“You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences, and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.”

–Annie Proulx

First, an admission. Writers write for their readers, not themselves; hence, I’m violating that dictum today. Count this as one of those “better to ask for forgiveness than permission” moments. A thousand pardons.

I just returned from five days at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held at the Ridgecrest Conference Center near Black Mountain, NC. It’s just my opinion, but I think when God finished creating the universe, he put an exclamation mark on it and called it the Blue Ridge Mountains!

I was one of six hundred conferees gathered with professionals in the writing industry–agents, publishers, editors, and authors. We had classes, worship hours, guest speakers, and one-on-one appointments with faculty, who generously shared their knowledge of, and insight into, the industry.

A key to the writing business is connectivity, and there’s no better way to connect with the “right” people than by attending a conference. Last year, a connection at Blue Ridge led to my first book contract.

The beautiful thing is this: despite the competitiveness that exists in the publishing industry, where a “no” is far more often heard than a “yes,” we were all pulling for each other. One person’s success was vicariously enjoyed by all.

Writing is a craft that must be learned and practiced. In addition to attending conferences, I’m enrolled in three online courses, tune in for writing webinars, read books on writing, and write this blog. Why do all of this, especially in retirement? Isn’t this when you sit in a rocking chair for three months…and then start rocking? NO! A resounding “no.”

For all the years I practiced medicine prior to the advent of the electronic health record, my writing consisted of hospital notes, prescriptions, and office notes. Not my most stellar effort at literary excellence, to be sure. In fact, my prescriptions could only be deciphered by pharmacists schooled in the finer aspects of hieroglyphics.

When the medical chapter of my life ended, I turned to writing. I quickly learned how much work and effort it took. But, I loved it! Why?

The superficial answers might include:

• It’s fun.

• After 38 years of medicine, it’s a completely different pursuit.

• The challenge of finishing an 86,000 word manuscript.

• It’s kinda cool to use the other side of my brain.

• As we age, creativity is good for our brain cells’ health, and mine need all the help they can get.

• I get to make stuff up without getting in trouble for lying!

• I can write a bestseller and be set for life(tongue firmly ensconced in cheek!).

The more introspective responses are:

• It’s a challenge worth facing.

• To whatever extent I was called to write, I needed to answer that call.

• Writing serves as a vehicle for me to tell my story.

• It’s an amazing thing to see a labor of love come to fruition and have it available for people to read.

A novel is, of course, always fiction. That said, writers are advised to write what they know, informed by their life experiences. There are messages and themes woven into my novel that reflect my life–lessons I’ve learned; my personal faith journey; that setbacks are part of our journey, not our destination; and that, at the end, without faith, we have nothing.

As I said above, I do not write for myself. Were I to do that, I would have self-published my manuscript, printed fifty copies, and given them to my family members and close friends. I write for the reader. You. Everything an author writes is written with a target audience in mind, realizing readers are giving of their precious time to read it.

So, perhaps the most important connectivity in the business is between the writer and the reader; that is, when you’re immersed in a story you feel was written just for you.

For my part, I’m just honored you read it.