Sharing Another Writer's First Sale Joy

I recently attended the book launch party for my friend’s first published book.  Several other writers also attended, along with many of her friends and relatives.  We all were happy to celebrate her first book sale.  Indirectly, I think it also served to reaffirm our connections within the romance writing community.
 
I think I can speak for the others in saying we enjoyed being there very much.  Many of the writers attending the book launch, like myself, have not yet been published.  But that didn’t matter.  We were all happy for our friend.  When one of us succeeds, it is almost as though all of us succeed.  No group is happier to celebrate when one of our own finally makes it.
 
I have noticed this tends to be true with all romance writers, not just my small group.  Romance writers as a whole tend to be a close-knit group, more so than I have noticed with other types of writing.  The genre or career level doesn’t matter.  I have seen paranormal romance writers sharing writing tips with inspirational writers, and I have seen multi-published authors celebrate a new writer’s first sale.  There are no egos or “I’m too busy/important/jealous” attitudes getting in the way.  No matter what one of us needs – a critique of a scene, a pat on the back, a friendly kick in the pants – we can get it from the other writers. 
 
This camaraderie makes me very glad I am a romance writer, because it enables me to surround myself with great, supportive people.  My friend with the new book out writes Biblical fiction.  Others in our local group write young adult, paranormal, romantic suspense, historical – nearly everything you can think of in the romance arena.  Yet we all joyfully spent a weekend afternoon rejoicing with her at her book launch party.  We all knew how much time and effort went into that first book sale, and how much she deserved to celebrate it.  And that someday, after our continued hard work and perseverance, she would help us celebrate our first sales.  Because that’s what romance writers do.

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