So, let's admit it: writing a book has an element of self-consciousness. You're like, "Hey world, my very own story is so important that I want you all to read it... and maybe even get paid for it." What makes it possible, at least for me, are my friends, the ones that love me unconditionally and will read your book and they'll tell you that they love it. And I know, without a doubt, they will genuinely love it, because it came from me.

This post is a thank you to those friends. All the people who say, "I love it," even before it's done. Even before it's fully formed, coherent, agented, signed, copyedited, 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.