It seems that when it comes to writing a book, talk is cheap.
Almost everyone would like to be the author of a book….likely including yourself.
But actually acting on it and doing it is another matter. As a writer and author I have lost count of the number of people who tell me, “Yeah I’m writing a book it’s about…”
Whatever…
When I ask them about the book they’re writing its subject matter and how far along they are with the project their answers are vague.
Here’s a typical exchange:
“What’s your book about?”
“It’s about World War Two.”
“Oh really? What part of World War Two?”
“You know, the War.”
“Have you written it?”
“Well no, but I will.”
“Have you written any of it?”
“It’s…it’s in the planning stages.”
I think to myself, he doesn’t want to admit he hasn’t written a word (I don’t intend this as a put-down. We all procrastinate at some times).
I stop questioning him about it it’s clear he hasn’t written anything and likely won’t, but that’s his choice not mine and doesn’t mean he’s any less of a person than I am or any less in my esteem.
Like many people he’s more in love with the idea of being an author than he is in actually being one.
There was an old saying I’ve forgotten it exactly but it basically meant that to be an author you have to place your butt on the chair and your hands on the keyboard…and do it.
There are usually two elements to doing it. Faith and determination….
This applies to anything. To sports, to business, to the arts, if you want to be successful, you have to believe you can do it. You have to be determined to do it. Then you have to do it.
It requires consistent effort, and on your own time, time that could be spent at perhaps more pleasurable pursuits, watching television, reading a book (somebody else’s), goofing off, sleeping, eating a donut, whatever.
This is where faith comes in. You have to believe personally that the book you write will eventually be published by somebody and shared with readers that it will not wind up as meaningless words on a computer. (In the old days before digital it was a stack of abandoned typewriter pages sitting on a shelf).
As you are writing this book you are not being paid for it. Only famous authors get an advance, a partial payment up front at the beginning. There’s a chance you never will be paid for your book.
Again…faith….
A real writer and here’s where determination comes in, will nevertheless see the project through, the completion of the book, because its successful conclusion (regardless of how good it is in the eyes of others) is important enough to you to finish it.
There’s a feeling of elation when you write the final words of your book. It’s hard to describe it (I usually drink champagne the night after finishing). The feeling is, “I never thought it would be done, but it is.” (Many publishers today do not print “The End” at the end of a book.
Hopefully, you also feel, “I’m happy with it.”
Whether others will be happy with your book is another matter.
We’ll get more into that later.
John Sammon is a freelance writer and the author of 41 books.
