A few weeks ago the writing community on Twitter started a discussion on support, and the encouragement we receive from family and friends during our writing journey. It all started out fine, and then people began to make comments about how their mother’s wouldn’t read their books, or others who told them that being an author wasn’t a real job. Wow! We’re my eyes opened.
I have to admit, when I announced that I was taking early retirement from a job I loved to write a book, I was met with some skepticism, but once my family came to see that I was serious, they were behind me 100%.
The conversation on Twitter made me stop and think about support, and how often we don’t give credence to other people’s dreams because they aren’t our own. For instance, my childhood health issues made me want to become a nurse, but my dad thought I should be a teacher, like my mother was. His thought was that teaching would be less taxing, but please, have you seen what teachers go through today? Schools are way more frightening to me than any germ warfare!
Unfortunately, my dad’s lack of support kept me from even trying nursing, and I went the route of business instead. Thankfully it turned out to be a good thing for me. It led me into banking, marketing, and management, and achieving those led me to writing Lottie Loser.
So back to support, and how important it is for an author. One of my Twitter friends wrote that her mother said her writing was evil, and even went on to Amazon and left a bad review. That’s more than sad. My 94 year old mom has read all of my books, and while she admits she wishes her daughter hadn’t written the love scenes, she loves the books, and is extremely proud of me. That’s support.
My husband and youngest daughter are my biggest cheerleaders, and have sold my books to most of their friends and coworkers. Bob even hands out my business cards and reminds me to if I forget. It’s actions like that that make me feel valued and loved, and know that I’m a real author, and this is my real job!
How can you support an author? But their books! If it’s a genre you enjoy, read the reviews first, and then give it a try. If you loved it tell your friends and family and encourage them to buy their own copy. It’s important for authors to support each other as well, so I too buy books, and always leave reviews.
And speaking of reviews, please leave them! On both Amazon and Goodreads, if you can. Your words let others know if it’s a book they might like, as well.
The dictionary describes support like this.
1. Bear all, or part, of the weight of; hold up.
2. give assistance to, especially financially; enable to function or act.
Authors don’t want their friends, family and readers to bear all the weight of making them successful, but they sincerely appreciate their support.
Until we read again…📚
Blessings,
Dana L.❤️
From the bottom of my heart, a huge thank you to all of you who have supported me, and helped make my Fairytale come true. I can’t wait for you to read Noah’s Lark!🧜♀️
