If you’re an extroverted writer, this post probably won’t mean much to you, but if you’re an introvert, pay attention. It’s lonely being a writer. My circle of live-and-in-person writing friends is just big enough to span … a card table. Once a month. Yeah, I’m about as introverted as you can be. So you, my blog friends, are my main literary circle.
And yet, about every other week, I decide blogging takes too much of my time. I ponder cutting back to a weekly post. Maybe none at all. Or I could save time by not replying to comments, but as I’ve said before, I consider that akin to inviting you into my home and then refusing to speak to you.
I do a lot of whining on this blog. I rant on occasion. I voice my doubts and fears. I’ve lost some readers, but I’ve gained some too. And what do you do in return? You commiserate, you thank me, sometimes you even laugh at my weak attempts at humor. You give up some of your precious time to read my posts and leave comments. But that’s not the best of what you do.
You give back more than I deserve, but exactly what I need. You encourage me. Sometimes you do that with a slap on the back—you can do it. Sometimes you do that with a slap across the face—snap out of it. And sometimes your cheerleading also whacks me upside the head.
If you read my last post, you know I’ve been struggling to write that knockout query letter. I’ve been haranguing a couple of friends to HELP ME! About mid-morning yesterday, I decided I was sick of myself. Neither one of those friends needs help writing their query letters. I was too needy. I was pathetic.
About ten minutes later, I saw notice of a new blog comment. It was this one left by Brett. I read it and almost cried. It touched me that she would care enough to write such a comment. And then, I had the opposite reaction from what I’m sure she intended me to have. I got angry.
Not angry at Brett; angry at myself. It was time to fish or cut bait. Either I’m a writer or I’m not, and if I am, I darn well better learn to trust myself to write. No “sales pitches” aren’t my thing. So what. It’s my book. I wrote every word of it. Who better to tell an agent why she should be dying to read it?
So, I will write my query letter—a bright and shiny one. And I won’t ever quit blogging. I’d miss you guys too much.
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Linda Cassidy Lewis 
LINDA!!!
I’m so glad we’re writer friends. 🙂 It’s been such a joy to see your query and your novel evolve. Like I’ve told you so many times, I’m SO EXCITED about what you’ve created.
“Neither one of those friends needs help writing their query letters. I was too needy. I was pathetic.” Psshhh. I may very well need some help, lol. Also, you were neither needy nor pathetic. This is a BIG DEAL, and I don’t blame you one single bit for wanting to do your very best. 🙂
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Yep, I’m definitely hiring you as my publicity agent, Kayla. 😀
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If it weren’t for the blogger community, and FB as well, I’d be one lonely writer *laugh* — I rarely get out of the little log house- though I live in the smoky mountains, so , well, one can’t feel TOO sorry for my reclusiveness…..but, it’s just as you say -I am cheered on, patted on the back, cried with, laughed with – it’s a wonderful community….it’s never about selling my books and for that I’m glad.
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I don’t feel sorry for you at all isolated in your mountain home. 🙂 I’d say you have the best of both worlds. Having this community of like-minded people to relate to, makes me feel more normal. 😉
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You are a natural when it comes to blogging and writing post that connect with people. For that reason, I’ve never thought of you as an introverted writer. I think of you more as the personality type that will easily succeed in today’s market. You are aggressive (in a good non-confrontational way), positive, interesting and magnanimous. Above all, you are an excellent communicator. Me, on the other hand….
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Thank you for your magnanimous comments, Trista. If only Linda the writer can stay behind the monitor, “she will easily succeed in today’s market.” 🙂
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Really nice post, Linda. I agree that blogging is a wonderful way to connect, but you’re right about the time commitment. I’ve thought about cutting back to once a week, but that actually seems too regimented for me. I like the when-the-spirit-moves-me approach even if it sometimes leads to once a week. When I first started posting, I didn’t realize all the wonderful benefits of keeping a blog to my fiction writing–the most unexpected of which, I think, was to help me to find a voice.
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I did find one of my voices through blogging, probably the real “at home” me. We have different voices though, don’t you think? We relate to various people in different ways. I think that’s why we can “be” so many characters in our writing. We just have to match up the right voice with the character.
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Thanks for sharing. I am an extroverted writer, but I still feel the need to blog because what I share in writing is often so much different, more eloquent, and hey, no one can interrupt me! If nothing else, blogging keeps you writing. And by the way, I HATE writing query letters too. If I could sum my work up in one page, I wouldn’t have written it as a novel.
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Thank you for reading and leaving a comment, Carey.
“If I could sum my work up in one page, I wouldn’t have written it as a novel.” 😀
Yes, blogging keeps me writing. I also like that I get to edit what I say. Someone pointed out to me the other day that I’ve begun editing as I speak. 🙂
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