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Motivation For Writers
You Know Who You Are
“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
This is written for all of you who have a book inside of you begging to be set free. This is for all of you who have dreamed about writing but never allowed yourself the freedom to do so. This is for all of you who have a story to tell but lack the confidence to tell it. I only have one question for all of you.
What Are You Waiting For?
Allow me to tell you a little about myself. I am sixty-four years old and I am a writer. I know I am a writer because I write. I have a passion for writing and I have a never-ending thirst and hunger for writing. I do not need accolades to continue my writing for in fact I have few of those. I could cover my walls with rejection slips from agents and publishers, so I obviously do not need affirmation to continue writing. I have received very little money from writing, so I obviously do not need rewards to continue writing.
I write because writing feeds my heart and soul. I write because I cannot imagine not writing, and when the day comes when I can write no longer, I do not want to look back over the landscape of my life and regret not finishing that last story that was in me, screaming to be unchained and released.
So what is your excuse?
Excuses Are Many Are They Not?
It has been a fascinating experience being a part of the HubPages community. I have had the opportunity to meet and form friendships with some remarkable writers who also happen to be remarkable human beings. Many of them have the same hunger for writing that I have.
Some, however, have expressed in their comments that they have visions of writing a book, but they just haven’t done it yet for a variety of reasons. Some lack confidence. Some have been told they are no good at writing, and some have received very little in the way of positive affirmation. Yes, there are even those who are too lazy to proceed, and there are some who lack the organizational skills necessary to take writing seriously.
The reality of it all is that those are all excuses. They may be based on some validity, but they are still excuses that can be overcome.
My latest novel
- A Sneak Preview of My New Book: A Season For Killing
Chapter One of my new novel, which is still in the first-write stage.
A must own for any serious writer
Everyone Has a Book in Them
I have heard that often during my lifetime. We all have a book inside of us. I believe that statement to be true, because I think we are all interesting and complicated beings with our own unique set of experiences that could be told in some form. If not a book then certainly a set of stories, and those stories are waiting to be told. Will anyone find them interesting? I have no idea, but that really isn’t the point now is it? The point is that if you feel a desire to tell your story through writing then you really should tell your story. Nobody else can tell your story. You are unique, the only one of you ever created, and as such you are a priceless fountain of life that has never been experienced. Who better to tell your story than you, the one who lived it?
So I ask you again….what are you waiting for?
I had a neighbor who lived next door to us when I was a kid. He and his wife would have me over for cookies and milk when they saw me playing outside, and during those impromptu snacks I would hear about their lives. They had come to Washington in a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail, and the stories they had about wild Indians and herds of bison a million strong were fascinating to me as a child and are still fascinating to me as an adult fifty years later. Other than telling their story to me, I don’t think they ever shared it with others. I wrote about their lives in a short story called Sam’s Legacy because I believed that their story was important and it should be heard.
So, too, should your story be heard, and so I ask you again….
What are you waiting for?
Writers Create Reality
Think about that for a second. What a marvelous statement regarding what we do as writers. Through our words we create beauty. Through our words we create entertainment and through our words we educate and motivate. We have the power to lift up those who are dejected and lacking in hope, and we have the power to manufacture a world that has never been seen before. Seriously, how cool is that?
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Norman Vincent Peale
Good old Norman! He speaks the truth you know. I know a few writers on HubPages who do not believe in their abilities and I find it sad. I have read their works and they have talent, but they are lacking the fundamental belief that they are good enough to be a writer, and so their works become fewer and fewer and eventually we lose them and their dream dies. Yes, I find that sad.
The Difference Between Them and Us
I am going to make a statement right now that will have some people shaking their heads. I preface this by saying that I have been reading since I was what, five years old or younger? I have no idea how many books I have read, but it is easily in the thousands. I have read the Masters, the Hemingways and the Steinbecks, and I have read the non-Masters, those who churn out books that have very little redeeming value.
