This is My Tribe by Christine Gunderson

I wrote this blog post yesterday in the Denver airport waiting to return home from the 2018 Romance Writers of America national conference. My feet hurt. My head ached. My flight was delayed. And I can’t wait to do it again next year because this is my tribe.

Like most writers, I have a Self-Doubt radio station that starts broadcasting inside my head every time I hit a roadblock. (Anne Lamott has a funnier and more profane word for this phenomenon in her excellent book on writing called Bird by Bird). 

Self-Doubt Radio plays hits like, “What Makes You Think You Can Write A Book Anyway?” and “Stop Wasting Your Time and Go to the Grocery Store Like a Responsible Mom Instead.”

But Self-Doubt radio was shut down this week because I was surrounded by other writers. Their stories and encouraging voices drowned out the sounds of negativity that echo inside my head when I write alone.

There were women who write Young Adult novels with a little romance, like I do, women who write hot and steamy historical and contemporary romance novels, women who write Amish inspirational romances with a religious message and women who write everything in between. The sub-genres were different, but the message was always the same.

Writing is hard. You will be rejected. Don’t give up. You can do this. And we will help you. Because we share your dream.

We cried together at award ceremonies as we heard stories about writers supporting other writers through breast cancer, rejection, economic calamity and the death of loved ones.

I had the pleasure of watching my friend and fellow blogger Janet Raye Stevens win the Golden Heart award. It gave me such joy because I know how hard she’s worked and how talented she is. It reminded me that karma is real, and that sometimes good things really do happen to good people. 

I was reminded that even bestselling authors find bumps and detours in their path. Their beloved editor quits. Their publisher rejects books two and three because the first one didn’t sell. Their agent retires. 

Writing is hard. You will be rejected. Don’t give up. You can do this. And we will help you. Because we share your dream.

Finally, I was reminded that all this angst and trouble is still better than the alternative.

Because the alternative is not writing. Which would be awful in itself. But it would also mean not being with other writers, and that would be even worse.

The best thing about being a writer isn’t the words. The best thing about being a writer is being with other writers.

Writing is hard. You will be rejected. Don’t give up. You can do this. And we will help you. Because we share your dream.

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Christine Gunderson is a former television anchor and former House and Senate aide who lives outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband, three children and Star, the Wonder Dog.  When not writing, she’s sailing, playing Star Wars trivia, re-reading Persuasionor unloading the dishwasher.