And actually I’ve seen both sell – but who can CONTINUE to sell, even when you are pulling words out so painfully they may as well be teeth and have to choose between sleep and finishing a book that’s due soon.

But the essence of the “idea” of being a writer is that it never matches the reality of being a writer, especially one whose only income is writing. It’s tough and there are times in every writer’s career where they HATE it.

I was ready to slit my wrists over the last one. And let’s not forget the random bouts of suck-itis where the characters all sound like talking sock monkeys.

What saves you and keeps you writing is the inability to shut the barn door once you discover the joy of telling stories, of pulling people into your world. Then it’s too late to put the muse back in the box.

Seriously though, this a point that can’t be made enough.