My statement is this: other than the Masters, those rare human beings who have abilities you and I can only dream about, there is very little difference between many of the published authors and the hundreds of thousands of unpublished authors.
I recently read a novel written by Michael A. Black, an author I had never heard of. It was his first novel and it was titled A Final Judgment. I have to tell you folks, it was pig dung. I see better writing on HubPages daily, and I am not exaggerating at all. I kept reading the book thinking that he would improve with time, but he didn’t. I was shocked that he had found a publisher, and I was even more shocked that he had four other novels published by the same publisher. What in holy hell was the publisher thinking?
My only conclusion is that Mr. Black was in the right place at the right time, a perfect convergence of time and place that resulted in his sophomoric efforts being published.
After my initial anger and shock I realized that if it can happen to Mr. Black it sure as hell could happen to me. Now Mr. Black is my writing hero. He stands for everything I believe in, most notably that we all have a story to tell and we all have unlimited possibilities that are waiting for us.
The only thing that remains to happen is for us to do the work and write.
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A Moment with Bill
Do you have a book inside of you?
So I Ask You Again
What are you waiting for? Remember, please, that there is no guarantee that tomorrow will get here for you. Unless you are related to the Man of Steel, you could be gone tomorrow and with you your story. People who think they are guaranteed tomorrow really should be writing fiction or fantasy, don’t you think?
I don’t want to hear any more excuses. I don’t want to hear about self-doubt or lack of support at home. I don’t want to hear the thousands of other reasons why you can’t do it. Just tell me how you are going to do it and when you are starting.
I’ll tell you the truth now, and I hope I don’t insult anyone. If you want to be a writer, and if you have always dreamed of writing a book, then I think it is selfish of you not to do so. We live in a world where ugliness surrounds us daily. It seeps into our daily lives and it threatens from time to time to override all the good that is in lives. How can you deny others the chance to read the creation that is inside of you, and thereby share some beauty? You have the ability to write words that will lift others up when they need it the most. You have the ability, through your words, to spread laughter, to spread wisdom and to spread empathy and compassion.
How can you deny others the chance to read your creation?
What the hell are you waiting for?
2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
Related
Comments
Bill, great hub. I love the way that you never condescend to us - you're just telling it like it is! I think I have a book to write - my recent delving into my family history has revealed an amazing past for one of my ancestors - truly, my family is amazed at what I discovered and I think I would like to learn more about his life and maybe fictionalise it. You have inspired me to at least give it a go - especially if Mr Black can make a buck or three with something you deem even less than mediocre!
I think I wrote THAT book and that is the one that failed. It was about living a good life as you age. Writing is a lot of things to me...Everyday that changes a bit. I do think there are a lot of Hubpage discouraged writers presently..and those seeing drop in income is not fun. Lots of eggs in other baskets. ANyway BIll you said it like it is..and lots of food for thought here..
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Julie, thank you. I will be visiting your new hub shortly. As for Mr. Black...I'm serious, the writing was extremely poor, and it gave me new inspiration. I think it would be fascinating to read about the ancestor that you discovered. Best of luck to you, and again, thank you.
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Carol, in my humble opinion, if you wrote a book then it did not fail. Writing a book is a huge accomplishment. As for HP writers and income, I now have 410 hubs and make a dollar a day. Food for discouragement or food for motivation? It's up to the individual writer and what they truly believe is important.
Thank you my friend and have a great weekend.
Billy,
All the time I hear voices inside me, and I want give proper words to those voices. I don't know when will those voices appear in a book, but I know I have a book inside me.
Life and living motivates me, I want to tell stories I see, hear and feel.
Dearest Bill,
I sincerely thank you for your continued motivational kicks in the hind end!!! I love what you have written about each one of us being unique, like no other, and we have very different experiences in each of our lives . . . there you go. I truly believe we should share what we have experienced in our lives with others, and writing is a great means in which to do that very thing no doubt!
