Greetings and salutations. It is I, Graham.

Today we have a more humorous and introspective topic for our blog. We are currently side-tracking, adding more fodder to the exposed mindsets of Clevenger and myself as authors, and of a sorts, as people. So far they have been fanciful but realistic: ideal library, music playlists, and writer’s vacations. Now it is time to move into the first of our truly fantastical concepts.

A genie grants you three wishes to use toward your writing career. What are they, and why?

Wow, so many directions to go with this. However, I think they are fairly straightforward for me. First is the time and money. I would want enough money that I could live a modest lifestyle, without needing to worry about where my next meal is coming from, whether I can pay for housing and transportation, and still have enough for moderate hobby spending and travel. Basically, I would want to be well off enough that money issues are not stressors, but not so wealthy that I start having problems with family and acquaintances always coming after me.

This would include the freedom to relax from external financial pressures, including those from health care finances, so that I could mentally relax and concentrate on ongoing projects, including my writing. It would mean having the financial resources to properly deal with both my mental and physical health issues as they present themselves, rather than waiting until they become catastrophic.

My second wish would be one ideal contact, with a clear and speedy path to mainstream publication. Basically, it would be the kind of editor and agent that longtime, professional authors have. One person who has all the contacts, handles all the contracts, and knows all the people and answers. Need editing assistance? They arrange it. Ready to finalize the edited submission? There they are. Need to arrange a book signing, a convention, or a book tour? I email them. This would be someone who is paid to keep my best interests in mind, cares enough to give their best towards what my writing projects need, and is knowledgeable enough to anticipate any issues that might come up, either from my end or from the publisher.

My third and final wish would be a dedicated fanbase, based around a website, email list, and Discord server, available for beta reading, continuity assistance, and cheerleading. This would be a loving, supportive, enthusiastic, and active fanbase, ready to jump online for a quiet evening online discussing the current pop culture meta, just as quick as they are ready to travel to the next convention or book signing Clevenger and I are going to be at.

So basically, all three of these could resolve themselves and come true simply by becoming successful and popular authors. Write the right book series, launch a successful publication, whatever that ends up looking like, and land an accepting audience. Haha. Maybe I should have just said my first wish would be for Manticore’s Shadow to become an international success, thus providing all of the above perks, and then allow myself two more wishes? Who knew! Hmm. I wonder what those other two wishes should have been?

EDIT: Almost immediately after finishing this, I thought of several directions I could have gone, particularly into the “superpowers” area of things like “Always knows how to word things” or “Always has writing ideas that fit with what is hot right now”. But after sleeping on it, I like what I said. If I took any of these other “ultra” abilities, I would be writing the genie’s version of what I want to write, not my own writing. I’d rather write my story exactly, and have it succeed or fail on its own. I just wish I could have the resources that come with being a highly successful author!

Anyway, let’s see what Clevenger comes up with. Will he top me, or merely agree with what I have already stated? I’m throwing down the gauntlet, Clevenger! Bring it on! Haha. Until then…

Don’t forget to love one another.

Graham