, it does happen. Readers read … and then they move on. Readers have an appetite that requires constant care and feeding of good books, not just one book. Yes, they read and thoroughly loved your book. But now the marching band has turned the corner and your personal parade has dispersed to return to their own lives. But this writing gig is your real life and you’re still here. Alone.
FOREVER ON YOUR MIND
It’s something beyond wonderful when people care about your creations. When they take time to share your passion and connect with your characters and stories. And although none of that stuff is why we write, it puts an extra special spring in our step and twinkle in our eye. Until they leave. Pack up their pom poms and return to whatever they’ve temporarily set aside. Leaving you to sweep up the confetti in a suddenly empty room.
SHHHHH, NOT SO LOUD
And here you are. No less passionate, still eyeball deep and consumed with all you’ve created. You haven’t finished talking about your characters lives, thinking, wondering, obsessing about them. Worrying they have no friends on the playground and nobody has invited them to sit at their lunch table.
THAT BAD?
Not really. Just the facts. No One Cares … as much as You Do. Just because you’ve written a book doesn’t mean people are going to want to read it. And even if they do, their potential love for your work will never surpass your own and you shouldn’t expect it.
SINCERE APPRECIATION
Be gracious and appreciative of well wishes and enthusiastic readers. Just keep in mind, when the final cork is popped and the lights go out, it’s still your baby. You brought it into the world and you’re responsible for future nurturing and midnight feeding.
Are you expecting too much from your readers? How difficult, or potentially painful, do you find it to draw the shades on your party and wave goodnight to your guests?
Jeezaloo–fingers crossed that someone really does care that my baby number two, “Asleep Without Dreaming,” is due for release in 7 days 😀
Barbara Forte Abate 