Happiness is…(or, why the writer’s life is rich)

 
Happiness is:

• Having a critique group whose every member celebrates when you share good news, without reservation;
• Writer friends who show up to be with you, even when life events conspire to keep them away;
• Writer friends who commiserate when you get one too many rejection letters;
• Friends who encourage you to keep writing, that you have talent, that you have spunk and spark and yes, you should keep at it;
• Writer friends who are ready to laud those who recognize your talents and boo those who don’t;
• Writer friends who generously share their own victories along the way, so that every award, every publication, every interview and starred review and beautiful cover feels a little like your own;
• Writer friends who catch your vision for a story and care enough to tell you where it’s not working, where it is working, and how to make it better;
• Writer friends online and off, who keep you accountable, keep you inspired, keep you fired up, and keep you focused on the joy that writing can bring.

:) Cheryl

PS—The photo’s significance: the on-fire turtle!!