So, let's admit it: writing a book has it's douchy side. You're like, "Hey world, my story and my ideas are so important that I want you all to read it." And your friends, the ones that love you most, will read your book and they'll tell you that they love it.

Well, this post is a thank you to all those friends. All the people who say, "I love it," even before it's done. Even before it's fully formed, or coherent, or copyedited, or bound.

Those are the people that make it possible for writers to write and to finally step out there naked and imperfect into the world and say, "OK. Take it or leave it. This is what I made."

Psst—This post is for Nicole. She's an amazing friend, and I'm so grateful to have her.