Writer seeks audience

There are few things as thrilling as having someone you don't actually know tell you they love your book. It's not a thing that's happened to me much yet. Not because people don't enjoy my writing, you understand, but because not all that many people I don't actually already know have read it yet.

My husband asked me the other day if it really mattered if no one ever read what I've written and I didn't know how to answer. Yes, I thought. Of course it matters, but it's hard to say why. 

It would be nice to earn pots of money and have people offer huge sums to make movies of my books or stand in mile-long queues to get me to sign their treasured collection of my complete works. (It happens. I can dream!)

It would be nice if people thought enough of my books to pay me sufficient money that I could do nothing but write. Of course it would.

But of course it's not just about money and being able to afford to spend your time doing what you like best.

I need people to tell me they've enjoyed what I've written. I need to know how they loved or hated the characters, how I made them cry or how I was right or wrong about something. What I need is to get people to respond to what I've written. 

Why is that hard to explain? I suppose because what I'm seeking is affirmation. Perhaps, if the writing is good, it should satisfy me in itself, and not require affirmation. It doesn't though. I am writing for me but I'm writing for other people too. I'm a storyteller and a storyteller needs an audience.

And the best thing anyone could say to me?

'I can't wait for the next one!'

If you're interested, you can read a taster of my YA novel here.
I'd love to hear what you think.