Ceara Comeau's Blog: Lessons From A Struggling Writer - Posts Tagged "fans"
The Fans
Yesterday was an amazing day for me. I got the chance to give a talk at a local charter school. One of the teachers, who I knew in high school, invited me to come and talk to the students about writing.
Not going to lie, I was very nervous as I haven't given a talk in a couple years. But the students were absolutely amazing and made me feel so welcome! But before the talk even began one girl came up to me and asked, "Did you write the Amber Oak Mysteries?" A huge smile lit up my face. Apparently, she attended another talk that I gave at a library a few years back. The fact that she remembered a one-time talk made my day!
I continued with the talk I was going to give and it was with a small group of teenagers. But my attention kept going back to that one girl who was just so giddy that I had come. I spoke most of the time during the talk, but there were times when the students asked me some really great questions--some I had to take a moment to think about and it wasn't just about writing, but about how I saw the world.
I found their awareness of life, inspiring. These students were very intelligent and gave me hope for the future of our world.
When the talk ended and the parents came for pick-up. That one fan of mine, her mom came and was so excited to see me. She told me that the talk I gave all those years ago inspired her daughter to write books and she hasn't given up. To say that sent chills up my spine is a huge understatement. I felt so honored to have such an impact on the girl's life, even if it was only one meeting.
I started thinking about my fans, old or young, and I reflected on how celebrities react to their fans. A lot of them don't have the time to interact with the fans or even respond to a positive comment. But you know, those fans are the reason those celebrities are in business. I don't want to be so busy that I forget my fans. I may not be on the New York Times Best Selling Author List, but I still have fans and I wouldn't be where I am without their support!
Not going to lie, I was very nervous as I haven't given a talk in a couple years. But the students were absolutely amazing and made me feel so welcome! But before the talk even began one girl came up to me and asked, "Did you write the Amber Oak Mysteries?" A huge smile lit up my face. Apparently, she attended another talk that I gave at a library a few years back. The fact that she remembered a one-time talk made my day!
I continued with the talk I was going to give and it was with a small group of teenagers. But my attention kept going back to that one girl who was just so giddy that I had come. I spoke most of the time during the talk, but there were times when the students asked me some really great questions--some I had to take a moment to think about and it wasn't just about writing, but about how I saw the world.
I found their awareness of life, inspiring. These students were very intelligent and gave me hope for the future of our world.
When the talk ended and the parents came for pick-up. That one fan of mine, her mom came and was so excited to see me. She told me that the talk I gave all those years ago inspired her daughter to write books and she hasn't given up. To say that sent chills up my spine is a huge understatement. I felt so honored to have such an impact on the girl's life, even if it was only one meeting.
I started thinking about my fans, old or young, and I reflected on how celebrities react to their fans. A lot of them don't have the time to interact with the fans or even respond to a positive comment. But you know, those fans are the reason those celebrities are in business. I don't want to be so busy that I forget my fans. I may not be on the New York Times Best Selling Author List, but I still have fans and I wouldn't be where I am without their support!
Why Not Both?
There is something special to be said about an author’s support group. I’m not talking about close friends and family who have been with us since day one. I’m talking about the people who don’t know us at all—the ones who happen to pick up our books and fall in love with the worlds we create. These are the people who form that coveted fanbase that every author desires. And I have found mine!
I’m sure I’ve mentioned my last time at the Saratoga Comic-Con. It was the best event I had ever attended. I signed up for the same event which I attended a few weeks ago. I remember having some doubts at the event considering I was just there a few months prior. I thought to myself that there was no way I’d sell as much as I did in November because chances were, returning people would remember me. But I was pleasantly surprised to find I actually sold a few more books than before.
What really blew me away, though, was how many of those returning people came up to me just to tell me how much they liked the books! One guy even said he was determined to finish all the ones I brought last time, just so he could buy something new this time! I even had people from before coming up saying how excited they were to see the progression I had made with the film endeavors! But I think my favorite part of the entire event was when I convinced a young woman to start reading. She bought one of my books and her mother came back around just to tell me that I had changed her daughter’s life.
I’ve always joked with friends and family that the highest point of my career would be when someone cosplays as one of my characters. But this…this my friends is the highest moment of any artist’s career. Changing someone’s life through art of any medium should be every artist’s greatest desire. I had a lot of time to think of the impact I made on many of my new and returning fans that weekend. But the truth is, the impact they had on me was far more meaningful. The first night of that event, I rushed back to the hotel room and immediately began pounding at my keyboard. This is the kind of support group I feel every author and/or artist needs to have—a group of people who get to know you on a personal level like this.
Now, does this mean I’m typing out a thousand words a day? In a perfect world, that’d be great. But I do have other projects and a family so it’s not always easy. But, I can say, that if I’m ever feeling down or struggling to write a scene, all I need to do is think of my Saratoga Support Team and the effect they’ve had on my life!
I’m sure I’ve mentioned my last time at the Saratoga Comic-Con. It was the best event I had ever attended. I signed up for the same event which I attended a few weeks ago. I remember having some doubts at the event considering I was just there a few months prior. I thought to myself that there was no way I’d sell as much as I did in November because chances were, returning people would remember me. But I was pleasantly surprised to find I actually sold a few more books than before.
What really blew me away, though, was how many of those returning people came up to me just to tell me how much they liked the books! One guy even said he was determined to finish all the ones I brought last time, just so he could buy something new this time! I even had people from before coming up saying how excited they were to see the progression I had made with the film endeavors! But I think my favorite part of the entire event was when I convinced a young woman to start reading. She bought one of my books and her mother came back around just to tell me that I had changed her daughter’s life.
I’ve always joked with friends and family that the highest point of my career would be when someone cosplays as one of my characters. But this…this my friends is the highest moment of any artist’s career. Changing someone’s life through art of any medium should be every artist’s greatest desire. I had a lot of time to think of the impact I made on many of my new and returning fans that weekend. But the truth is, the impact they had on me was far more meaningful. The first night of that event, I rushed back to the hotel room and immediately began pounding at my keyboard. This is the kind of support group I feel every author and/or artist needs to have—a group of people who get to know you on a personal level like this.
Now, does this mean I’m typing out a thousand words a day? In a perfect world, that’d be great. But I do have other projects and a family so it’s not always easy. But, I can say, that if I’m ever feeling down or struggling to write a scene, all I need to do is think of my Saratoga Support Team and the effect they’ve had on my life!
