Writers Deserve To Be Happy

When we have some success in our writing journey, we're happy. Sometimes, we're ecstatic. There's no reason to ever feel guilty for being pleased about good things happening in your writing world.

Our moms taught us not to be a braggart. No one will like you if you brag. That's what we heard. Definite truth in that we do get tired of listening to he/she who brags all the time. But writers really need to do a bit of bragging to promote their work and themselves as a writer.

Maybe we should scratch that word--bragging.  How about saying that we're sharing with others? An author with a newly published book cannot sell it without letting readers know the book is available and giving as good a synopsis as possible. We have to put the book front and center each day--day after day during the marketing period.

I have a writer friend whose memoir was published by a small publishing house. My friend spent hours and hours and dollars and dollars making sure her book cover was seen on every social media page, blurbs sent to bookstores, groups where she hoped to speak and more. I wondered if she even had time to be happy about the book but it turned out she was very happy and I don't think she had one iota of guilt about that joy. She worked hard writing the book and then making sure others knew about it. She earned that happiness.

We also have to promote ourselves as writers. Don't hide your light under a bushel basket. That old adage seems appropriate here. Let yourself shine in the writing world but do it with humility. There is definitely a difference between being a braggart and sharing with others.

Writers work hard and no one knows that better than another writer who also goes through the writing process and the rejections. So, when good things happen in your writing world, be happy. Be very happy!