I am writing a book
A recently over heard conversation went as follows:
“I am writing a book. I’ve made a great start: I’ve numbered all the pages.”
Consider the following:
- Countless people say they are going to write a book.
- Only a few ever begin the actual writing.
- If you have started writing a book you are in rare company.
- If you have actually finished writing your book you are in elite company.
- If you have rewritten and edited your book you are almost unique.
- If you have submitted to a publisher a well written, well edited and professionally presented manuscript, you are very special.
Don’t just say you are going to write that book.
Just get on with it.
Good writing.
Do, or do not.
Today’s quote:
“Do, or do not. There is no try.”
Yoda in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Fact: Many people would like to write a book.
Fact: Few people actually start writing a book.
Fact: Very few people actually finish writing a book.
Fact: Of those that finish writing a book, very few get published.
Like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, people have a go. They try to write a book, not realising the long journey on which they have embarked. When the going gets tough, they give up. So many give up so easily.
You cannot “try” to write a book. You must do it, or not. If you don’t have the persistence, don’t even start.
Harsh words, yes, but that is the reality.
Good writing.
Further reading:
Imagine it and make it happen
Today’s quote about writing:
“All the things we achieve are things we have first imagined and then made happen.”
David Malouf, Australian writer
Imagination is a powerful, essential, elemental, almost organic tool of the writer. It is the driving force behind all writers, especially writers of fiction. Without our imagination our stories cannot take shape, the characters cannot come to life and the plot limps along until either the reader or the writer give it up as a hopeless cause.
But when the writer calls upon an active imagination, the story can soar to wonderful heights, the characters can develop vibrant, energetic lives and the plot grabs the attention of the writer demanding to be written. And when this happens the readers are carried along in that imaginary world of delights and the book cannot be put down. Hopefully it also sells many copies via word of mouth too.
But I wonder if David Malouf was actually thinking along these lines?
Was he instead thinking about dreams and goal setting? It doesn’t really matter for it doesn’t negate what I’ve already written. Dreaming big dreams and setting goals with our writing (and all other areas of life) can result in amazing outcomes. Without dreams and goals we tend to drift through life aimlessly.
Dream big – you might just surprise yourself.
I’ll give you a few examples:
- Imagine holding your first novel in your hands. Feel it, look at it, smell it.
- Dream about the day you sign a three book contract – and the satisfied feeling it engenders.
- Visualise walking across the stage to receive that literary prize.
- Plan and rehearse what you are going to say and do when you launch your first book.
On the last item my wife and I attended a friend’s book launch last year. My wife took detailed notes on what to do and how to run a launch – and she keeps reminding me of this. It spurs me on to get that manuscript finished and off to a publisher.
Dream big.
Make it happen.
Good writing.
A significant writing goal achieved
I am reasonably goal driven with my writing.
I like setting goals that stretch me and keep me accountable to myself. Over recent years though I’ve learned to be gentle with myself when I don’t reach a particular goal. No one else cares, so why should I beat myself up over just missing a goal by a small margin? The important thing to remember while reflecting on the issue is that I tried. I gave it a good shake.
One of my goals each day is to write at least a 1000 words. On the good days I can achieve over 3000 easily; other days I struggle to get a few hundred. Generally I know I can comfortably average over 700 per day every day for a whole year. That takes commitment, discipline and determination.
Yesterday I passed the 250,000 word mark for the year so far.
I’m very pleased with this achievement. It means that I’ve achieved the same amount now for four consecutive years – that’s over a million words in four years. Not bad. I think I’m starting to get the hang of this writing thing.
The words I have written this year cover a wide range of writing activities: a novel, numerous short stories, many poems, writing exercises, essays, emails, nearly 300 blog posts, hundreds of comments on my blogs and a journal.
Good writing.