The Friends Who Push Us To Be Better

“Writing is a lonely job.” – Stephen King

One of the best things, I think, that we can have as writers are people in our social circle who enjoy the kind of books we write, and are not only happy to read them, but happy to tell you where things don’t work. Where they know your potential and know you could write better. Those people are really hard to find. My old friend Steve (whom I used to work with back in the days when I worked as a technical writer and started getting into Program Management) was that reader for me. 

We used to love sharing what we were reading, and we became instant friends over discovering our mutual love for The Dresden Files, and jamming to some Dr. John. I’d follow him out of the office onto the back sidewalk for what I called “second hand smoke breaks” (he smoked, I didn’t) and we’d talk all things Harry Dresden. Steve was a VORACIOUS reader, and could remember every single little detail of a story and turn over in his head where he thought Jim Butcher was going next (and most of the time? He was right). 

When I started writing my own short stories and eventually novels, Steve jumped at the chance to read them. And man he used to pick them apart in the best ways. “Martin never picked his dagger back up after he threw it at Kreos…so how could he draw it again?” Well shit, you’re right. But he’d also push me to do better: “Naw come on, the way you were talking about how you wanted to write this chapter yesterday? Put that on the page, I’m not seeing it here!” 

When I left that job in 2016 (after 4 years there) we kept in close touch. We’d talk books, family, and I’d send him parts of my latest projects to read. 

I last heard from Steve this past July (we always picked up right where we left off, like no time went by). The company we had both worked for had finally closed its doors back in January of this year. I had emailed him to tell him to share the news that I had just received two requests for full manuscripts from two different literary agents. He knew I’d been trying to land an agent for years now. 

Yo!

I’m cc’ing myself on this to remind me to get back to it. I don’t want to lose track, like I did of the merlin story from your last email that I never got around to reading. I will remedy that, but my bad.

I’ve been depressed since the PT gig ended in January. Decided to go ahead and apply for social security early, just to get some funds coming in. Not broke, mind you. Just unwilling to draw down retirement funds.

Writing situation sounds awesome. Keep up the good work! Let me know what’s available for sale where

More later.

Steve

Unfortunately, “More later,” will have to be on the next adventure. I received news tonight that my good friend passed away a couple weeks ago. He was a really, really good soul. 

Until then my friend. Thanks for reading, making me laugh, and being one of the special ones who cared enough and pushed me to be better at my craft.

And as we both used to say when the day got us down? “Eh…fark it all.”