Everyone should have some type of support system, especially unpublished writers. It is fantastic to have friends that support your efforts in general, but in this day and age extended support systems are critical. I’m sure that certain types of support don’t vary overly much between traditional publishing and self-publishing. Regardless of what or how you write, it is invaluable to have first readers and editors you can trust to tell you the truth about that (supposedly) brilliant idea that woke you up at 4 in the morning. What I write makes sense to me or I wouldn’t have put it that way. That doesn’t mean it makes sense to someone else. It’s difficult to crawl out of my head and read what I’ve written as if I’ve never read it before. That’s especially true when it’s the 14th revision or so!
Just Write Then
It would be nice to be able to write, sit back and think, people watch, and write some more. The odds on that working for a new author are pretty long, however. Without a traditional publisher, I have to plan out the advertising and whatever speaking gigs or conventions that I can reach without bankrupting myself. I have to fit everything into the rest of my life that pays the bills.
There is no way I can keep up with all the things that go along with writing and publishing all by myself. I’m sure there are people that can manage it, but I’m not one of them. These days you need a computer wizard along with artists and PR just to engage potential readers. You need a forum to reach out to people who’ve read your book and those who haven’t yet. It’s easier than ever to reach around the world. It’s also easier than ever to get lost in the crowd doing the same thing. Between Amazon, internet sites and social media, I could easily spend all my time working on everything except writing the next story. I’d like to keep getting stories out so they can be enjoyed though.
Enter the S4
Yep, I’ve mentioned them before. I turn to them when the technology surpasses what I can manage (this website for instance). I turn to them for help with PR and advertising. I bounce ideas of off them, throw material at them for critique, and generally take advantage of their goodwill and friendship. They give me the freedom to get on with writing and I can’t thank them enough. So I settle for thanking them a lot!
Unsung Heroes
In a similar vein, I’d like to extend thanks and appreciation to a possibly unexpected support system. I don’t do this for a living (working on it) and many times I have to combine activities to maximize what I can accomplish. For me, that means I do a lot of brainstorming and idea hashing when I go out for dinner. It takes me away from the dirty laundry and leaking faucets and the hundred other things that make up life. I take up a perfectly good table for far longer than usual. I try to be low maintenance, but there’s always a glass to fill or a desert to order. So this “thank you” goes out to the even more unsung (unsunger?) heroes behind the scenes of my writing: restaurant waiters and waitresses. They’ve been good people to me. They’ve helped me along the way.
So the next time you happen to be out, say something nice to your wait staff. Compliment the cook if you liked the meal. Appreciate the service they provide. Many of them don’t hear it very often.
DDW
