These are thoughts I couldn’t find a place for. Enjoy. With homage to Jimmy Cannon, who inspired me in many ways, including his legendary columns titled “Nobody Asked Me, But.”
Myth: You must be a good writer to write a helpful book. The Truth: Plenty of help is available.
Writing a book is a process of thinking, drafting, evaluating, and revising. It’s a collection of manageable tasks, and there are plenty of people who can help you.
The thinking must be yours, but coaches, editors, and ghostwriters can help you sharpen it. Pros can edit your writing, evaluate your manuscript, and help you focus your efforts.
Bottom Line: If you’ve got solid ideas based on your experience and unique perspective, you can become the author of a book that helps you and your readers.
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Human beings don’t do perfection. Our brains aren’t big enough to plan perfectly, and besides, the Universe and other people get a vote in how things work out. That’s a good lesson for writers, parents, and just about everyone.
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There’s a lesson for us in those round, red things that the supermarket labels tomatoes. They’re not like the tomatoes that come out of my garden or that I buy at a nearby farm. Those things in the supermarket have been “optimized” for shelf life and transportation. The tomatoes I love have none of that. Oh, they’re not so pretty. Just compare a Cherokee Red with a supermarket “tomato.” But they taste great and have good texture. Those things in the supermarket are what happens when you tinker with natural things. Sure, those supermarket tomatoes are pretty, and they can be transported easily. They last longer on the shelf. But they taste like sawdust.
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It’s the Microwave Age. We want results as fast as possible. Give your writing the time it needs to be good.
Good writing takes time. You need large blocks of uninterrupted time.
For most people, that means working for about 50 minutes and then taking a break for about 20 minutes. One client of mine who uses the Pomodoro method for other work schedules his writing in Pomodoro sessions. He works for 25 minutes, then he takes a 5-minute break.
Figure out what works for you, but give your writing the time and attention it needs to be good.
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A first draft is only the larval form of a book. A lot still must happen before it can soar.
That’s it for me for now.