I started writing that novel that is in me (waiting to get out) . . . now get this, and then start kicking my hind end . . . back in 1998!!!! I'm running now to avoid the big kick . . . LOL However, seriously, I know in my heart it starts out really good, but then came the dreaded writer's block, as it, the beginning draws one in, and I have an ending in my mind, but it is getting from point A to point B (the meat of the story), and making that transition so carefully is of the utmost importance.
I will try to just jot down ideas as they come into my mind in no particular order, maybe each day, even if for five minutes, and then at some point compile them into something that is worth reading. My desire is to not just write something to write something, but to really write something that will stand the test of time.
I also have always had in my mind to write a series of books for children, and just out of the blue, one of my sisters made that suggestion, and so I told her I have always thought about doing such
. . . so, here comes another kick. LOL I will start brainstorming and writing down my thoughts each day as to this too, and see where it leads me.
I appreciate your encouragement, which shows how much you care for others.
Voted up ++++ and sharing
Blessings and love, Faith Reaper
Well said! Or should I have said well written? Either way this is great advice. Voted AWESOME and useful. I should read this hub EVERY morning! THANK YOU!
Great words of encouragement Bill. You're absolutely right - What are you waiting for. For years (decades actually) I thought that I had a novel in me. I'm now 66, and I'm glad to say I'm seven chapters into it. Let those keystrokes fly! Russ
Oh dang. There goes my lazy, do nothing but fiddle on the computer Saturday.
Thanks Bill
Up and awesome.
Ouch. There goes my excuse. You are such a motivating force my friend. Seriously, I can hardly get a hub written these days so a book seems unlikely until I can quit work and do what I love. I know, it's just another excuse. lol Good job sir!
I love the pep talk here and I did it, but now I need to finish editing it!! Seriously, you are so right that we all do have a book inside of us just waiting to be written. I am loving proof and never dreamed I could actually write a whole book, but I did (still a bit shocked). Have voted way up and shared as always Bill. Hope you are having a great weekend so far!!
Boy, do you know writers. I love to write, its just something I do. Its a part of me. A book? I don't know but surely I could be Mrs. Black?
Your motivational hub and no holds barred approach just may get some of us writing a book! (Just think, if you keep this up you could make $2.00 a day!!!)
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.
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Vinaya, I wish you the best my friend, and hopefully that book will emerge soon. Best wishes to you my friend, and thank you.
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David....LOL....I should read this hub every morning. Thank you my friend; may that book rise out of you soon.
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Russ, well done my friend. Seven chapters is a wonderful beginning. Now let's see chapter eight soon. :) Thank you as always and have a great weekend.
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onegreen, I'm so sorry to have ruined your Saturday. LOL What are friends for, right? :) Enjoy your day!
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Kindred, I think work is a pretty valid excuse. Besides work, you are pretty busy saving the world. No wonder you haven't written that book yet. :) Thank you dear friend.
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Janine, bravo for writing that book. I'm sure there is another one in you that will emerge soon. Thanks as always and have a great weekend.
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Faith, when I was writing my novel, I had to take a six month break from it because I had hit a wall. I had no idea how to continue. Then, one day, six months later, the remainder of the book just came to me one morning. Six months after that it was published. Keep at it....take breaks if you need to....but get that book written. :) I have no doubt that you have an important message that needs to be told.
Thank you my dear. Have a great weekend and thank you for being the person that you are.
blessings and love, today and always,
bill
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Norman Vincent Peale
Oh how true as your hubs always are. I quote you now "I was born to write!!!" I also know that I was and my self confidence until now has been at zero !! However I have climbed and grown ;today I understand those voices inside ; today I believe in myself today I have four books published and today I know there are far more inside me.
When a little girl I won many writing competitions linked to my school. At home I was greeted with a "If yours won then the others must have been bad!!" followed by a derisive laugh.
