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1/14/2008 3:02:44 PM
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Writing, What Holds You Back?
Trina L.C. Sonnenberg
I once heard a saying that goes something like: There is
at least one book in everyone's head, waiting to get out. I know that for
me, there is more than one.
If this saying is true, what holds people
back from getting that book out of their head and on paper?
I can't speak
for anyone other than myself, so I will tell you what has kept me from the task
of writing and publishing a book.
First of all, it takes time to
write a book. It takes time and concentration, something I've always seemed to
be in short supply of, being a mother of two. Concentration being harder to come
by than time for sure. It is extremely difficult to string words together, that
make sense, when one is constantly hearing, "Mom!" being screamed from the next
room.
The next obstacle I came upon was my lack of confidence that
anyone would want to read what I could write. I mean, I am not Hemingway, Frost,
or King, so what makes me think that anyone, other than those close to me, would
want to read my work? That's stinkin' thinkin' for you.
So, how do you
overcome these barriers? Just do it! Write! Damn the torpedoes and full steam
ahead. Really, that is the only way. Don't pre-judge your audience by wondering
if your work is worthy of being read. Let readers be the judge. You can't have
those unless you let someone read.
Network marketers should understand
that remark. One of the things that I learned right off the bat, in marketing,
is that you should never decide ahead of time, who would be interested; assume
that everyone is interested. For example, just because someone doesn't drive
does not mean they aren't interested in cars. Additionally, a person who adores
horses may not be a candidate to own one.
When it comes to the time and
concentration issue, well one must improvise. The book that I just recently published took
twenty-seven years to complete. I wrote poetry! However, I know now that
to advance as a writer, one absolutely must write every day. I suggest keeping a
journal. Take 15 minutes out of your hectic day, grab a beverage, and sit down
and write about your day. No, making a chronology in list form is not
acceptable. Express yourself.
For many years, I've been a successful editorialist
online. However, when it came to the book writing thing, I was putting my energy
into marketing related information, not the poetry I'd written, or
the novel and short stories in my head. What I had written, but not published
was immensely more personal than that. I admit, I was chicken.
My focus
shifted when I found myself without an income. While I sat fretting about the
situation, my husband lovingly pointed out that I should publish what I'd
written. So, I did. It was scary, but I am very satisfied with the decision to
do it. I've had nothing but positive response, and I've made it to amazon.com!
If you don't think you can, you won't.
But... if you think you can, you should go for it!
Copyright © 2008 Trina L.C.
Sonnenberg
Author: My Journey, A Lifetime of
Verse...
ISBN:978-0-6151-6405-2
Keywords: writing, publishing,
poetry
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