Forest Wells - Author
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Not So Easy a Question

4/7/2014

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I talked back in January about the question asked of me, “when did you know you were an author?”  At the time I said I don’t think I am yet.  That the term "author" is reserved for those that have been published.

And yet, just a couple days ago, this was doubted.

After some grueling work, I went to my favorite MMO (AKA, online game) to wind down, relax for a while.  A common thing as it’s my best de-stressor, as well as a great way to get my head out of my own fictional world so I can take an honest look at it the next day.  The faction I’m in is tight knit and feels very much like a family.  The people there know me, and we call each other “friend” very honestly.  This allows me to vent about a bad day at work or whatever.  Not so much angry per se.  Just releasing the stress as we all do with our friends.

During such a “vent”, one member asked me, “aren’t you an author?”

It stopped me cold.  Only for a moment, but it was still there.  Am I an author?  I thought I knew.  I even quickly responded, “Aspiring Author.  It’ll be a while before my fiction can support me.”

Yet, the name I hold for myself appears to be in flux.

What you don’t know, is as of recently I have decided that come hell or high water, I’m going to launch my Kickstarter campaign on May 1st.  That’s the crowd funding website I plan to use to raise the money I need.  It's also a good way for you to pre-order the novel (and some cool extras too).  This is the first, biggest, and most imposing step toward self-publishing Luna, The Lone Wolf.  If I get the funds I need, there are no questions of “if”.  It’s only “when, and exactly how will it unfold?”

So what?  Am I an author now?  Will I be when the book is printed?  I don’t know.  I thought I knew.  Not that long ago I could have said flat out yes or no.  Now… I don’t know.  I’ve begun to think I may never really call myself an author, for it feels more like a title than a description.  A badge to be earned, exactly how is unclear, and thus highly debated.  The term “Fiction Writer” seems more accurate.  I am a person who writes fiction stories.  Author or not author will never change that.

Then again, I can see myself, with several novels under my belt, being asked what I do or who I am, and replying with pride, “I’m an author.”

If that comes to be, when?  Have I reached it already?  With all the work I’ve been putting in lately, I can’t deny it’d be nice to have the effort mean something.  Just in the last week I’ve dealt with the artist I’ve commissioned, my content editor, my first choice for self-publisher, a company that makes bookmarks, another that does posters, and I’ve started work on advertisements for when the book is for sale, as well as a couple for the Kickstarter campaign.

When I look at all that, I certainly feel like an author.  Like I’m more than just a guy tossing words around on a page.  Yet, even now, I don’t think my reply to my faction mate would be any different.

“Aren’t you an author?”

“Aspiring author.  It’ll be a while before…”  I think it’s what comes next that stopped me.  It’ll be a while before… what?  A part of me thinks it knows.  Another isn’t so sure anymore.


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