Why we don't write

I'm getting ready for another crazy write-a-book-in-30-days stint like I did last year -- but no, this year I'm not going to write a daily blog post about the process. You can, of course, read all my back posts to see how I did it. (In fact, I'm going to read them to remind myself how I did it!)

Since I need to save every last word for the book, I asked my friend, purpose coach, and brother-in-law John Stanko if he'd guest post for me. John has published 12 books (many of which I've edited) and this week he sent the manuscript for his latest book, The Price of Leadership, to the publisher.

John is director of PurposeQuest and writes a blog called The Monday Memo. Here's what he blogged recently about creativity and the book-writing process...

Book Work
Guest post by John Stanko

Yesterday I sent my corrections and edits off for my new book, which is really a re-write of my old book, So Many Leaders, So Little Leadership. It will be out on July 15 under a new title, The Price of Leadership. This version is 50% larger than my first one, perhaps because I have a lot more to say about leadership than I did in 2001. In 2001, my book was more like a book report on what others had to say about leadership; this time I wrote more of what I think about leadership.

As I get ready to publish, I think it's time I write again about creativity, so that will be my focus for the coming weeks. For this week, here are some thoughts on writing and publishing for your reading pleasure.

• Many people don't write because they say they don't have time. You have all the time in the world -- 24 hours a day -- so it's what you do with that time that determines whether or not you write and create.
• Many times "I don't have time" is just an excuse to cover fear and doubt.
• It has been said that you don't produce a book, that a book produces you. There is some truth to that.
• Some don't write because they don't know who will purchase it. If you don't write it, no one will purchase it.
• Some don't write because they don't know who will publish it. If you don't produce it, no one will publish it for sure.
• Where creativity is concerned, Franklin Roosevelt was correct:  We have nothing to fear but fear itself!
• The idea that you need six to ten weeks of uninterrupted time to write is probably not realistic. You cannot stop your life to write, unless you are prepared to write full-time. Otherwise, you have to learn to write with the time you have available every day.
• If you write two pages a day, in four months you will have about 150 pages.
• Some don't write because they can't spell or don't trust their grammar. Hire an editor to correct that for you, but no one can write what's in your heart to say.
• If you want to write interesting things, you must do interesting things.

There are some thoughts as I wrap up this project on book number 13. I already know what I do for next year's book project, but for now I want to wait for the proofs on my changes and make sure this one gets finished up this week.

Do you have a creative project in you that has yet to be released?  Then join with me on this creative online review the next few weeks and let's see if we can't drill into your creative wells and see what we can bring to the surface. Have a great week!

You can read the rest of John's posts in his creativity series on his blog, The Monday Memo. You can also follow him on Twitter @JohnStanko. (I'm @DianaScimone.)

Meanwhile, keep writing your own book and let me know how it's going.

 

Comments

[Kent]

Hi Diana,

As I work on my own project(s) I'm looking forward to reading about yours. Dr. John's entry seposted above gave me a kick last week just where I needed it! I hope it does the same for your readers.

Kent

[construction equipment]

Regardless of the purpose, i myself wright and read others works to get some ideas.

[Book Publishing News]

Real writers don't write for recognition or fame or notoriety. ... Let's face it: we all have some mixed motives for wanting our content to be read by the masses.