Why writers have fuzzy pets

As an aspiring writer, I find myself spending a lot of time alone in my room. I write best in near quiet, usually on my bed, by hand in one of my many many notebooks, but sometimes on my laptop. I need the quiet in order to hear the voices of my characters telling me what happens next. This means that I spend a lot of time away from my family and the heart of the house.

Writing can be a lonely process. I have to have a day-job to pay the bills, so I don't get to see my family during the day. Then I spend the evening writing and researching (or getting distracted by the internet while attempting to write or research - let's be honest). So it's nice to have a companion. Wiley Coyote is a total snuggle bug and loves to just sit next to me while I work. He's quiet and gentle, but his constant presence is reassuring. I'd love to be able to curl up on the couch downstairs and hang out with my family while creating new worlds, but at least I don't have to go through this whole writing process completely alone.

#ReadyToPubish ... dear gods help me

What little kid doesn't dream of being a published author some day? At least for a moment in time. There's probably some out there,  but most of us have had a story in us at some point or another that we wanted to share with the world. The hard part is sitting down, putting one word after another, and bringing the story from theory to actuality.

Well, I did that.

... Now what?

Oh, yeah. Get published.

Yikes!

The story that finally came out of me is not profound. It's not life changing. It may never be a best seller or turned into a movie. But I love it. I love my characters. I love the struggles they experience and how they overcome them. And, possibly most important of all, I loved writing them into existence. I loved spending hours upon hours staring at blank notebook pages and willing my characters to tell me what happens next. It really is their story, I'm just the one lucky enough to get to put it on paper.

But now I have the daunting task of trying to get published. Terrifying, I know. Anyone know a good literary agent that works with YA novels of the LGBTQIA+ variety? No? Didn't think so. Ah, well. I'll keep looking. Wish me luck!