When I began writing my first novel
in March 1981, I wasn't thinking about a writing career or what might come
next. To be honest, I wasn't even thinking about the possibility of it being
published. I simply had a story in my head and heart that would not let go of
me, and finally I sat down with legal pad and pen and I began writing.
I finished that book in 1981, and I
sold it to a small New York publisher in 1982. It was released in 1984. Who
I Am with You, a Legacy of Faith novel, came out last week. It's my 79th
release.
Many years. Many books.
So how does a writer stay in it for
the long haul? For me, the key has been to always write the story that has
captured my imagination. Many times through the years I've heard someone ask a
writer (including me), "Have you written the book of your heart?" My
response to that question is, "Every book is a book of my heart.
Otherwise, how could I stand to be immersed in it for days, weeks, and months
at a time?"
A writer should also be open to new
possibilities in their writing. My first books were historical sagas. Those
soon morphed into historical romances. As a history buff and a diehard
romantic, I never thought I would write anything other than historical
romances. But the day came when an idea for a contemporary women's fiction
would not let go of my heart.
It was scary to move out of my
comfort zone, but there was no denying that this novel had to be a contemporary
and had to have God at the very center of it. That book became The Forgiving
Hour, my 31st release. In the years since, I've written many more
contemporary and historical novels. My new series, Legacy of Faith, is a blend
of both—time-slip novels.
Finally, the way a novelist stays in
it for the long haul is to remember to have a life. It's easy to stay in one's
imaginary world. But if we are to have anything worthwhile to share with
readers, we must be experiencing the world around us. So remember to turn off
your computer, step away from your desk, and live. Your readers will thank you
for it.
~~~~~~
Best-selling
novelist Robin Lee Hatcher was first published in 1984. There are over five
million
Robin is an ACFW
Carol Award winner and an eight-time finalist and has won two RITA® Awards and
been a finalist eleven times. Her numerous other awards include the Christy
Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith,
Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. She is also the recipient of prestigious
Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and
Romance Writers of America®.
