I finally have my newsletter ready to go. (If you want to subscribe, the form is on this page and at the end of this post.) It took a lot longer than I expected. I had to wade through a wide variety of options and steer away from those that cost a fortune. And once I picked a newsletter plugin, there was all the work to set it up and make sure it works correctly (and all the time I will need to make fixes and field requests from writers who want to be interviewed in future editions). It will be worth it to further my connections with you as readers and to help fulfill my why for book marketing.
My family often wonders why I spend so much time with my writing. It takes time away from things I could enjoy doing. I haven’t watched a TV series in years. I only know about The Office from memes and Ted Lasso from inspirational quotes. I haven’t followed the MLB playoffs closely since the Dodgers got swept. I haven’t watched a Rams game this season, and I didn’t get to go to the high school football games I was planning to go to. Why am I spending so much time on my laptop? Why can’t I just have fun?
It’s true that I can’t spend all my time writing. Life is a balancing act. I have a job and responsibilities at home. I stay connected with my family and make the most of the time I spend with them. But I make writing a priority. Here’s why.
First, I have the example of my dad. If you prevent yourself from exercising your talents, force yourself into a career you hate, and wind up regretting the opportunities to express yourself creatively out of fear of someone else’s judgement, you will make life miserable for yourself and those around you. I’ve had a need to write since I was a teenager. If I were to give it up now, it would be like losing a limb. Writing is core to my being, and you don’t deny something that is important to you.
Second, I have the example of my mom. She turned to needlepoint to help her deal with the stress of working and raising a family as a single mother. She had to focus on the stitches, so it forced her to set aside any negative thoughts from her day. Seeing the design take shape gave her a sense of control at a time where she had little control over her life. Writing is therapeutic to me. All of my novels came from some problem I was dealing with and let me write through it. When people don’t have some type of creative outlet, they seek relief from self-destructive ways.
Finally, I have the hope that someone out there is being helped through my writing. I don’t know if I’ll ever be a New York Times bestselling author. (Given the current super-heated, hair-trigger state of the world, being a famous author might not be a good thing right now.) But I learned from my example in Little League that if I can help one person, I’ve succeeded as a writer.
That’s why I consider writing a priority, and I will continue writing as long as I’m physically capable of doing it. If you want to join me on this journey, please subscribe to my newsletter.
