When recently asked what was the purpose of my blog, I answered that I just enjoy writing, that I do it really just by pleasure. It is like I treat myself when start typing. My interlocutor told me that if it was just this, I could simply write in a notebook, that I didn’t need a blog.
She was right. So I pondered on her question and understood that I had not answered the question correctly. So what is the purpose of my blog, or my book, or any of the writing that reach eyes other than mine? It is to share my passion.
I write & create for myself…
Thankfully, I do not write, or in general create (photography, art, or cooking etc.) with the need of recognition and gratification. I fulfill an urge, a desire to express the whirlwind of ideas, emotions, images, and stories buzzing in my head. I let it out and work on it until I am satisfied I have done my very best to give it a life outside of me. I do set myself high standards, though as I know there is always room for improvement, I am on a journey to improve my work every time. I follow classes, I experiment, I challenge myself… 
This, I do for me. When someone gives me a new technique, a lesson, or teach me how to get a new skill or tune my old strings, I feel buoyant in excitement. There is still so much to learn and discover!
… And share for the pleasure of sharing.
And yet, when I put my work out there, it is simply because I have this other urge to share something I love doing in the hope that someone, somewhere, will enjoy reading it. It does not matter to me if no one gets back to me with a comment, if it does not get any ‘likes’ on social media, if it does not even get read, the opportunity is there. I do like the serendipity of it all, and maybe the lack of control in it – I have enough discipline and organisation in my life to be able to juggle all my activities and be efficient, it is nice to let go on something and let it flow. Hence I do not track the visitors on my website, I do not check how many books I have sold… This does not matter to me. Of course, I am always interested in my readers’ opinions because I can learn from it. I am glad if they like my work, and sad if they don’t, but in both cases, what interests me most is why they do or don’t, so that I can improve my work from their comments and let my creativity grow further.
So I truly love the process of creating in general and writing in particular. When I hear the saying that loving is sharing, I can only nod and aquiesce.
Often, I have messages of support from my friends for my writing, whether or not they have read anything of mine. They support me because they can see how writing makes me happy. This is a wonderful and helpful because it is true that, sometimes, I wonder why I slave away at my desk on my own and in my free time, just to pursue this passion. Their support is invaluable, because they remind me that I am doing what I love just because I love it, and that’s OK it if it is its only finality!
So, truly, thank you for reading and for your support,
Virginie
P.S.: I grant it to you, this mindset carries a major problem: a commercial one. As my dream would be to live from my writing one day (O Darling Dream Of Mine!), a little adjustment towards a more businesslike attitude is necessary. In all honesty, I am struggling to make this change.
So many of you have told me that they really devoured my book and eagerly waiting for the sequel; so many of you told me I should really do more marketing because of the potential of Gatekeepers; so many of you…. That I have started to feel guilty not to dedicate more care and attention to get the sales of Gatekeepers rocketing to best-seller. So I will try a bit harder, but that will not come without wincing and grumpiness!
