In the Reddit writer’s group I frequent, an author made the statement: “I stopped wanting to be a famous writer; now I can actually write because I want to tell stories.“
This resonated with me immediately. I’m in this space right now. I never started writing for fame, but I want people to read my book, and I want feedback.
I write because the characters are in me and are waiting to get out. I have a long habit of daydreaming and building characters and scenarios in my overactive imagination.
I had pandemic years to develop them, and now I am beginning to release them onto the page.
Writing for fame or money is like becoming an actor because you want to be a star rather than because you love the craft. Wrong motive and doomed to fail. You gotta love your craft, not the eyes on you. Wanting accolades, ratings, and reviews can be rewarding and, at the same time, discouraging, but mostly, they will be distracting. This is something I must always keep in mind.
DEE HARPER LEWIS 