However today I stand tall and I stand proud because I have made it and I will continue to write and write !To pass my message on ;to help others who have had their spirits temporarily quashed .
They can also rise above it all and shout out to the world "I have made it !!"
This is my calling forevermore ; to share and to inspire;through my writing in books or on here or from wherever else I may tell my story.
Thank you once again my dear friend for sharing your wise and strong message to the world.
Lots of love from my little corner of the world.
Eddy.
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Mary.....LOL...that's my dream, to hit the two dollar mark. LOL Seriously, you should read Mr. Black some day. It will be all the inspiration that you need to write a novel. I'm dead serious, the guy was horrible.
Have a great weekend Mary.
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Eddy, you said it perfectly my friend. This is my calling...to share and inspire. So many in the world need the message that you can deliver, and only you can deliver it in our style, and that is such a gift. Keep speaking your words and others will benefit from them.
Thank you for all that you do.
love and blessings, today and always
billy
You are truly motivational to hesitant and/or lazy writers, Bill, and the example of the hack writer who published several books certainly serves as a kick in the tush! As you've written in other hubs, "real" writers sit at the computer keyboard and write--every day--they don't just talk about it or wait for inspiration to strike.
Since I'm older than you--pushing 70--I need that kick in the tush and the reminder that I don't want my books to be buried with me unwritten.
I am now working on one novel, with a partially-finished one waiting in the wings to be delved into again and completed. I also have a play languishing that needs a total rewrite. I know that each is worthy of my time and effort, and I want the novels to be read, the play to be staged (even if it's only community theater or off-off-off-Broadway). I suppose these three projects are on my "bucket list."
Thanks again, friend, for bolstering my resolve and confidence!
Voted Up+++ and shared with other writers
Jaye
Hi Sir Bill
So Mr. Black writes Pig Dung. You really are too polite.
Do you have his number as I've just realised we've got something in common, ha.
I totally agree with you Bill that everyone has a book inside them and I'm no different but writing my book or books would only result in my being locked up, though I am totally convinced that it would cause many to laugh their heads off.
As I often say, I've never been to jail and I'm never going back.
As always Sir Bill you're an inspiration and highly valued member of the HP community.
P. S.
Regarding your opening statement. You are most definitely a writer and a damn good one. The fact that you know this is a good thing and very important.
I am trying to be a writer and I know this because I am trying, very trying. I have thousands who will testify to this.
I am a happy little camper,
Thanks again for the kick in the ass Sir Bill.
MJ.
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MJ, you are a walking, talking kick in the butt yourself. LOL I think there is a place in the writing world for anyone, like you, with such a wonderful, self-effacing sense of humor. We need desperately to laugh, so keep making us laugh. Thank you my friend. Say hi to my relatives in Ireland for me.
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Jaye, I love that you have at least three projects vying for your attention. As long as there is an idea in our brains and hearts, there is hope as a writer. I look forward to reading your final products.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am a teacher....and a writer....and a grateful one for sure. :)
I think, Bill, that those that want to do something, do it. I think excuses are really just another way of politely saying "I don't really want to." When human beings are motivated, they act. Otherwise, many spend a good deal of time saying what they think sounds noble, or grand or admirable or what they think someone else wants to hear. Sincerity translates into action. Bullshit never does.
I do a lot of things for others. But, when it comes to what I want to do, in the time left, it is only what I really want to do. The time must right, the motivation my own and then, and only then, I get it done. Life is full of unexpected roadblocks, treacherous turns and detours, but the most important aspects of each individual's life, are tended to. Everyone is busy, but books are still written, songs still sung, films are produced and paintings created. Not one of the authors, producers, songwriters or artists are perfect. In fact, many do battle with addictions or one sort or another. Yet, they are productive at their craft, because they want to do it. How many addicts try to kick their self-destructive addiction how many times before they realize they don't really want to? It's not a matter that they 'can't; they haven't truly committed to the decision yet. Until they recognize the addiction is destroying their life and those they love, usually when they have no other choice than to see there is no other way, are they really ready to begin the process of living free. The addict must WANT to live differently. Part of human nature is procrastination, excuses and blaming, But, if we want something badly enough, we figure out the only way to get it done is to 'just do it.'
