Easy Reading Is Hard Writing!

“Easy reading is hard writing!”

I saw this quote on twitter the other day and it’s been bouncing around in my brain ever since. Many people are credited with some version of this saying: Maya Angelou, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Thomas Hood, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Charles Allston Collins, Anthony Trollope, Lord Byron, William Makepeace Thackeray, Anonymous. Who said it first? Who knows? But I’m glad I found it because this phrase has re-lit my fire to continue editing my manuscript.

Writing and editing a book is one of the easiest and hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. It’s easy because it has become my passion. There was a time in my life when I thought I was missing passion. Once I started writing, I realized my love for books and stories was always there only I had forgotten! Writing is the one thing I want to do all the time. Call it passion or an obsession– I love it!

Writing is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done because of the emotional investment involved. It’s terrifying to put yourself into your work and share those vulnerable parts. Worse than putting that stuff in is leaving it out. That’s scarier than any haunted house because without those deepest feelings you can’t create the story you want to give readers.

Writing a book is like holding up a mirror to look at the deepest most secret places inside and then serving those images on a platter for the entire world to pick from and devour. But isn’t that the goal? To create books that readers devour?

Here is a picture of some of my favorite books by writers that I love to read over and over.

Don’t forget to check out Dyanne Davis’ blog about aging and living life to the fullest. She also has a contest going on over there too! She’s giving away a copy of her newest book Secrets of the Orient.

You may also want to pop over to the websites and blogs of some of my writer friends: Savannah Reynard, India Powers, Sonali Dev, Clara Kensie, Hanna Martine.