Why Am I Here?

A couple of weeks ago, my son had surgery and after almost eighteen hours without something to eat, he wanted food fast…not fast food necessarily…but good food fast. We spotted a Raising Cane’s, and he said he’d eaten there, and that he’d enjoyed it, so we headed that way.

In this age of being everything to everybody, I was surprised to find nothing but chicken tenders on their menu. Yes, they sold a few side items, Texas toast, cole slaw, etc, but their main focus is chicken. But then I realized what a brilliant marketing strategy. They know what they do well—fried chicken tenders—so why mess with a good thing? Their chicken was delicious, so, yes, this is one instance where less is definitely more!

As freelancers, we can take a lesson from Raising Cane’s. We’re pulled in so many directions: writing, marketing, social media, taking care of the business side of writing, just to name a handful of tasks. Especially in the early years of our careers, we wear all the hats, in addition to holding down a public job and raising a family in many cases.

The one thing I’ve learned (am still learning) since leaving Unpubbed Island is that I need to focus on the dream, the one thing that got me into this crazy, exciting business in the first place.

So what’s the answer? Better yet, what’s the question?

Why am I here? How did I get here? What am I doing here?

I’m here because I’m a writer.

I must focus on my craft and creating a good story. Focusing for me means devoting the most creative times of my day to brainstorming, plotting, writing, editing, immersing myself in my story, and guarding that time very carefully. Write a good story and the rest will follow.

Yes, the checkbook must be balanced, the website updated, the books mailed out. The marketing has to be done, the blog tour scheduled, the contract reviewed, the phone answered. There are a ton of things demanding an author's attention: blogging, tweeting, sending out a newsletter, hosting a book signing, or speaking every other weekend, attending conferences. But if we don't focus on the one thing that brought us to this place -- story -- none of these others things will be needed nor necessary.

I don’t want to get so caught up in the multitude of things screaming for my attention every day that I forget to focus on what brought me here.

I’m here because I’m a writer.

Keep your focus and keep writing!

Today's giveaway is a $10 gift card to Raising Cane's *Subtitution will be made if the winner doesn't have a Raising Cane in their area.

Check out all the prizes here

Every comment enters you in this week's overall prize and also in the BIG BIRTHDAY BASH GRAND PRIZE for the month--an iPAD MINI!!!! Good luck, everyone!