I’m combining this with Tara and Vicki’s I’m Thankful for my Readers Bloghop.
My seventh book will be out next February. It’s the third genre I’ve tackled and it probably won’t be the last. (Remember, Hammy the Squirrel is all over the map!)
I look back at my journey as a writer and author and can’t believe the passage of time. I started writing Book I of my series in 2002, over ten years ago. I’ve grown so much as a writer since that time, taking on so many other duties including professional speaker.
I’m grateful for the readers who have enjoyed my books: the people who’ve found inspiration and motivation in my self-help book, the ones who’ve fallen in love with The Circle of Friends characters; and everyone who’s been motivated to pursue their dreams by the words I’ve written. The latter is why I started writing in the first place.
The insecure part today also comes from that journey. I’ve improved since that very first book. My writing is better. My word count is less! (The original version of Book II had 205,000 words - holy cow! Much less now.) Will those who picked up one of my earliest books know that though? Will they trust my growth as a writer?
I love your reason for why you started writing, L.Diane.
ReplyDeletelol we wouldn't want you to be one unhappy Hammy. :)
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ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the giving thanks blog fest. So often we need to be reminded of all we have to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Hammy. Especially with all the coffee I drink! LOL
Stina, that's what prompted me. That and my husband.
ReplyDeleteJaybird, too much coffee and I'm dangerous.
I've always noticed the growth of a writer. I can remember reading one of Nora Roberts first books. When she hit her stride with Montana Sky I was wowed. You could definitely see the growth and it highlighted her storytelling abilities.
ReplyDeleteI think practice helps with word count--you learn how to say more with less words.
I'm thankful for my readers too. Especially those who have keep reading as life plays ping pong with me. :-)
I think readers love to see a writer they like get better. We notice growth and appreciate it, at least I do. Even J.K. Rowling improved as a writer over the Harry Potter series, and it was awesome.
ReplyDeleteHammy is so cute. I love that name, too :)
I can so relate to Hammy! :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that you jump genres LD. I'm writing paranormal 'stuff' in the New Adult category right now, but all of my previous material is YA or MG.
ReplyDeleteI want to go back to those categories at some point, and I also want to write a New Adult techno-thriller that's been gestating in my brain the last couple of months.
There's so much freedom in writing right now with the various paths to publication that I feel (maybe for the first time ever) I can really let my creativity go and write whatever the heck I want.
Of course time will tell if I'm good enough to do any of them well, I suppose. :-D
Interesting thought. I hope my writing has improved but I hope it was good enough in my early books to keep my readers.
ReplyDeleteIt's so great that you've stuck with writing that long! The more we work at something, the better we get!
ReplyDeleteGreat thankful post!
ReplyDeleteI love the journey you shared! I bet you are a great public speaker~
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all you have accomplished! I look forward to hearing more from you~
Hammy needs to be happy! :D
There's no way to take back the past, eh? I had my first opportunity to start on the publishing scene in 2006, but backed off because of my young family. I look at it now, and I'm SO grateful. No one will ever see my awful prose. =) Then again, I could be that much further along my writing journey... So which is better?
ReplyDeleteIt's so amazing that you've published seven books. Even though you may have your insecurities, you're still inspiring to me :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining in the bloghop. I think we all grow and we all understand that - we aim to be better today than yesterday (in many things). Thank you for the lovely post.
ReplyDeleteWe all grow and change.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. :)
i liked reading about your journey!
ReplyDeletereaders who loved you already should love you more w/your improvements! and then your readership wil grow on!
thanks for joining our hop!
Sia, I can sure say it in less words now.
ReplyDeleteEJ, that is the catch, isn't it?
Sherry, I re-started 10 years ago.
Ella, I'm a hyper speaker!
Crystal, starting out strong is always better.
Johanna, that's good to hear.
205,000 words? That's three of my books put together!
ReplyDeleteI bet they'll trust you.
I think most readers understand that writers only get better with age and experience, just like most any other job out there. Have no fear!
ReplyDeleteI've been writing for a few years now, and I think I've come a long way too. It's fun to think back on what has changed :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I love about reading is seeing authors grow . . .some of my favorite authors' first books grabbed my attention with a plot or a character, but then their later books kept me interested with the beauty of their prose.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for all your writing!
Love Hammy!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a lot of words. I tend to have the opposite problem. :)
It's great to see an author grow over time--I think readers will stay with a person's books over time, especially if they've read more than one.
ReplyDeleteAlex, I'm interested in telling my SharingwithWriters newsletter subscribers more about your Ninja Group--if only I knew more about the concept, etc. I love giving them information that they can use in marketing their books. And, yeah, I'm thankful for them.
ReplyDeleteDo you mind sharing more details with me at HojoNews@ AOL (dot) com, Alex?
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Excited about how much the new edition of the Frugal Book Promoter (expanded! updated!) can help writers with the tried and true and the new media, too. Now a USA Book News award-winner in its own right (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) it the original edition was also a Reader Views winner and an Irwin Award winner.
Gee, L. Diane, I thought I was bad with 125,000 words... LOL.
ReplyDeleteIT's great that you have grown and improved as a writer. We MUST. We mature with life's new experiences. They will change us, change our way of thinking, mature us. Rose colored glasses are fine in the beginning, but at some point they need to be tossed.
Congrats L. Diane your journey is an exciting and memorable one.
Hi Diane .. you've got much to offer us - in ways of tips and watching and learning from your growth. So pleased for you that your writing life has taken on such interesting guises as you've honed your craft so well ..
ReplyDeleteBlogging friends are just wonderful and supportive too .. cheers Hilary
Readers are a great bunch, who are thoughtful and intuitive. They'll love to see your growth because they're loyal to you and want to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteJai
Congrats on the book! 7 is a magical number, but I'm sure you'll add more to your list!
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
205 000 words for your first book? Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteAwesome you have another book coming out. Let me know if you need help getting the word out. :D
ReplyDeleteYes and yes, in response. I'm sure you can think of many authors whose growth you've witnessed as they published yet another book. As a reader, I expect this and even learn from it. Plus, nowadays people prefer quicker reads.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on book #7. WOW!
xoRobyn