Working in a library has given me a whole new perspective on books and writing. Every day I’m surrounded by books. There are shelves of them staring at me. They stack up in the book drop. They come to my check out counter. They end up on my desk for mending. The new ones wait for me to move them from “in process” to their new home on a shelf.
Sometimes, my head just spins. Author after author. Some so prolific they need a shelf all to themselves. Others are one hit wonders. I look at the titles and think that each one is the result of so much research, experience and creativity. So many titles!
When I’m shelving the fiction books, I’m always amazed at the stories. With such a vast array of authors and stories, it seeems that there would be no more stories to be told.
As I prepare new books to come into the world, I smile a little bit. I research the bib information and see the author’s name and picture and I think, “Good on you, mate.” For the non-fiction books I’m astounded every day at the subject ideas and the catchy titles. And yes, I do a lot of, “Man, I wish I’d have thought of that.”
So here’s my point. This blog is about writing. I write about getting published. I write about writing and the importance of passion and inspiration. The common backdrop – even if unspoken – is the idea and thought of the Holy Grail: Getting a book published. For most aaspiring writers, the thought just makes us giddy. We’ve put this worthy goal on a pedestal and each day we light incense, face Mecca and do a little hula dance, hoping an agent/editor/publisher will take heed.
Here’s my advice: Calm down. It’s only a book.
Oh, I know that is so very flippant. Blood, sweat, tears poured into the darned thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. But I think that we make such a big deal out of it that we can short circuit its fruition. We get so jacked up about every detail, every nuance, that we can actually stifle the ability to make our dream come true. We take short cuts, or maybe we spend so much time reading about how to get published that we never take the time to just think of it as a job that needs to get done.
When I see so many books coming through the doors of my library, I know there is room for mine. I know that publishers are printing books. I know that by doing my job as a writer it will come.
I’m reminded of a line from Star Wars where Han directs Chewbacca to fly past a Star Destroyer while keeping his distance. “But don’t look like you’re keeping your distance. I don’t know. Fly casual.”
So how about you? Are you willing to fly casual?
A side note. I found out today that a very good friend of mine had her blogging site nominated as a Top 10 Writing blog. Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is the owner of Quips and Tips for Successful Writers and it i one of my fav writing sites. Would you please consider going to http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/08/13/nominate-your-favorite-writing-blog-4th-annual-top-10-blogs-for-writers-contest/ and giving her a vote? Thank you!
George, I’ve read some great posts on your blog (and you already know the huge impact on me of the first one I ever read here) but this is a CLASSIC.
I don’t want to analyze my pleasure by saying more right now. I just love every paragraph and that’s what I know!
.-= milliverstravels´s last blog ..Think Globally, Travel Locally =-.
Forgot to mention how perfect the image is for this post. Fun choice! Plus it really helps make your point.
.-= milliverstravels´s last blog ..Think Globally, Travel Locally =-.
Hi Milli!
(It’s SO good to be back)
I’m glad you liked the post. This is one of my lessons that I am applying to myself and my writing.
Deep breaths – in through the nose, slowly out through the mouth. Repeat.
Cheers
George
This is so true, George. I think there comes a time when us writers have to simply have enough confidence in ourselves and our writing, that we just step away, stop studying so hard, and just let our creative juices flow. We are, after all, born to write! Right?
.-= Michele | Writer’s Round-About´s last blog ..How to Find the Courage to Sell Yourself =-.
Michele,
Born to write is absolutely right!
You’ve got it going on, Michele.
Georgge
LOL – Thanks, George!
.-= Michele | Writer’s Round-About´s last blog ..How to Find the Courage to Sell Yourself =-.
This is absolutely WONDERFUL advice. When I was writing my first (and so far only) book, I spent WAY too much time battling my inner deamons and not enough time just enjoying the process.
My mother-in-law works in a library but she’s not a writer. Her perspective is SO MUCH different than yours -which is probably one of the reasons why we “readers” love to read. We get a chance to see the world through the author’s eyes for a couple of hundred pages.
.-= Kathy | Virtual Impax´s last blog ..What Michael Jackson can teach business about social media… =-.
Hi Kathy,
Hey, thanks for dropping by! I still wage war with those inner demons too. Tough little hombres, aren’t they?
I’ll bet a non-writer has a different perspective working in a library. I’m still kinda giddy when I go to work, thinking about all of the books!
George
“But don’t look like you’re keeping your distance. I don’t know. Fly casual.”
Are you trying to say with that quote that grammar isn’t important? Certainly it didn’t hold Lucas back from that line.
Seems like a nice quiet job – librarian.
Hey Steven,
Oh no, nothing like that at all. I was making a point about not taking it all too seriously…
Cheers
George
i must have gotten the memo a long time ago because i’m flying waaay to casual.
.-= Natural´s last blog ..Herstory In the Making =-.
OK, Nat.
You are cleared for flight level two-three-zero. Descend and maintain.
George
Omigosh, George, you’re amazing. THANK YOU for the note at the end of your post about Quips & Tips for Successful Writers! What a lovely man you are.
I volunteer at my local library every Saturday, and I find it hugely inspirational. You summed it up perfectly; and if those writers can do it time after time, so can we! It IS “just a job” — that’s something I learned over and over last year at the Surrey Writer’s Conference. Those published authors kept talking about the JOB of writing, which really helped me see writing as a career….not just a dream.
And, I love that you see those books and see room for your own
Thanks, my friend!
Laurie
.-= Laurie PK´s last blog ..Quips and Tips From J.K. Rowling =-.
Hey Laurie.
Cheers, my friend. Quips and tips totally rocks and deserves to be in the top ten.
George
You’re right, it’s important not to get too hung up on the idea of getting published before you’ve written the blasted thing. It’s very easy to do that though and I’ve met many writers who get carried away at even the slightest thing.
In fact, I’m having to go through that same ‘calming down’ process myself at the moment. Having got an agent for my novel, the temptation is to crack open the champagne and start celebrating. But really, I know that would be very stupid, particularly in the current climate.
Until I have a signed, sealed delivered contract from a publisher, I’m going to do my best to ‘fly casual’.
Hi Iain,
Here’s to flying casual, my friend.
Congrats on securing an agent – champagne or no, it’s a step worth recognizing, so… Cheers!
George
Pingback: Flashback Monday - Thesis Header, Wordpress Updates, And Internet Withdrawal