Write Better? Write As If You Have No Time Left to Live
75I never hear of anyone talk about the end of their lives the way one of my friends does. She seems to have it down to and art. So, finally I asked, why this thinking and brooding about "the end." Her response made me think. It made me wonder why I'm sitting on the fence, and not publishing a book again.
"When I Die, when it's the end, my legacy will already be established, so I need to think of the end before I can think about the beginning. Everyone thinks about the beginning not many think about the end, and It's more vital than the other. What I give now, means my legacy is in creating something for others."
So, My legacy... Well, I never thought about the end, to much to think about before the end, right? I'll have time to improve my writing, publish that book, read more books, get into a more powerful writing form. Or do I? So, here's a Quick Question and My Answer.
I have six months to live: What To Do?
Write A Piece with all the Passion I have left Within my Soul.
Spend more time with my Family.
Publish My Three non-fiction Books, At that point it wouldn't matter how or why but I would need to get it done.
Read My Top 10 books I've always wanted to read.
Write, Write and Write, and thereby Improve My Writing.
Observe and Write about Others.
Make Certain that the money I have is safe for my family. So in other words, will, legal forms and anything else.
Laugh More and Love more and write about it.
Of course this would be my legacy: Love and Joy and abit of Great Writing or at least a part of it.
So why talk about legacy? Why mention it if you have limited time?
Because as humans we all want to be remembered and to be admired or at least have one person who truly cares about us. My own thinking leads me to believe that no matter what stage we are at in our writing, we want to be better. We want to be beloved by others. I suspect that is human nature.
Since I read a lot of books I've found a common theme within each: acceptance.
My legacy is about my writing and my family. In the end, for me at least these two are the most important things in my life, and that is why I decided on my list. I can say money is great but... That's really not everything.
What About you?
Does Thinking About the End Help you Write Better?
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Comments
I've read many times that we should first picture the end result and focus totally on it without doubt and hesitation. By doing this our minds will be open and more aware to the things that will make that end result possible. I guess being a Marine and the other things in life has always made me aware of how my death would affect others and what they would have to say about me. Then losing three family members and my fiancee in less then a year really made me aware of just how suddenly and quick death can be, so I say more, feel more, and aspire for more. Maybe its me trying to live the life they no longer can, or just that I don't want to leave this world with regrets. Now I find my uncle has cancer and it is rapidly getting worse. Time is running out, so while we can we should live our lives as if today was our last and always make sure that there is life in every breath, because the next could be the last.
I've spent most of my adult life wasting one opportunity after another, hurting people and hurting myself. I don't want to die a loser with a legacy of pain. So now everything is in high gear like life has the volume on full blast. I'm behind schedule and have a lifetime of good living to catch up on.
Great hub! The concept defintely makes you take a moment and think. I think I'd throw myself into writing with a fury in hopes of finishing my book (finally). Thanks for the food for thought!
The older one is the more natural your idea is. When you get into your 70's it goes without saying.
Let's get cracking, Rebecca! Nothing worthwhile is ever easy and t's never too soon to do something worthwhile. Thanks for lighting the fire underneath all of us ;)
I'm going through this now. Not much time left I fear.
This is a very interesting point of view Rebecca...we definitely won't have anything to leave to posterity if don't get down to it now! :)
life is precious we all have one life to live, onwards and upwards, and to our books... and our legacies.
True words.
Very interesting article. Very helpful in writing. God Bless You
Wonderful, wonderful hub, I really enjoyed reading it, Thank you so much for sharing it. Godspeed, creativeone59
It's a good thought Rebecca. I have family going through some serious illness and we are all worried about her. It brings your message home clearly. And maybe makes me do a double take.
Very thought provoking. What will my legacy be?
Great hub! I love the quote from your friend about the beginning, the end, and the legacy! Thinking about the end really puts things in perspective.
yes it does, and that changed my writing so much.
Your hub reminded me of what someone once said, "If you choose one end of the stick, you've chosen the other." I love the "To Do" list. Thank you.
that is so true Gicky Soriano, so very true.
A few months ago I asked myself the same question: What if I only have 6 months to live? The answers shuttered me to the core and I changed my life for the better.What an interesting article!
this is so true when we ask teh hard question we get some amazing answers.
SimeyC says:
4 weeks ago
Very interesting concept - writing as if you have nothing to lose - would definately make my writing different!