There’s a question I get asked a lot. The question can take many forms, of course:

What’s your favorite part of writing a book?

What do you love about this job?

Why do you choose to do this to yourself?

Lots of incarnations, but really, the same question. People want to know: What’s the best part of being a writer? What keeps you doing what you’re doing?

My answer has changed over the years, but I’ve never been more convinced of my favorite part of this gig than I am right now. As I tread the quiet waters preceding the marketing push that always leads up to a book release, I’m know what the very best part of this job is.

Next week will mark three months until the release of my YA fantasy, WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED. The three months prior to a book release, and the three months following are active promotional times for an author.

While Covid-19 will impact how my book promotion is handled, these months will be some of the busiest, most fulfilling interactions I’ll have all year. I’ll get to talk about my book, about the five-year journey it took me to go from idea to hardback. I’ll get to share what I learned along the way, and talk about those times when I nearly gave up. I’ll get to brag on those who came alongside me, and encourage others to keep going when the road gets hard.

As part of this promotional push, I’ll get to share some fun things with readers. I’ll share the map of my storyworld that will be included in the book, and I’ll share the artwork created for my pre-order campaign. I’ll host giveaways and talk to podcasters. I’ll fill out interviews for bloggers and work with influencers as we put together tours and treats for readers.

Hopefully, the state of the world will allow for a book launch and subsequent events. I do love meeting readers and signing books. It’s such a great aspect of this job. Truly.

But you know what? As awesome as all that stuff is–as much as I love engaging with readers–it’s not the best part of being a writer.

The best part of being a writer is writing stories.

I didn’t always think that. In fact, in years past I’ve found myself in the camp that says “I don’t love the ups and downs of writing, but I love having written a book. I love what I’ve accomplished.”

But the journey has shifted something in me, and I can say, without a doubt, that I do this job because I love telling stories.

I love dreaming up worlds and characters. I love creating moments of decision and crafting points of no return. I find the process of presenting a problem to my main character delicious. And I revel in making those problems worse. I love putting myself in a character’s head and fighting to solve problems that are far beyond her.

I love the layered effort it all takes. The trying of one solution after another and, in the failing, seeing other paths that are available. Character evolutions and plot deviations I wouldn’t have noticed if I’d not taken a wrong turn prior.

It teaches me–this process. That problems can be solved. That with enough trying and failing, I, like my own heroes, can fight my way to a satisfying end. Writing characters who grow and change despite the hardships around them, inspires me to do the same.

It’s not just reading that evokes empathy in us; for the writer, storytelling does the same. And for me, it’s changed how I view the world and the people around me. Because I create secondary and tertiary characters who are the stars of their own story, I am reminded that everyone I meet has their own hero’s journey to navigate. When I view others in that way, it’s very hard to root against them. Even when we have little else in common.

See, writing lets me live stories outside my own. While I will always be a finite, imperfect creator, I find the act of creation to be the best teacher, and the most fulfilling reward of all.

And the more I’ve chewed on this transformation, the more grateful I am that’s it’s happened now as I’m preparing to wade into the waters of marketing and active promotion. Because here’s the thing:

There will be people who love my book. There will be people who hate my book. And–perhaps saddest of all–there will be people who read five years of my hard work, and find themselves indifferent about what I’ve spent so many pages saying.

That’s just the reality of publishing. I’m not new here. I know how this works. And for the first time I can honestly say, I love my new book so much that other people’s opinion of it–while often kind, and uplifting, and generous, and even exhilarating–will always be secondary to my own feelings on the story.

It’s an armor, you see? Loving a story so much. It makes you impervious to the opinions of those who disagree.

Okay, maybe not impervious. Negative reactions to my work, especially mean-spirited ones, will probably always sting some. But I think the trick is to be so in love with the story you’ve created–to be so changed by the journey it required of you–that you can continue to create within the storm of accolade and criticism, both of which can blow you off track if you’re not careful.

There was a time when a negative review or hurtful criticism affected me so severely, I would lose days of work to insecurity. It wasn’t a conscious choice I made. It was rooted in a physical reaction my body had to that kind of perceived rejection. I couldn’t stop the overwhelming adrenaline rush, and the flight mechanism that kicked in. In my angst, I found myself searching for someone, for anyone, to validate my place as a storyteller.

It wasn’t until I stumbled onto this quote that I realized the solution to my problem wasn’t that I needed more people to tell me how awesome I was. In truth, I’d allowed other people to be my north star for far too long.

Nowadays, when I’m feeling insecure in my craft, instead of searching out the validation of another person, I pull out this quote and I remember:

I am self-propelled; fueled from within. I appreciate people’s opinions, but I’m not attached to them. I learned a long time ago that if I give them the power to feed me, I also give them the power to starve me.

Steve Maraboli

The creative arts are challenging, friends. Like all entertainers, we put a lot of effort into pleasing an audience. But it’s vital to remember that the applause of an audience is only one benefit to telling a good story. And, in truth, it’s a fleeting feeling.

The other benefits–the personal growth, the excitement of the journey, the gifts of empathy, and the satisfaction of summiting a mountain despite overwhelming odds–those cannot be taken away from you. They’re not subject to the whims of a crowd.

You earned them, writer. They’re yours.

And these benefits are anything but fleeting.

That’s why I believe that the process of scultping a story from hard work and imagination, is the very best part of being a writer.

How about you? How would answer this question? What’s the best part of being a writer, friend?

Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.

Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.

It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.

To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.

For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.