I'm Your Number One Fan

A complete stranger gave me the perfect gift this week. They found one of my posts promoting my book on Facebook and left a comment:

I have recently purchased and read your book. I loved it!

The conversation continued, and I told her I’m working on another book now. She said that made her really happy to hear; she was hoping I was writing more.

This is the first feedback I’ve received from someone I don’t know, and the fact that it’s coming from a stranger who has no obligation to make me feel good means the world to me.

So, on Thursday this week, while my son was at daycare, something strange happened. I made myself an iced latte, then wandered down the hallway, ice clinking in the glass with each step. For the first time in weeks, I went to my writing room, my bottom hit the fabric of my computer chair, and I started looking at the draft for my next book. It was only for a couple of hours, but it’s a small step in the right direction.

I haven’t felt the motivation to do this in months, and yet, all I needed was for someone I’ve never met to tell me I’m good and I should keep at it.

It might sound superficial, but I’ve had friends read my book, and most haven’t given me any feedback. My friend who runs my book club asked if she could put it on the reading list for the year, and then when the reading list came out, it wasn’t there. I’ve also had mates say they’re going to bring my book the next time they see me so I can sign it. But time and time again, they’ve forgotten to bring the book when we meet up.

I’m sure all of these occurrences are genuine mistakes, but eventually, it all leaves me wondering:

Is my book that bad?

Well, it turns out that there is at least one person out there who likes it, and that might just be enough to keep me going.

After my lovely compliment, I spotted a local café near me looking for people in the area who have created something to run a stall at their Christmas market event.

Feeling full of my newfound confidence, I decided to put my hand up to host a table selling my book.

I’m just finalising all the details, but it sounds like the market will be going ahead. After I posted about it on my Facebook page, this same person commented that she would like to stop by the market to meet me and have her book signed.

So, on the 5th of December, 10 months after publishing my book, I might finally be signing my first copy for a reader.  And it’s not a loved one or a friend, which makes it even more special.

I guess that brings me to the point of this story. If you read someone’s work and you think it’s good, let them know. You never know when your little comment could be the motivation someone needs to get them moving again. Maybe their next book will exist because you’ve been cheering them on.

Writers spend so many hours on their work, second-guessing themselves along the way, before eventually putting it out into the world and hoping for the best.

It’s sometimes nice to hear it was all worth it.

However, my mind does love to sabotage a good thing, or maybe it’s just because I’ve written and read one too many psychological thrillers.

Has anyone read or watched Stephen King's Misery?