The REAL Secret to Becoming a Writer
I bet if you asked a group of people in a room how many of them want to be writers, nearly 75% or more would raise their hands. Why? Because at some point in their lives a book has impacted the way they see the world and they want to do the same thing. That’s why I’m a writer. I want to create some of the magic that has changed my life.
There are millions of books, blogs, DVDs, seminars, webinars and such that tell people how they can become a writer. That’s great for them because those authors, speakers, and gurus will end up making out pretty good from their efforts. They just don’t want you to know the secret to becoming a writer because if you did know it you’d either stop wanting to be a writer or you’d do it and you wouldn’t need them.
THE SECRET TO BECOMING A WRITER IS…TO WRITE.
What? Are you kidding? You mean, people can’t just go to a seminar and become the next Stephen King or J.K. Rowling? Nope. Nada. Not even close.
It’s hard work. It’s lonely work. It’s infurating work. Writing every day for at least 3-6 hours a day…even when you feel like crap and when you feel like the best thing you can write is, “Here is a sentence I wrote.” I know because I am learning this the hard way. I’m learning this by sitting at my computer farting around on Facebook when I should be writing. I’m learning this when I crank out something magical then go back and look at it only to realize that it stinks worse than a dirty diaper sitting in the sun for 10 hours.
While the secret to becoming a writer is to write, there is also plethora of junk writers have to do to become a published writer. Then after that, there is even more to do to actually sell what you’ve published. After that, you need to keep on selling to even make enough money to buy a stick of gum. Then you’ve got to start working on your next project or else you’ll lose your window of opportunity because now you’ve got 1,000 people following you on Twitter and they keep tweeting you asking you to get your next book done.
There are approximately 1,287,546,009 reasons why those people who raised their hands when you asked who wants to become writer should not do so. Run away. Never look back. Don’t even try. Yet, you still do.
It’s the magic that is really the true secret, the REAL secret. It’s what brings us back to the keyboard and the empty page every time. Let’s NEVER forget that.
What about you? What book truly rocked your world and shared the magic with you? Please share in the comments below.
[Image courtesy of www.FreeDigialPhotos.net]
