#AMWRITING

Are You? You should be!

I’m not sure if it’s the advent of self publishing sites or not, but lately it seems like everyone is writing a book…and I love it! I’m writing a book…you’re writing a book…Wait! You’re not writing a book? If you’re not, stick around because in a little bit, I’ll tell you why I think you should be.  I’m telling you the truth right now though when I say that I am writing a book.  I’m not sure if it will ever get published.  I sincerely hope that it does, but right now, that’s not the main reason why I am writing.

If at first you don’t succeed…

Currently, I’m fleshing out my second book.  That’s right, I tried it once and it didn’t go anywhere.  That’s not to say that I’ve failed.  On the contrary.  I’m giving my book, let’s call it some shelf time.   I started to rework the crime novel and am three chapters into the rewrite.  I’m happier than I’ve ever been with the story and the direction that it’s going, but these things take time.  They take a lot more time, and a lot more energy than I thought that they would.  Both this first attempt, and now my second attempt are challenging my creativity, my intellect, and my research and I’m seeing incredible results in other areas of my life because of it.

This second novel excites me, intimidates me, and even frightens me.  I’m so in love with it so far that I’m so fearful I won’t be able to bring it to life, or if I do, others won’t love it every bit as much as I do.  But that’s OK.  That’s a natural fear that we have every time we create something, from a book to a painting.

Why? 

So why am I writing if no one might ever read what I’m writing? Because of the experience of writing a novel.  As you write, you are testing your creativity in ways that you’ve never done before.  You’re taking a dream or a day dream that you’ve had and extending it, and extending it, and extending it some more.  You are fleshing out a person, physically, emotionally and giving them a life.  You are giving that person emotions, and while working through their emotions you are also cathartically working through your own.  You are facing your fears of doubt, of inadequacy and of failure and it’s exhilarating.

I’m telling that whether you have dreams of becoming a published author or not, whether you get picked up by a publisher or try the self publishing route, or keep your manuscript hidden securely under lock and key – try your hand at writing a book.  See what happens.  It could be magical!

In the very least it will help you with your professional career and make you a more creative person, a more relaxed person, better able to deal with whatever life throws at you.