Haha 'Kick in the backside' gratefully received. I have been thinking about publishing a book for a while now. I guess it's time I stopped thinking and started doing.
Thanks for the much needed pep talk
Have a lovely weekend
Great article. You are the master of motivation! I hope you inspire writers to move forward and take action in their lives! Thanks, Bill!
I came over to say hi because I missed you...seriously. I know I have not been around much...just had severe writer's block and could not promote works of others because ...well, for many reasons. Until I started at hub pages, I rarely read other than magazines or online. I have always had problems absorbing info that I have read. I did not enjoy it because of ADD and boredom (sorry to say). But, I started to enjoy reading a little more on HP and enjoyed getting to know all of you! / You asked many times in your piece, "What are you waiting for?" Well, I have a project going...whatever it turns into is anyone's guess. I think it may become a book :) Thank toy for writing a piece that coincidentally was published here as I was beginning my project. It was a great read :)
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Rosemay, it is my pleasure. Often pep talks like this one are with me in mind. :) Thank you and good luck with that book.
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Kathryn, I just think it would be a shame to go to our graves with that book still inside of us. It's not like we'll get a second chance. :) Thank you my friend and I hope you are having a great weekend.
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Audra, you will always be one of my favorite Hubbers. You understand what struggles are all about, and until someone truly struggles they really can't understand with empathy the struggles of others. You have my respect and I don't give it out often. Keep working on that project and I hope to hear more about it.
Love ya Dear fiend...sincerely :)
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Thank you Audra! My love to you as well.
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Amy, if I didn't know better I would say I was speaking in an AA meeting but no, I'm in my studio reading your wise words about addiction and willingness. You are right on all counts. Procrastination drives me crazy and yet I understand it. Fear drives me crazy and yet I understand it. Why? Because I have lived both, and only when I had run out of choices did I make the decision to fight both of them.
Thank you as always my dear.
bill
Thank you for the very encouraging and motivating hub, Bill.
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My pleasure, Alicia! Thank you!
Not everybody wants to write a book, but we want to reach people and tell them that there is much to do. Love your neighbor, give to the needy, and be happy..Cheers..
Yes you are right, we have to share the talent that God has bestowed upon us. If we can make a difference with our writings then we should write and publish our works in some form or other. Another great write. Voted up.
Bill...you are a great inspiration to me and so many others. You have amazing talent and deserve to have great things happen to you. I have a book in me...and it's being written here on HubPages...I'll have it a chapter at a time and combine it all at a later time...right now I don't which of my stories will become a book, I just know that one or more will!
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I agree, Ruby, not everyone wants to write a book. I'm just speaking to those who do but seem to find an excuse daily not to do it. I think that's a shame. You, on the other hand, do wondrous things with your writing and I applaud you for your caring nature.
blessings my friend,
bill
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Vellur, I just want those who have a book in them to do it. Time is running out for all of us, and it would be a shame if that book was never written. Thank you my friend.
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Teacher, you are too kind, but thank you. I just want to be a source of support for those who might be struggling. As for your book, I know you have one in you and I look forward to the day when you publish it.
Aye, aye captain and full speed ahead. You sure know how to motivate Bill. Actually I'll let you in on a little secret. This may uncover the truth about Mr. Black. I have had a book published but it was published by a publisher in N.Y.C. who makes you pay for getting that book out there. It of course, the book that is, never got anywhere and I am not surprised. It was pure drivel. However interesting drivel and perhaps I will redo it it and do it right this time or take a completely different road. I haven't decided yet. Surprisingly this book came out before PCs and it has shown up on the Internet. lol Don't know if it still is now. It's title - Haunted Love by Rasma Raisters. Actually I think if it is still out there it should get a proper burial and then I can decide what to do next. Passing your inspirational hub on.
