With today being the first day of the new Greg J. Gardner website, it’s difficult to say what the site may develop into as days turn to weeks and weeks to months. Maybe it will fizzle to nothingness. Maybe it will be followed by the masses (not). Or, perhaps it will be a place for my to express myself, whether or not anyone reads the posts or pays attention.
My first novel, Black Friday, has sold about 2000 copies over the last few years, and I’ve enjoyed each time a new review is posted, whether it’s positive or negative. After all, I don’t write for the readers. I’m sorry to admit that, but it’s true, I write for myself and no one else. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy that 200 people have purchased my book and I’m glad reviews have been posted on Google and Amazon, but I don’t write for reviews.
Writing is for myself. Writing allows me to discover the end of ideas that come to mind. That’s right, I don’t know the end of the story. I’ve had readers and friends ask, “How can that be?” and the short answer is that I don’t know. I started writing Black Friday with an idea: a terrorist attack on Black Friday. What if terrorists targeted Walmarts across America on our busiest shopping day? What would happen? How would the country respond? The truth was, I had no idea. I did not know how the story would end until I was almost finished with the book.
The same was true with my current novel, Golgoth – Curse of the Cruxifiction. I didn’t know how it would end until the last chapter was being written. In fact, I didn’t think it would be the last chapter when I started. Many writers would call me a “pantser” or someone who writes by the seat of their pants, and I would agree. Many writers create elaborate outlines and storyboards for their work to follow. I can’t be constrained this way. I would deviate from the path if it were laid out before me. Being a Pantser allows the story to flow, and create its own path. This feels more realistic for me.
The same is true with this website. I have no preconceived notion of what it will become or if anyone will even read what I’m writing. That’s okay. I didn’t write for the reader. I write for myself. Maybe this is selfish. It may be the way I can best express what is in my head. I’m sure there are psychologists that would have an opinion on the matter.
You may have an opinion. If you do, at least you are reading what I’m writing.
Thanks for making it this far,
Greg J. Gardner