True to the reader and true to myself?

I’ve tried many times to keep my blogs about
writing and my journey to publication separate from my personal life.
However, I’ve been asking myself many questions these past couple of
weeks, including, am I being true to my readers and true to myself?

I’ve
come to the conclusion that no, I don’t think I am. Yes, this blog is
about my (and Gray’s) writing journey. BUT, I/we can’t escape from the
simple fact that our journey goes hand in hand in the company of living
with multiple sclerosis. Therefore I should
include these difficulties and acknowledge the effect they sometimes
have on my road to publication. After all, if I hide this major part of
my life doesn’t it mean that I’m pretending to be somebody I’m not?

I’ve
worried in the past that my health difficulties could go against me in
the publishing industry. But I’m not comfortable hiding these important
factors from editors/agents. Surely, pretence isn’t the right basis on which to build a professional relationship?

The fact is that I’ve been a writer far
longer than I’ve lived with my neurological condition. I never want the
MS to control my life to the degree that I get scared of being found
out. Integrity means the world to me. Anybody who matters will know
that I am *not* the multiple sclerosis; I am Sue, the writer (mother,
wife, etc.) who also happens to have multiple sclerosis.

I
also respect that I’m not the only writer out there living with the
difficulties that a health condition brings. I want to inspire other
writers to never give up on their publishing dreams no matter what
curve balls life throws.

So,
the upshot of this post is to say that I’m still here and I’m still
blogging albeit with a difference: I’m no longer hiding the ‘real’ me.

Sue xx

http://romance-writer.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/SusanRix