The Two Most Important Things About Writing a Book

1. Start it
2. Finish it

It's awful to see it pointed out like that. But it's really all we need to know. Unfortunately, these are also two of the hardest parts of writing a book.

We talk about getting started. And talk, and talk, and talk. And then get up to check on the dust bunnies in the corner. Or refill our coffee. Or do some stretches. Because it's important that we take care of ourselves while we're Not Writing. Ooops.

We tell ourselves we're "getting started". It's a process, after all. Then we sit back down, and well, we better check Twitter, and Goodreads, and our email, and it probably wouldn't hurt to check the blog stats while we're at it. Stats? Almost forgot to see how things are doing on Amazon and Smashwords. It's best to clear all of those distractions from our minds so we can get going on our WIP, or those pesky revisions that have been haunting us since the dawn of time.

And then it's time to start the whole "getting ready" cycle again.

Or maybe we're really good at starting a book. And then starting another one. Maybe we have tons of books we've started, but they languish on the hard drive, desperate for our attention. But we can't be bothered, because we've been lured into starting yet another book.

The finish line keeps getting farther and farther away, because we're too worried about making the book perfect, and if we finish it imperfectly, we won't be able to handle the disappointment. Somehow it's easier to convince ourselves the regret of never finishing a story is better than the anguish of finishing one that will need revision.

Fear makes us run away from what we desire the most.

So what's the answer?

I am as good at avoiding and procrastinating as the next writer. In fact, I've practically made a religion out of Not Writing. The funny thing is I get itchy and twitchy when I can't write, or when I haven't written for a while. Once I do get started, I'm enthralled and obsessed and entranced and don't ever want to stop. I'll forget to eat. The sun goes down without me realizing it. I'm totally lost in this world that I was trying to steer clear from.

I have to sit myself down every once in a while and remind myself why I write. I love my stories. I love my characters. I also want readers to love them. But they can't if I won't finish my stories and share them.

So that is my motivational tool today, reminding myself of the exhilaration I experience when I hear someone say they love my book. That's what I'm using to get myself undistracted from all the shiny toys on the internet, and finishing all the stories that make me laugh and sniffle happy tears and have me falling headlong into love all over again.

Hopefully I'm not the only one.

Comments

[Quantum]

Just as an athlete prepares his body, you have to prepare your mind before performing.
All the procrastinating instincts are just your subconscious letting you know that you're not quite ready.

Some may brood in the bath, others spend hours at Starbucks doodling on napkins, and I go walking on the hills near my home. It's all part of the pattern of preparation.

When you are ready and get to the start line, Wham! The adrenaline spurts and you spin into another dimension.

Yep. I recognise all of this!

And Donna, I adore all of your wonderful heroines! *smile*

[Donna Cummings]

Q, I agree about preparing the mind before performing. I just have to make sure I don't get stuck in "preparation mode". LOL That has happened. Once or twice. A day. :)

And thanks for the compliments on my heroines. You've just made their day! Now the ones you haven't seen are begging to be written. You're a great motivator. :)

[Britt]

I actually read this yesterday, but I wasn't logged in so I didn't want to make a comment. However, I made sure to come back because I just had to tell you that this blog post was 100% what I needed to hear/read/etc! I've been working on the same story for a while now, and I keep prolonging finishing it because I'm just so flippin’ terrified of, well... EVERYTHING.
So this post was really what I needed - kind of like looking for a lamp post and somehow you've found that you walked right into it without seeing it there. That's me right now. I need to accept my fear and move on and finish the stinking story, I mean I'm only pages away but I keep procrastinating like crazy.
So I guess what I'm trying to oh-so-eloquently say is: THANK YOU.

[Donna Cummings]

Britt, thank you so much. I'm glad it helped you. Actually, your comment came at just the right time for ME. I wonder sometimes if I'm yammering away with these posts, in a self-indulgent fashion, so it's great to hear that it actually makes a difference to someone. :) Thanks for that.

I know precisely how fear can stop us in our tracks. It does it in so many different sneaky ways too. Once we figure out what it does, it changes methods, and then we have to be on guard against another sneak attack.

There's an exhilaration that comes with finishing a story that's like nothing else. And just keep batting away the fear. It won't go away completely. But it feels awesome to get the best of it once in a while!

[Melissa]

Yay! I'm so glad you have started, finished, and shared your stories, Donna!

It IS exhilerating to start. I think the intent to share is a big part of why it's so exciting. In the beginning, I don't think about how long it's going to take. It feels like sharing is right around the corner.

The in-between can be exhilerating too, but it requires a lot more bravery. Somewhere in those middle scenes is where I think a writer can feel most alone and reach out for the distractions. Because this is when it sinks in that it really is going to take a long time before we can share.

I know I feel like sometimes, even in the aftermath of a string of good day of writing, that it's kind of like that saying, "if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" It's like I've been the only one in the forest to hear the great things the characters have thought and done and I wonder how meaningful what I've written is without witnesses.

Writing is wonderful and solitary. But we just believe that the characters don't care over much that we're their only fan for a long while, eventually the sharing is inevitable, right? :)

[Melissa]

Eeek..I'll give you an "s" and an "if" to fill in the blank with my missing letters and words. LOL!

[Donna Cummings]

Thanks, Melissa. :) And thanks for sharing your reviews of my books -- I really appreciate that.

What an excellent point about the middle part of the story. That really is where it gets scary, like you've lost your trail of breadcrumbs and it's getting dark and you don't know which direction to go. LOL It does require a good bit of bravery to keep going.

And you're right about wondering how much the words mean when we, as the writer, are the only witnesses to their creation. That's when it's tough to keep at it, but boy is it worthwhile when we do. :)

No worries about the errant letters! You had such great points -- nobody noticed they weren't where they were supposed to be. LOL