Sunday, January 10, 2021

A Writer's Job During Harsh Times

I get a lot of mail. If I were to sum up the essence of what motivates most people to send me a note, it might be that people crave entertainment that distracts them from real-world stresses. Those stresses range from national and international problems down to personal and family difficulties.

People like to read fiction that - for all the trouble that takes place within stories - depicts a world where there is more justice and reassurance than can be found in the real world. In most fiction, the bad guys meet justice, and their evil deeds are neutralized.

The harsh events in the real world take their toll on creators the same as they do with any other group of people. But we need to keep our focus on our purpose, which is revealed in our mail. Soldier on. Readers are waiting for more stories. Turn off the news, pour another cup of coffee, and get back to work.

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