Michelangelo created masterpieces by choosing blocks of Italian Carrera marble and studying each one until he saw what form or shape was captured inside. Once he “saw” that pattern, he used his hammer and chisel with powerful or delicate blows until the imprisoned masterpiece was released.
Writing is like that. The inspiration for stories often comes easily enough, but they do not write themselves. Thomas Edison said, “Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” Author Lucky Stevens adapted that to say, “Writing is 10% inspiration,90% perspiration and 50% procrastination.” According to author friends and my own experience, that’s closer to the truth. Of course, part of the procrastination is social media and marketing time, but we’d all like to be more efficient at that in more time-effective ways.
Humorist Mark Twain said, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” It’s good to laugh.
I’m loving the fun process of having my novel, Books Afloat, released which brings me more brand new learning experiences. I’ve loved having wonderful friends even in other nations be book models showing photos of themselves reading my first book baby. If I knew nothing about Books Afloat, just seeing their photos would make me want to read it.
That kind of interest builds momentum for coming books. I’m writing Book 2 now and eventually, there will be a third. I know a few things these zany characters are up to, but when I sit at my computer, I discover more. One character reforms and a few succumb to love interests against a tense background of WWII’s warring ideologies largely played out again among colorful Columbia River residents.
Writing books takes more time than I guessed. It is hard work that produces perspiration, but at the same time, it produces fun.
What is your personal favorite creative process? What short-cuts do you use to reduce perspiration but increase fun?
If you’ve read Books Afloat, who is your favorite character and why? Who do you want to see more of in coming books?
BIC–Backside in Chair, preferably typing… 🙂 Great post!