Week 3: Reading, Writing, or Living?
For me as an author, I have to ask myself—what is one without the other?
Here we are again with our third topic for our 52-Week Blog Challenge from Marketing for Romance Writers org—#MFRWauthor.
Reading:
Reading became important to me at an early age and has carried over into adulthood. I love reading.
I don’t know when I began reading because I don’t remember a time I didn’t. It’s the same with writing. Having a pen or pencil in my hand came as natural as putting food into my mouth.
Can a writer not be a reader?
I’ve heard a handful of authors say they never read. This isn’t the same as a writer saying they don’t take time to read—like me lately, which leads me into writing. At the moment, I write more than I read books, but I miss reading.
Writing:
At a young age, I knew I wanted my name on books.
It took many, many years to see my name published on a book. As a child, I had created my own books with construction paper for the cover and lined paper for the interior complete with bad drawings—probably stick-figure characters.
I hold on to things I’ve written, but I don’t have my early self-made books. Strangely, I do have teen poems packed away in hiding. It’s enough for me to know writing began early. I had no choice, for I had to get words on paper, which sometimes meant adding stories to enhance comic books! So, writing is like breathing.
Living:
Today, writing is my life.
Don’t forget, it takes more than writing a book to be an author.
Writing related work can consume your life if you let it. Everyone in your life won’t understand this. A high percentage of a writer’s life is more than sitting down and banging out words unless you have the money to pay for assistance to help with the non-writing part.
One day, I hope to cut back from around 85% of my time spent on writing and related jobs to around 40% (Gasp!), but I want it to be my choice. I’d love to enjoy a fuller life and tackle the fun adventures on my Bucket List. Oh, and get back to reading for pleasure and photography, my hobby.
Find the other authors in this blog hop at this LINK. Cheers!
I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog challenge posts. I’m sorry for being so lax in getting to yours, and posts by other bloggers I follow, too. I’m coming close to finishing a draft for a book coming out late this year, then I can get back to finishing another one. Not to mention I’m having covers rebranded for one full series. Choosing images takes me a lot of time. All this while trying to have somewhat of a life outside of writing.
New Year Tips:
- Are you messing up your checks by writing 2018 in error? To prevent from doing this, I always write the new year in the first ten or so checks because I know I’ll mess up until I get used to writing “2019.”
- Remember to update your copyright year on your websites.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
17 thoughts on “#AmWriting Week 3: Choices~ Reading, Writing, Living #MFRWauthor”
storimom2
I don’t have construction paper books, but I do have seven manila envelopes full of stories from the 6th grade-college! Not sure whatever happened to the ones I wrote in the 5th….unless they ended up in the 6th grade one. They’re a little cheesy, but one of these days I plan to rewrite and publish them.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Wow, that’s a lot to save. I have my English 101 papers from college. We had to write in a lot of different genres. I even wrote one sci-fi short. LOL. They won’t see the light of day, but now and then I like looking at the A pluses. You should publish yours.
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lyndellwilliams47
Writing can consume your life, especially if one uses it to generate multiple streams of income. My husband is always trying to coax me out of my “corner,” but I have to remind him that I am making some $$$ while hitting the keys.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Lyndell! Thanks for visiting. I’d probably go easier on myself if I didn’t need the extra income from my books. Way to go on setting your husband straight. I bet he smiles and agrees. 🙂
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lyndellwilliams47
He does. He respects the work I do, but worries that I may become isolated.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
🙂 I think my boys feel the same way. They want Mom to get out more. Well, maybe they should move back to their home state and take me to dinner. LOL
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lyndellwilliams47
Exactly! Take mama out!
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Kate Hill (@katehillromance)
I remember writing the construction paper books as a kid, too. I still have some in a box in the basement. I’m always happier in every other part of my life when I’m working on a book. I love how you said writing is like breathing. When you’re not, if does feel sort of like you’re holding your breath.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Oh, cherish your construction paper books. You’re so lucky to still have them. My goodness, Kate. It sure does feel like holding my breath. Now I know how to describe it to those who don’t get it. I love authors! Authors get it. ❤
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Teagan R. Geneviene
Ha! I was just reminding myself about the copyright date, Mary.
There have been several times that I’ve been asked for advice about writing (and the question has come from both women and men) — and the resulting conversation revealed that the person never reads. Yet they think they would be a great writer. It leaves me gobsmacked.
Thanks for another delightful post. Time for something hot to drink. Stay warm. Mega hugs.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Wow, Teagan. My youngest son is a poet, but he’s always wanted to write stories. He was never a reader of fiction until some years ago. I bet if he wanted to write today with many books read under his belt now, so to speak, he’d have better direction.
I’m staying warm for now. We’re expecting our wind chill temperatures to drop to below zero temps in the double digits. I heard -22 mentioned, and then a storm is coming in from the West Coast this weekend. Stay warm yourself.
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Teagan R. Geneviene
Horsefeathers! That is just way too cold, Mary. Here’s to fuzzy warm socks, hot chocolate, and electric blankets!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks! I have all but the electric blanket. I do have many blankets. And writing gloves. 🙂
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D. Wallace Peach
A pretty good balance, Mary, and yes, changing the percentages should be your choice – whatever makes you happy and fulfilled. I don’t know any authors who never read. That seems weird to me, like a baker who never visits other bakeries to sample their breads. But to each his own. 🙂
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I think it’s rare, Diana, to not be a reader, but really everyone has to read something–even if it’s for research. I miss reading for enjoyment when it does turn into research. However, I am reading, and enjoying, a novella now to see how it’s done because I wrote one in December. Have a fun weekend.
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Rhonda Gilmour writing romance as Sadira Stone
Oh my goodness, writing-related chores sure do take up a big part of an author’s time! Amen to that. I’m working on making sure that at least 1/2 my “writing” time actually comprises writing or editing content. I popped back to peek at your bucket list–very interesting!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Amen to your Amen! Haha. I make sure to spend more time on pure writing. It’s bad for marketing, but I pay Amazon enough money in ads now, so I write. Then I remember my books are wide, so I have to schedule more marketing. What a circle. Thanks for reading my Bucket List, Sadira. One day…
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