Not when I was a little kid. By late high-school I was starting to envision it, but all the responsible adults in my life suggested that I should pursue something else as a "day job." They didn't think writing was a viable option for supporting a person. (And they may have been right--we'll see. I haven't been able to quit my "day job" yet.)
So far, I don't have a ton of book reviews, so yes, I've read every one. If at some point I have hundreds and hundreds, maybe I won't. Or maybe I still will. It's hard not to be interested in what other people think of the stories I've worked years on.
Bad reviews make me sad and sometimes frustrated, but I get that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, and I appreciate that someone took time to read my work and write about how they felt.
Good ones, though--good ones are amazing. They can make my day. Sometimes my month. It's so exciting when somebody really connects with something I've written.
1. Keep writing.
2. Absolutely work at the craft of writing, but also study a bit of the business of writing. Both will be important if you really want to do this at the professional level.
3. Weigh all advice. Some of it is great. Some of it may be great for some people, but not great for you. Some of it is not great at all.
Character, character, character (If the characters are wonderful, I almost don't care what they're doing. I just like spending time with them.)
Story (OK, so what they're doing is a little important. I prefer stories where something happens, for sure.)
World-building (I adore stories that take me to a new world--whether that's a foreign culture, a historical setting--or some place that only exists in the author's imagination--and now mine.)
I also enjoy masterful use of language and unforgettable voices. (Who doesn't?)
Hasn't happened yet--the recognizing me in public yet.
However, when people appreciate my work, that is a fabulous feeling that warms cold days and almost makes me feel like I can fly. Or have a superpower of some sort.
