OK, so it's pretty obvious I love to write, or I wouldn't be here (neither would you, come to think of it). I don't know if you're someone who likes to write, whether it be poetry, your own personal journal or blog, or articles or books, but whether you are a writer or you happen to know a writer, then you know that one thing writers love and crave is: VALIDATION.
There is nothing like writing something from your heart and having someone else tell you they loved it. Even if you're someone like me, someone who tends to be just a tiny bit distrustful of compliments* because I'm never entirely sure I deserve them (my ex-shrink would probably have a lot to say about THAT), when someone tells you they love something you've written, it's music to your writer's ears.
And when you're a writer who is attempting to establish herself not as a copywriter (although that's part of how I earn a living) but as a marketable creative travel writer, then having the editor of a travel publication tell you she LOVES your writing style, that it's "fabulous" and "Lisa, where have you been? I've been desperate for you!" then that's enough to fill that writer's heart to overflowing (right now I'm picturing when the Grinch's heart grew 3 sizes that day).
That's what happened to me yesterday, as I received an invitation to join a staff of talented contributing writers for an online magazine that is all about -- you guessed it -- Paris! I'll have more details in the next week or so, but my first two articles have already been submitted and accepted, the first one is due to go out in next week's issue (I'll make sure to broadcast the link) and we're currently deciding what to call my column (feel free to submit your ideas for a catchy title). Yes, I'm getting my own column! I'm so thrilled to be able to write for a publication where I'll have my own byline, AND I'm going to be able to write about pretty much anything I want related to my experiences in moving to and living in Paris.
Does a writer's life get much better than this?
*[Note: I'm not fishing for more compliments on my writing; but that's not to say I don't genuinely appreciate someone who takes the time to comment or email me about a particular post, because I really do. Not to mention that hearing from people in the blogosphere makes me feel much less like I'm just randomly talking to myself... another thing that would certainly interest my ex-shrink. If I were, in fact, making a habit of talking to myself. Which of course, I'm not. Really, I'm not. Why? What have you heard?]
