National Read a Book Day

national-read-a-book-day-september-6national-read-a-book-day-september-6No one seems to know who came up with the idea for National Read a Book Day. Perhaps it was a teacher or a librarian. With September 6th chosen for the date, the idea was probably designed to instill the love of reading in children starting a new school year. Whatever that good soul intended when s/he set this day on our national calendar, the day has become a time for everyone, of every age or reading habit, to celebrate the joy of reading books.

When is the last time you read a book for pleasure? If you have a hard time even remembering, then you’re most likely a student who has to read textbooks and assigned materials. Or maybe you’re in a profession, such as law or medicine, that leaves you little time to read anything outside your chosen field. If you’re a busy mom or dad, you’re probably wondering if this is a trick question. When did I last read a book just for fun? Hah, good one!

If it’s been a really long time since you’ve read a book, then here’s a helpful chart: Continue reading “National Read a Book Day”

What does it take to be a successful Indie writer?

successful indie author pixabay suit-869380_640That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? Because first, we need to determine what makes a successful author, and that is an entirely personal question. More importantly, the answer is likely to evolve over time. It certainly did for me — it took me five-and-a-half years to write my first book, so on many levels, I felt successful just being able to type “The End” after 80,000 words. A few months later, that seminal author moment when I held a copy of my own book in my hands definitely felt like a success.

Comparative analysis is not a great way to judge success. As an indie, there’s always someone who is doing worse and someone who is doing better. I have writer friends who had sales I used to dwarf who have zoomed past me now. Feeling smug when I was ahead of them or depressed now that I trail them isn’t the path to creative equilibrium. Continue reading “What does it take to be a successful Indie writer?”