Wanted to give everyone a little update!

I’m a little over 15 thousand words in, and so far, I like what I’ve written way more than anything that I’ve put together on the continuation of this story so far.

That makes me think of something else.

Often, I’ll have writers reach out to me. They say some really nice things about what I write. They’ll talk about how it inspires them, or they’ll ask about how I came to the decision to include some element or another in my story, like it’s some kind of great mystery! Let me let you in on a great big secret. For me, I’m just flying by the seat of my pants! There is no mystery.

Many times the writes will talk about how they wish they could do what I do, and I often tell them, “What, write something you think is shit and then wonder how anyone could like it?'“

That’s the real secret, or for me, at least, it is. I often wonder if other writers feel the same way, but in the end, I’ve decided it doesn’t matter if they do. For me, I always read my own work and think it’s shit. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not sitting on my pity pot. I recognize that a lot of folks appreciate and enjoy my work, and thus, the logical part of my mind is able to neatly put that little element aside and realize that it’s not really shit but is, instead only my own insecurity shining out…

I tell you this not to make you feel sorry for me, but perhaps to let some aspiring writer know, I feel exactly the same way about my work most of the time as you do when you doubt what you’ve written.

So what makes a successful story for me?

Well, come back next time and I’ll give you and update on how much progress I’ve made and we can talk about that!