Inspired to write?
They say everyone has a book in them – don’t they? Actually most of us have far more than one book stored up in there. So that’s a certain under statement if ever I heard one.
The problem is few of us can be bothered to write the flipping thing. Actually, that’s probably not a bad thing as the market would be flooded with literary pieces, indeed some would say it already is.
Apparently 20 new titles were published in the UK every hour in 2014, making it the leading country in the world with more books per capita than any other. That figure does not include self published titles which now have a significant market share.
‘Cultural vitality or publishing suicide?’ Asked one leading literary agent last year. Of course this year’s figures are not yet known but are predicted to be similar.
A very interesting and informative article in the Guardian last year tells all.
Meanwhile, I wonder how many more books have been written and are left on that proverbial slush pile? Rejections, well there by lies a story.
They say it takes anything between, 4 – 10 years to get recognised as an author.
And, there are so many interesting and famous cases out there of successful writers who had tons of rejections before someone took a chance on them. The story behind JK Rowling is well known, who said she received constant negativity and at least 12 rejections for Harry Potter before she finally struck a publishing deal. It’s hard to believe that one leading publisher actually told her not to give up the day job. To mention just a couple more – Anne Frank’s Diary was rejected 15 times, Margaret Mitchell’s – Gone with the Wind 38 times and Beatrix Potter gave up and self published. So the list goes on.
With certainty writing is a challenge. It’s hard work and can become soul destroying. It can nevertheless be therapeutic, empties the thoughts from ones head and just may go on to be a sensation.
The fact is having the desire, the inspiration and some would say the time to give it a go.
Time? Well that’s questionable. It’s unbelievable how much time we all waste doing nothing. Yes we do. I suspect each and every one of us could gain another 10 hours per week if we made some lifestyle changes.
There’s by lies a challenge.
And – about the writing, when are you starting? Write the story that needs to be told. Write the book that wants to be written. If only to get it out of your own head.
If you don’t like someone’s story, write your own.
Don’t wait for inspiration, go after it.
Just write, anything, stuff, nonsense. Allow it to flow.
You will get it eventually.
Chat soon
Anna
