Published...

Author Joe Konrath said, "There's a word for a writer who never gives up... published." This is what every author, aspiring or successful, essentially wishes, hopes, and desires to happen. They want to be successful at their craft. Possibly even wants the monetary rewards for their labor (I know I do *wink wink*). But, more importantly, I think authors hunger for their idea to be heard. Ultimately, authors want others to devour the idea that has plagued them for months, years, maybe even decades. The countless hours spent developing their idea requires that glorified end result—being published. Aspiring author, Jenn Johansson, said, “This is not an easy industry. This is not an easy profession. And we choose it anyway.” Yes, authors choose this difficult path because of the burning fire within them to craft their idea until it becomes a reality—reality because their idea, published or not, is acutely real to them. The characters are as palpable as their next door neighbor’s dog. The story is alive with blood flowing through its veins. Harry Potter would never have been born if J.K. Rowling never had the idea and never put it on paper. I believe that Harry Potter, Bilbo Baggins, Katniss Everdeen and all the other countless book characters are just as real as we are, only in a figurative sense. The stories are real in the creativity of our minds. This is why authors write their idea until it flourishes into a story. And then they work hard to get it published. Publishing allows the story to not only be alive in the author’s mind, but in all the minds of those who read it.
The process an author goes through is not a perfect science because it does not come easily all the time. However, writing is enjoyable and rewarding when you see your story alive through the ink on a page.
I write this to encourage you to read, but more importantly, when you read, remember the patient process of the author who wrote it. Remember their story lives for you because it lived for them.
I wish, hope, and desire that, one day, the idea for my novel will become just as real for you as it is for me. There is one word I will never cease to work toward… published.