I don’t know about you, but I started writing because I was bored. My job is great. I get treated well and the work can be very interesting so, I’m not really complaining about that. No, really, I’m not. It’s just that after you become familiar with something and so comfortable and confident that your responses become automatic, the work becomes boring. I haven’t learned everything as there are volumes to learn at my work but for the most part, even when I’m thrown a curveball, I know pretty much how to deal with it. So, I was bored.
What did I do you ask? Or for those still reading? I started doing triathlons. In order to be competitive in that, you kind of need to spend the money on the equipment. Anything past an Olympic distance triathlon, you need to invest in your wetsuit, your bike, and your running gear. I have four kids, one income. You do the math. Not feasible.
I have always been an avid reader. Since a young age, like well before high school, I was reading those Dragonlance series (anyone remember those? Bueller?) and any Stephen King book I could get my hands on. Then I got onto the classics, some westerns, some philosophy, historical fiction, man, I would read anything. While in high school I started writing. I loved it. Then I stopped because stupid stuff got in the way. Like parties and cool kids and all the trappings that go along with those interests.
Then I got a job. Then I had a kid. Then I got married. Then I had more kids. Then I started triathlons. Then I started writing. And you know what? I love it. In my published works section on the right, you can see I’ve had some success. I have no illusions about becoming rich from it and frankly, I don’t care. I have a good job, family, shelter, and food. I’m fine. I have a lot of unpublished stories on my computer and every one of them was a hell of a lot of fun to write. That’s what matters to me.
That being said, I love the feedback I get. In anything I do, I want to do better, I want to learn more and I want to keep learning. Reviews of my work help with this a lot. I have been very fortunate. I’ve had reviewers blog about my books and I’ve been interviewed a couple of times about them. This was more than I expected and I am grateful. For DOLL HOUSE, I have had 1,251 ratings and 252 reviews on Goodreads. It is maintaining a 3.99 out of five stars. For The Tracker, released this year, I have had 53 ratings and 43 reviews on Goodreads. It is maintaining a 4.19 out of five stars.
The reviewers who like my work are just as important as the ones who are critical of it. I learn from both. I learn what they liked and I learn what they disliked. I remember these critiques going forward and it makes me better. For me, writing is about the process. If, someday, I can make a living doing it, great. If not, also great. I’ll continue to write. And I’ll continue to run long distances.
Link to Doll House Goodreads page: Doll House
Link to The Tracker Goodreads page: The Tracker
Keep writing no matter the feedback. It is great fun. You just have to give it a chance to be.
John Hunt Fiction 