to tell people something nice if it catches my attention. If a book particularly moves me. If I love a stranger's shoes. If someone looks really nice. I know they think I'm crazy sometimes, but you just never know when a stranger might need that nice thought you were going to keep to yourself. (Plus, you occasionally find out where to find really nice shoes!)

I love a good surprise.

But what would I do if I wasn't a writer? I probably would have gone into interior design. Though I have no idea how I would have pulled that off, lol!

Dee

I agree, it's great to hear good things from people, and I also try to share as much as I can about when I really like something, to let people know.

I also try to do the opposite -- if I don't like a book, or someone's shoes, etc I keep it to myself. I think there's some mentality out in the world that people think there's some value to sharing their every thought, even the hurtful ones, and there really isn't. The internet has encouraged this, but I hope that trend dies back.

I haven't always loved writing - sometimes it's just been too hard, too much rejection, too little money, too much work. Sometimes it made me miserable and it didn't work, no matter how hard I worked, and I knew that wasn't the way it was supposed to be.

But recently, I've just really had to find out how to love the process of writing, and telling a story, and really not getting bogged down in all the other stuff. I've heard writers talk about how they often have to drop all of what they've learned and just go back to the beginning, when they wrote for the love of it, and I think that's true, and ironically, how the best writing happens. James Frey, in his book on mystery writing, said telling a story should be fun, and if it's not fun, then go do something else. Sure every moment won't be all fun, but most of it should be. I want to feel good about what I do, and I think maybe there's too much focus on "suffering," as if suffering makes it all more "serious" somehow. I'd rather have fun. :)

I loved reading your post, because I think we need more thoughts like this, about loving writing and really getting into it, enjoying it.

So, I think I have had to find what I love about writing, and what's exciting about it for me, personally. Getting in touch with inspiration, and creativity, and letting all the external stuff drop away. When it's like that, I can't imagine wanting to do anything else.

Sam

For some reason, I almost typed "loave," which doesn't make sense, and is too close to "loath" which is definitely what we shouldn't do...

Anyway, how fantastic of your friend to buy your book and to let you know! That's a lovely thing, and it's awfully nice to be on the receiving end of such gestures.

Right now I'm doing the mom-thing full time, and am not sure what I would do for pay that I love... I was doing a photo-card thing with a couple friends for a while, and enjoyed that, but I've got to figure out a way to read for pay! :)

I am retired an loving it!

And I especially love writing the Desires I've been fortunate enough to sell. A story with the tight focus on the romance comes fairly naturally to me so I don't have to go crazy worrying about process. Also, i set my deadlines with enough room that I have time to do all the other things I enjoy. May the good times continue!

Jen
http://www.jenlewis.com

That's so nice! I always get warm fuzzies when I hear about things like that - I had to share with my sister when I saw on the news, the local PD brought news reporters McDonald's breakfast sandwiches this past weekend, because we were in the middle of a huge snow storm and the reporters were outside and live. A lot of people also helped each other by pushing cars when they got stuck, etc.
As to what I do... unfortunately I don't particularly love it. But then, school is eh. I'd love to write romances, eventually. It's a life goal and I tell people I want to write romances when I grow up. (A lot of people then laugh either at the idea, or me.) Or, be a senator. (The two are so similar :P) - I'd take people on tours to the top of the rotunda :D.

I do love one of my hobbies which is making jewellery.

TOTAL PLUG HERE:

I donated a necklace and earring set to Brenda Novak for her Juvenile Diabetes Auction.

It's fluorite stones with a silver flower and silver chains. The earrings are little silver flowers with purple crystals. If you don't know it, fluorite is a clear, pale yellow, blue, pale green and purple stone. I used mainly the clear, green and purple parts.

I hope you will all go in and bid on the set for this great cause!

xoxo

ani

It reminds me of that movie with the "pay it forward" - I think that's how it goes. Someone does something nice for you and then you do something nice for someone else, etc. etc. My daughter has a part time job in retail and everyone constantly says how nice and friendly she is - she says why be miserable and make everyone else miserable - it's so much nicer for everyone (including herself) to give a smile and to say something nice than to grumble and be miserable all day.

Two posts in two days that made me think. Cool.

I love writing. It is what I do. I don't want another occupation.

I do try to compliment people whenever I can. Not those empty everyone-gets-one-because-it's-fair compliments, but real ones. I love it when I get sincere compliments, especially surprise ones, and I really try to give back. And like Sam, I keep my mouth shut if I don't like something.

What a nice story! I love to write; I only wish I could quit my day job and do this full time. I had such a crappy day at work yesterday that I insisted we go out to dinner at one of my favorite spots, a cozy little Irish pub called The Peddlar's Daughter. As we walked in, someone called my name, and I saw a woman that I went to high school with, but hadn't seen in many years. She said she'd read an article about me in the local paper which prompted her to buy my book and that she loved it! She said she had contemplated stopping by my house to ask me to autograph it! It made me feel so good! And my husband had a fun time teasing me throughout the meal about my adoring public.

I'm seriously considering your words.
Do I love what I do? If I were honest I would have to say no. No I really have to think about what I would like to do. Do I have the guts to make the change?