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When I meet someone for the first time and they ask me what I do…I don’t want too tell them. Don’t get me wrong. I’m proud to a writer but I’m also wary of people’s response when I let them know.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Oh really? I’ve always wanted to write a book.” Like they are talking about trying out a new flavor of gum or visiting a new bar or taking a weekend getaway to New Mexico.

Nothing makes my eyes roll back in my head like a girl in need of an exorcism than someone who’s never even penned a two page letter telling me that they would make a terrific writer because their life is so amazing and they have such great ideas.

I want to kick them in the face…and then ask them—

Are you ready to be the crazy chic who talks to the character voices in her head while gathering world-building information in public? Are you ready to scrape by on PB&J and ramen noodles until you get your big break only to scrape by on day old bread and dented cans of veggies when your cash cow of a royalty check for the month turns out to be a past-her-prime Bessie instead of prime rib?

Ready to deal with reality, yo?

Being a writer is the most wonderful profession in the world…to a writer. But to anyone else it’s a lot of hard work for little recognition or monetary gain. Getting published isn’t like winning the lottery. Most authors don’t receive international fame, multi-million dollar movie deals, or live the lifestyles of the rich and famous. At least not in reality.

But real writers don’t care about that either.

I’m not saying I wouldn’t love to win the lottery with a string of New York Times best selling books, make a movie deal, and rake in the dough. I’m saying that would be icing on the cake.

Writers write because they want to, have to, need to write. Writers write because it’s who we are. What we are. What we will always be.

I look into my future and see adventures and love stories and unknown galaxies. I also see a lot of work. Reality, yo? Me, I’m the luckiest girl in the world.

Bio
Jocelyn Modo may be crazy but writing keeps her from going insane. She grew up reading science fiction and fantasy and fell in love with romance when her girlie hormones kicked in. Nothing makes her day like working on her current manuscript…and nothing makes her crazy like working on her current manuscript. But all’s fair in love and war, and Jocelyn likes to put a whole lot of both in everything she writes.