Writing, writing and more writing...

Sometimes writing blogs, or writing anything really, feels like writing into the ether. Does anyone ever really read any of this? Everything nowadays is about content, content, content, but what does that really mean?
 
For me, writing is about creating new worlds and characters that I hope will bring some enjoyment to this world, or even to one person. I’m always amazed when I get great reviews on Amazon for one of my books. It blows my mind that a complete stranger could actually find my book (I’m terrible at marketing), buy my book, read my book, then care enough to review my book. It makes it all worth it. Sure I get bad reviews, like all authors do, but I can’t fault anyone for not liking something I wrote. There are plenty of books I can’t stand. It doesn’t mean I hate the author or anything, I just didn’t like the book. Good reviews, bad reviews; it just makes a novel more rounded.
 
But sometimes I find myself asking: Is anyone going to care about what I’m writing next? Is this even important? Shouldn’t I be writing for the simple love of writing?
 
The answer is no.
 
Yes, I write because I love it. Yes, I write because it is the singular profession that brings me pure joy.
 
But I love writing because I love sharing stories with other people. It wouldn’t be the same if I wrote only for myself. The process would still be fun, but the pay-off for me is telling a story that entertains. I’m not too terribly deep in my books. Yes, my characters are complex three-dimensional beings, or at least they are to me, but I mainly try and write novels that you could eat a bag of popcorn to while reading. Fun, exciting, adventurous, horror, sci-fi, super powers, mysteries. I get to live the adventures of my characters through my laptop keyboard.
 
Some days are harder than others though. When I’m on a roll, it’s the easiest thing in the world, but when I’m stuck in a particular moment, it can be paralyzing. This is when I usually back away, percolate, then hit the ground running a day or two later. I try to write every day because it’s the ultimate mood stabilizer for me. Writing = good mood. My friends and family are always happy campers when I’ve had a good writing day because I’m full of smiles and laughter. Writing truly makes me a better person.
 
And that’s the bottom line, isn’t it? I found something in my life that, just by performing the simple act of writing, makes me truly happy. Not many people can say they found that one thing in life. I’ve been writing since I was seven and have never stopped. It’s so much of who I am, I don’t know who I’d be without it.
 
I’m proud to be a writer.
 
It’s who I am.

And I’m pretty happy about that!