Writing can be a chore. I know we’re not supposed to say that, but it’s true. Writing isn’t the screw-around time that people who don’t write sometimes think it is. I have a job (unfortunately) and lately I’ve been all excited when it was time to go to work for ‘The Man’, because I could finally get some rest from all the book pimpin’ & marketing & sequel writing (yeah, I started already before the first one came out) that I’ve been doing for a little book you might have heard me mention called Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird (yes, that was a shameless plug, it’s my blog and I don’t write these for my health either).
Even butterflies trash-talk me lately.
I typed so much yesterday that my fingers started to hurt (but I have a bottle of black-market muscle relaxers and whiskey). I did 9000 words in one sitting, and I’m not gonna lie to ya, they were pretty damn good words and I bet I’ll be keeping most of them around to squeeze into Billy2. The effort I expended in doing all that was way more intense than anything that ever happens at my ‘real job’. While I’m typing I have to stop periodically and check sales numbers on the book, figure out which #hashtags are gonna get it noticed, answer interview questions and come up with blog posts. I’m not complaining, being a writer is super-cool too – it’s a lot of work though.
"Nobody seems to be reading my #Tweets!"
And even though I love, love, love nerdy story stuff like I write, the hero’s adventure, and I have a picture of Joseph Campbell framed and hanging over my bed (that’s creepy, huh?), I don’t think that most of what I write is really gonna change the world in any lasting way. I had a friend of mine in film school who used to always ask me, “What do you want to say with your art?” I used to hate that question – and I still kinda do. I don’t think I want to say anything with my “art”. What I want to do is to maybe bring some joy to someone who needs a little escapism and likes to read about skateboards and monsters and emotionally-unavailable vampire girlfriends. I want to write down the best possible story that I can compose in my rattled and confused mind and hopefully someone will read it. Maybe they’ll like it and it’ll make them laugh, and root for the hero, maybe freak them out a little bit, and make them think.
Sometimes, you know, you wonder if it’s all worth it?
"I should'a just stayed at the zoo."
Tess Hardwick and Tracey Hansen had this idea for a book and they talked our publisher, Booktrope, into going for it. I was quickly kidnapped by them (y’all know it’s kinda true) to participate in the project. It’s called Write For The Fight: A Collection of Seasonal Essays, and it’s the culmination of lots of time, energy, and compassionate love by a lot of really special people. None of us did this for any greenbacks, we’re giving it all away to do what we can to aid charities who are engaged in the fight against breast cancer.
Tess's mom painted the cover!
Write For The Fight is a Nook First exclusive and I’d like to thank Barnes & Noble for taking on the book and promoting it in this program. I’d like to thank you in advance for telling your friends and other readers about this project – because the better the book does, the more we’ll be able to give.
The essays follow the different season of life, and they weren’t easy to write. I found it to be a big challenge and that I had to push myself to get them done. I feel like I grew some as a writer by taking this on and taking myself out of my comfort zone (there are no giant-killer robots in the book, so you can imagine how lost I was). In my discussions with other writers who were working on the project along with me, they weren’t easy for anybody – and we all had to take a few extra steps, and be better writers, and it turned into real, honest, hard work.
I’m glad I broke a sweat on this one.
If you’d like to help us promote on Twitter the hashtag is #write4fight
To purchase so you can read awesome essay stuff and help with the fight against Breast Cancer…
Click to go to B&N!
- What do you miss about being 5 years old?
- What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
- What, at this point in your life, do you want, wish and dream of for your life going forward?
- What would you want said about you on your 80th birthday?
These experiences make us who we are, defining our personalities, perspectives and dreams as we move through the seasons of life – from memories at age 5 to the person we hope to be described as on our 80th birthday.
From the thoughtful to the blunt, experienced to the young – WRITE FOR THE FIGHT is a humorous and emotional journey that will take you back to the best of times and get you energized for the future.
All writer royalties will be donated to charities benefiting the fight against breast cancer.
