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Having a book idea on a topic you’re passionate about is a glorious feeling. You begin work on such a project filled with passion and zeal. You’re eager to pass your thoughts on to your readers. However, writing a book is a daunting, time-consuming task. It’ s important to keep that enthusiasm alive until the book is finished.
Writing momentum can help to maintain that fervor. We often hear about momentum in sports. One team may be on a roll and they want to keep the impetus going as long as they can. They don’t want any time-outs, injuries, or delays of any kind. They want to keep pushing, driving, thrusting. The same can be true in writing a book. You attack the keyboard loaded with enthusiasm. You write with passion. You’ve got the momentum on your side. Just like the athletes, you want to keep on writing.
So once you begin writing, try to continue to write. Avoid any delays in your writing schedule. That doesn’t mean you must write continuously, but you should strive to write consistently. Putting off the writing of your book for too long a period can destroy your enthusiasm. It’s like when you vow to call a friend. You put it off for a week, then another week, and soon, you’ve postponed it for so long you’re almost embarrassed to call. To maintain your momentum, your passion, your zeal, work on your book regularly. Don’t allow too much time to pass between writing sessions.
Writers can destroy their enthusiasm by being too critical of their writing too early. Ironically, our own enthusiasm can serve to dampen our enthusiasm. We want so badly to write well that we become discouraged with our results. We say to ourselves, “This is not as good as I intended it to be, therefore why should I continue?” We must make an effort to be more forgiving of our first draft. After all, it is simply a first draft. Remind yourself that you were passionate about this project and you will have time to rewrite, polish, and refine your writing.
Strangely enough, there are times when your writing seems to improve on its own. Your evaluation of your efforts is often tainted by many variables—the mood you’re in on a particular day, other situations that are affecting you, heck, sometimes even the weather can turn your disposition sour. Your assessment of your own writing on such days can be rather grim. However, if you put that writing in a drawer for a few days, you might discover that when you review it later on – when you’re in a more pleasant state of mind – the writing has magically transformed itself into something worthwhile.
Be forgiving. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and continue your writing. Make a sincere effort to recapture that zeal you had when you began this project. Even if your output is disappointing occasionally, remember all writers have good days and bad days, mediocre days and superb days. Try not to destroy your devotion to a worthwhile project simply because some of your writing might be improved.
Writers can often be insecure about their work. I remember working on a comedy TV script. Our writing staff were doing rewrites until the early morning hours. At about two in the morning, we had only one more joke to add into the revised script. Finally, someone adlibbed a line and we all laughed at it. We were eager to type it into the script, wrap the project up, and go home. The writer doing the typing couldn’t resist doing a little joke, though. He turned to the cleaning lady who had come into the office to mop floors and said, “Sarah, what do you think of that joke?” She said, “I think you’re reaching a bit.” We dropped that line and kept on working. That’s how insecure writers can be.
Others can easily destroy our enthusiasm, too. We should guard our work and our zeal as ferociously as we can. Aunt Mabel may read our manuscript and say, “Well, it didn’t knock my socks off.” Aunt Mabel may know little if anything about writing, but her negative critique could prompt us to abandon our project.
There will be times when writing becomes a struggle. There will be setbacks and disappointments. Fatigue will set in. Writing a book is a delightful chore, but it is a chore nonetheless. There will come times when only your original fervor will pull you through. So try to maintain that enthusiasm and rely on it to pull you through to the final chapter.
, and his new book Write Your Book Now!: A Proven System to Start and FINISH the Book You've Always Wanted to Write. Gene has won three Emmy Awards and one Writer’s Guild Award.
Story by K.M. Weiland
Tags: criticism , Feature , first draft , Writing Life
I nodding at each point. All of this is very true and great advice.
THanks.
Great tips, and so true in whatever form of writing you're doing. I've heard Bob Dylan say he can't get back to a song if he leaves it for a while, but has to stick through it to the end, and Enya has said she doesn't let anyone in the studio for the months she writes and records 'cause one negative remark can throw her.
And thanks, sir, for all the great times I had in my youth watching "The Carol Burnett Show," "Welcome Back, Kotter," and "Mama's Family." Those memories are golden.
Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Gene!
This was a great post. I've had that experience of waiting too long between writing sessions and then having to work slowly up to my initial enthusiasm. It's a good reminder to keep writing regularly. Thanks.
Wow, did I need to hear this today, I had nearly come to the point of abandoning my story, and maybe writing all together, this story just doesn't seem to have it, but I've hit my muddling middle, they've changed the plot, I don't know exactly where I am going but I am holding on. Never give up. :D
Thank you so much for the encouragement, I needed it so desperately!
Jessica
K.M. Weiland...
I'm pleased that the article struck a chord with so many of your readers -- Christine, Elizabeth, Jessica, Maine Character. Writing is a delightful profession, but often a solitary one. Blogs like yours are a way to encourage and support one another. I was grateful for the opportunity to particpate. Thanks again.
Gene Perret
Ten years ago I gave up and quit writing. For ten long years I ignored my imagination, my characters, and all the ideas that used to give me such joy. For ten years the disheartening thought "you're a quitter" loomed in the back of my mind. It was an unhappy place. I am so glad I started writing again. I am in the murky, often befuddling middle of my first novel but I am going to finish it this time. I won't give up, no matter what. If it takes me ten MORE years to develop a professional level of the craft, then that's what it will take. I will not give up.
This was a wonderful post. I have found when I begin to write something new I have no problem writing each day, but at some point I slow down. I push on and before I know it I am back to writing each day adding more content that I did before the slow down. Thanks for letting me know I am not the only person who has muddled through and made it to the other side. Thanks again.
Marianne
Great information. I feel like Gene got his material by looking inside my head. Somehow it's reassuring to know that the doubts and insecurities I experience plague most writers at some point. I've added Write Your Book Now! to my Amazon cart so I can hear more about the solutions he shares.
Thank you for the reminder.
Excellent post and something I needed today after the spinning wheels type of week I've had. Thank you!
Angela Craven...
Welcome back to writing. Hang in there.
Anonymous...
Writing is great fun but it does demand discipline and perseverance at times. Keep going.
Keli Gwynn...
It's interesting -- all of us writers have the same experiences in different ways and at different times. That's why we have to support and encourage one another. I'm pleased you’re adding my new book to your collection.
Gene Perret
Great article. I've recently given up on my novel because my inner critic is too brutal. Recently I read an article explaining how people can't create and be critical at the same time because two different areas of the brain for thought are active and they're different modes of thinking. As a nurse, my analytical strength has muscled my creative brain into the corner where it sits weeping in the dark recesses of my mind. This encourages my inner critic. Oh, I hate my beastly inner critic!