Writing Secrets: Put publishing thoughts aside
When my first book, The Innocence of Roast Chicken*, was a work in progress, I would reward myself for a good day’s writing by allowing myself an hour’s worth of the “When my book is published” daydream.
I’m a big daydreamer. In the car, in the bath, making food … I create a story and live within it for the time I have available. If it’s a particularly good one, I may pick up on it later and continue where I was forced to leave off.
I was aware that my publishing dream was a fantasy, which is why I limited it. I didn’t allow myself to dream it at any other time. And I certainly never allowed myself to worry about it in real time. It was a reward for writing well, that’s all. Then I put it away.
We recently had a question from someone in our mentoring programme, who had blocked himself creatively by worrying about whether his was the sort of book likely to be published.
You can’t worry about that. I’m sorry, but you just can’t. It’s not healthy. If you’re focused too much on whether it will ever see the light of day, or what kind of people will read it, you’ll get stuck, or probably worse, write something that is stilted and constrained.
While you’re writing, think purely of producing the best book you are capable of. You’re writing for the sake of it, for the beauty of creating something unique. Until it’s done, that’s the extent of your job.
***
The book that just won’t lie down
Beware – one book can change your life
Writing can be dangerous – it might just change your life
Great advice!
So,so true!
I’m a deer in the headlights, attempting to write a second novel.
This advice is vital and I’m keeping it above my desk for the whole
of 2017 🙂
Thank for the wisdom.