Goodreads asked Susan Buffum:

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Susan Buffum The best thing about being a writer to me is the ability to entertain other people through the written word. I am a totally awkward speaker. I can't even remember the punchline of jokes! If I start to orally tell someone a story- I use too many words. But when I writer my words flow more smoothly. It's like painting pictures with words instead of oils and acrylics. I can dab words in to add more color, or sponge them out to make something stark or blunt. Like I tell my co-workers, if I have a bad day, I am not going to grab a gun and go out and shoot people because I'm mad or upset- I am simply going to go home and 'kill the puppy.' That just means that I am going to go home and write- make my characters cope with something unpleasant and deal with it. Writing can sometimes be the art of venting on your characters instead of on real people! But, essentially- the best thing about being a writer is being able to make other people feel something. I love it when someone comes up to me with a huge smile on their face and says, "I loved your story!" That is just so satisfying!

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