(c) Sloan Parker, 2013

1. I find little sticky notes around the house that say things like “don’t forget the Superman underwear” and “move the BJ to the next chapter” and “are there too many blowjobs in the first half?”

2. I get to giggle at typos like “ass checks” and “coch rings” and “me nipples” and “he stopped the teasing of my dicks.” I mean, how many dicks does one man have?

3. When I’m really into a sex scene or romantic moment between my heroes, I get totally lost in the moment and forget every worry in my life or every horrible problem in the world, and the world shrinks to that one moment in time when everything’s beautiful and right.

4. I can stare out the window at the leaves blowing in the wind, at the swans peacefully gliding over the water, at the white snow falling down, and I’m still working. Because sometimes I have to stop typing and just daydream, or how else will I ever know what happens next?

5. Looking at my website stats gives me a good laugh when I see what keywords people have typed in to find my site. Stuff like “wild roommate scenarios” and “tumblr gay desert sex in cowboy boots” and “videos of a gay man ramming his pointy shoe up a man’s asshole.”

6. I get to spend my days with people who I love being around. (Okay, so they’re fictional people. I still really like hanging with them).

7. I can’t think of any other job where you can tell your boss, “I’m stuck on a problem and I gotta go for a walk so I can figure out how to get my character’s head out of his ass.”

8. I can write with a cat on my lap. They sorta frowned at that at my old job.

9. When a book is done, I can think back at that blank document it started out as (no story, no characters, no dialogue, nothing), then compare that to the final manuscript and feel really damn proud of the world I’ve created, with all the complexities and nuances that make it unique from any other story that’s been written before.

And my favorite…

10. Hearing from readers who were so drawn to the characters, so moved by the story I wrote, that they decided to take time out of their own busy lives to send me a note of thanks.

So thank you to every reader who’s contacted me, who’s tried one of my stories and liked them enough to keep on reading my work, who’s helped me make a go of this writing thing. All through my childhood I made up stories that were just for me–and my imaginary friend. You have no idea what it means to me that I get to share the characters and stories in my head with others. Thank you!