Why I Write

By Kristy McCaffrey

I was thinking the other day about why I do what I do (writing), because the truth is that publishing is an exceedingly hard business to be in.

Sometime last year I hit burnout, not with the writing itself but with always trying to claw my way up the discoverability bowl, only to slide to the bottom again and again. I’ve become weary.

Sometimes when I get like this, my husband will say, “Then quit. Move on to something else.” Except … excavating characters and stories is my happy place.

So when this happens I’ll pause, take a breath, and then get back to work, adding music in the background to improve my mood (it works) and making a point to dance a little when I complete a tough writing session.

I came across this quote recently, and it really speaks to the gypsy in my soul. (And some of you may know that Women Who Run With The Wolves is one of my favorite books that I turn to often when I need a soul pick-me-up.)

“Modern storytellers are the descendants of an immense and ancient community of holy people, troubadours, bards, griots, cantadoras, cantors, traveling poets, bums, hags, and crazy people.”
~Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With The Wolves

So, from me to you I want to say thanks for reading! We’re all in this life thing together. (And I’m only a little crazy …)