Insecure Writer's Support Group...

Holy Crap! (Pardon my language...) It is that time of the month again and I am not talking about female issues...

I'm talking about Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group!

So do I want to be an inspiration this time or a whiner? I've been whining enough lately I think, so perhaps I will go the route of inspiration!

So you're a new writer, eh? Think you have what it takes to get your book done and out there? Are you ready for that kind of commitment? Seriously, this isn't a "Of course I'm ready for commitment" kind of date just to get it in the sack and then ignore its phone calls until it finally gives up and you have moved on.... And by 'it' I mean your book.

Your book and its characters will stalk you. Editing will give you nightmares. Query letters will put you in the loony bin bound up in a straight jacket.

So where is this inspiration I spoke of?

Well, think of this. You have a book, all nice and shiny. Finished. Complete! You have submitted it to agents/publishers and you got accepted! Your book comes out, your successful, you do blog hops and book signings. You went to war with all of the above and you WON!!

The road to get there is paved with your blood, sweat and tears. This isn't a picnic, you know, but the rewards in the end are so worth it. Ask any author who has come to the end of the road, ask them if they would do it all over again to get to that final place. The answer would be a resounding, "YES!".

Of course, the winding road won't look like the pic above. It'd look more like the road to Hell.

But that's okay. You have created something special, wonderful and unique. You have people reading and reviewing your book. Most people like it. I say most simply because you'll get the oddball "Troll" out there who will post a snarky review because they have nothing better to do than try to elicit a response to their negativity giving them a false sense of power.

Or, they just don't like it.

That is okay, you can't please everyone. But you will please a good majority of them! So work hard, wipe that sweat from your brow when it comes down to crunch time. Cry when you are frustrated. Bleed a little when you get harsh criticism. Those cuts will heal, you'll develop a thicker skin and you will emerge Victorious!!

In the end, it will all be worth the pain, torment and frustration. It's like having a child, raising it and sending it out into the world to stand on its own two feet. You'll be very proud of it and yeah, you will want to do it again.