FAN MAIL!

Don’t let anyone fool you. Writers LOVE fan mail. Doesn’t matter if you’re a blogger, or an novelist, or you write Hallmark greeting cards. If you put words on paper, it’s great to hear from those who read them.

One of the biggest reasons is because, especially in an online situation, it’s nice to know there are real people on the end of the WIFI link.

To this day I still remember the first time someone came and asked me to autograph a book.

Would you mind signing a copy of your book?

I tried to act cook about it, but I probably looked at giddy as I felt!

I like to write. I’ve been doing it for a long time. I’ve written books, magazine articles, training manuals, and the scribbles on this site for the past seven years or so. I took pride in not missing a day. I was inspired by my friend Howard Tayler. He created his online comic Schlock Mercenary on June 12, 2000. He never missed a day during the entire twenty year run of the comic.

So, it was surprising to me when I missed not just a day, not just a week, but several weeks.

My sister died, unexpectedly in September. I lost my interest in writing. I lost interest in a lot of things. I was very close to my sister.

I kept thinking I was goign to start writing. . .tomorrow. Well, tomorrow never actually arrives. All we have is today. Obviously I’ve started writing again. The difference? Fan mail.

I don’t get a lot of fan mail for this site. I get some comments on articles that strike a chord. And if I paste the link on Facebook, I get a lot of responses.

But, true fan mail? Not so much.

That’s what made William Henderson’s email such a nice surpise.

From: William Henderson ([email protected])
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2020 7:44 AM
To: [email protected] ([email protected])
Subject: Best wishes

Hi Rodney,

I’m missing your blog posts!

But that’s a rather selfish view, and not the reason I’m writing. If you’ve just had enough of the blogging and hung up your keyboard, then fair enough – I thank you for the enjoyment and insight I’ve had from reading your posts these last few years. But given the lack of explanation in your blog or on your website – and the nature of your second-last post – I wonder whether at least part of the reason you’ve stopped is that life has thrown you another curve ball. If that’s the case, then I want to send my best wishes for you and your family. Be safe. Be healthy. Be happy. At least, as much as is possible under the circumstances.

Cheers,
William

William didn’t have to reach out. He had no way of knowing what I’d been going through. But, his email was the perfect inspiration at the perfect time.

I have responded to William privately and explained how much his email meant to me. And, of course, got his permission to share his words.

Thank you again, William, and thanks to all of you who spend a few minutes of your day reading the scribbles I put down. Hopefully it’s entertaining. But, whatever enjoyment you get, realize that I’m getting even more.

Stay safe

Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.

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