Books on the Shelf

I don’t think anyone would argue that there are so many books that we want to read. Even if being fortunate enough to have started reading at a young age, there is no possible way to read every book, especially when you consider how many are published each day, and that is rising even faster since the advent of self-publishing.

On the one hand, this is such a wonderful circumstance in which to find yourself. It’s like having a never-ending supply of candy or cookies (without the calories, of course), or having your kids on their best behavior all the time (or maybe having them grow up just a little slower).  On the other hand, with so many books available, I often wonder if my book has any chance at all of finding a lot of readers, or I should say readers finding my book.  

I have been in old bookstores where there are either two or three floors to the store, or there is one floor, but it’s a lot like walking through a maze because of all the aisles with its twists and turns. My book sits on a shelf just within arm’s reach, and once in a while a buyer pulls it off the shelf and decides to buy it. Then the shop owner goes to the back and pulls out another copy to replace the one just bought.  It sits there and collects dust until someone else happens along and maybe catches it, if they even get to that part of the store. 

Sounds pretty depressing, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, I don’t mean it to be. Actually, I would be thrilled if my book did make its way to a bookstore shelf, even if it was a used bookstore. I didn’t decide to become a writer thinking of riches and movie contracts. I’m not foolish—I wouldn’t turn any of that down, but the chances of that happening are about the same as my hitting the big jackpot on one of the slot machines I have access to everyday right here in Vegas (and, no, I don’t play the slots; well at least not too often).  I want to make a good income from my writing, but I have decided if that doesn’t happen, then I’ll just keep writing for the small group of followers I do have and be grateful for them.  I love writing too much to give it up just because I don’t have an NYT bestseller.

If you follow me on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PattySeitzWriter?ref=hl, then perhaps you have seen the post I wrote about changing over my desk from medical transcription educator to unemployed writer.  The post is from July 22, 2014, if you want to take a look. One of the pictures is a row of empty notebooks that used to hold test keys, procedures, basically all of my educator materials. Now they sit empty on my desk because my goal is to fill them all with manuscripts. I keep my first draft with all my notes and editor notes on them. I know some writers throw that copy away once their book is published. For me, it’s part of my journey of each and every book I write or will write. Bestseller or old dusty copy in a used bookstore. Either way, I’m going to keep on writing. Who knows? Maybe after I’m gone those notebooks with the rough first draft will be featured on Antiques Road Show! Keep writing, keep reading, and keep dreaming. Oh, and as a silly side note. I just bought a box set of five books of Nancy Drew. My childhood copies were given away, Mom probably thinking I would never read them again. I still might not re-read them, but they are going to sit on my bookshelf as a fond memory of where my love of reading, and writing, began. Thanks for hanging out and enjoy your day.