Writing a book isn't hard. You sit down and place words on a blank screen or paper; and you do so until you can write 'the end' or 'until tomorrow' or whatever version of the last words you want to use at the very back. This can take days, weeks, or years, even in some cases hours. But writing the book isn't the hard part. It will never be. The hard part is putting yourself into the situations you'll have to endure to grow those first words. All writing requires is that you sit down and write. But growing a book requires looking at yourself and your work under lights and circumstances that will be uncomfortable.
It's often the impulse of a new writer to try and grow their writing before they've finished the book. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Early into learning something we often grow quickly, and find faults in our past works even while we are still working on them. While this can quickly get out of hand, resulting in a never-ending loop of re-doing work that was previously done, going back --- especially in the early stages --- can be healthy. It shows improvement, and a hunger to be better.
It is important to remember when writing to stop looking back at a point, at least while you are in the drafting phase of a project. Forge ahead even when your feet feel unsteady because you can always rebuild the bridges you crossed in art. That is something that is truly amazing about art. Be those words, or painting, or sculpting, you may always try again, you may always alter the past in a way. The same bridge you crossed gripping the rope tightly and hoping to make it to the other side alive, may one day be the steadiest thing you have ever stepped foot on. It is all about what you do later.
The hardest part of creating a book, is the growing process. Taking the manuscript, roughly scribbled with little care of prose choices or half thought out ideas and crafting it one sentence at a time to be something better. It is an uncomfortable process to stare not only at the perceived failure of a first draft but at yourself and what it was you want or wanted to say. Each word you write is an extension of yourself. It does not matter how carefully or uncarefully that piece was chosen. It sit on the page, glowering at you. A spot on what should be a polished piece.
It takes time, and a trust in process, and a significant amount of discipline to grow a book. From the drafting process, to allowing the first exterior eyes to see it, to hearing the criticisms of others, to polishing the last words, to never feeling as if it is truly finished.
That is another part of the process, harder than simply writing it, is letting it go. Finally allowing the world at large to see it. Be whatever comes, crickets, praise, or venom. It will always be a painful, grueling process to grow and finally release a book to the world. Especially if it is part of you, if you have spent so much time and effort into it.
But hold onto hope, because it is art. And you may always start again.
You will always be learning, growing.
Growing, is the hard part. But it is also, the most exciting part as well.
- Until Tomorrow!
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