Thank you for this.Though this was probably not for me. Over 500 hubs and 4th book due out next week.
Billybuc, thank you for that very intense piece of motivation!
Hi Bill. I have never considered writing a book. Doesn't mean that someday I won't give it a go. You certainly know how to motivate us. Thank you for planting the seed. Who knows when it will sprout. Have a great Sunday.
"I know I'm a writer because I write." That is such a simple, but I think the most powerful statement that a writer can make. That can block out all the negative messages we may have gotten or we may have invented ourselves.
You are so correct when you look a some of the work that gets published. I am continually amazed.
Thank you for the motivational kick in the pants. The book becomes a part of my list today.
I always love what you write. Take care.
Inspiring and persuasive as usual sir! A must read for all of us indeed... we surely are gifted,arent we? then we better make use of it!
thank you once again for the wonderful writing :)
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Rasma, that is a great story. I don't know about Mr. Black. To his credit, I read his second novel and it was improved....but still. You or I could have written it and been ten times better without really trying.
Good luck with your book; maybe a little tinkering would help it immensely.
Thank you my friend.
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Martin, I'm guessing you don't need this advice. LOL
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Ryem, just a little nudge in the right direction. Best of luck to you and thank you.
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Bill, I do understand that not everyone has a book in them, or has the desire to write a book. I'm just concerned about those who say they want to write a book but never try to do it. Life is too short my friend. :) Thank you!
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Cyndi, you are very sweet to say that. I hope you write a book some day. It carries with it a great sense of accomplishment, and I think that is very important for a writer.
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Shruti, I like that....we surely are gifted! Yes we are, so let's use our gift and create a legacy in a book. :) Thank you!
Very inspiring hub! You are so right, we all have a book inside of us to be written and we all have great stories to be told. Tommorrow is not promise to us, now is the time to start. I was always told the riches place on earth was the graveyard because a lot of people went to there grave with there music still playing , never becoming the person they wanted to become because their lives was cut short. Now is the time to shine and make it happen.
Thanks for your positive information!
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catmalone, wouldn't that be a shame to die and only have accomplished 20% of what we were capable of? Now that is a depressing thought. :)
Thank you for the visit.
Just the kick-star I needed to regain my discipline and finish my book that I placed aside for several weeks. (Time, work and family obligations are competitors - but only if I allow this to take over evreything.) I love the inspiring and tough-love stance and the pragmatic message. Thank you, dear Billy! :-)
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Genna, you can always count on me for tough love. LOL I'm glad this helped, and thank you and good luck with that book.
I love it. Sharing with others humor, the beauty of life, and that which is important to all of us. I would give my soul to have a birding column in te local paper. The editor is not even local...
I am going to go cry for awhile then get to work. Pig dung, is such a discriptive phrase for bad writing. Thanks I needed this.
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Deb, I hear you! I would love to write a column weekly inspiring others....maybe some day, eh?
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tireless...I wish you could have read that book. It was worthy of the description pig dung. LOL Thank you as always.
Wow Billy-I just got my butt kicked and I think I loved it. Seriously, this hub is so inspirational and motivating. How many of us want to write that book but think deep down our story isn't good enough or people wont care. You managed to write a hub to all, but made it feel like you were talking directly to us personally. It sounds like that bad book you read made you ask yourself the same question. What the hell am I waiting for...?
Wonderful and inspirational hub, Bill. I think that you are absolutely correct. The idea that we are no different than those who are already published writers is an important message. And we all have something to offer others in this world. Why shouldn't any of us offer our talents, to others. Writing really makes the world a better place.
I admire your persistence with writing. It sounds obvious that the stories that were told to you at a young age have influenced you positively. I believe too we all have a story in us, as one of my favs I have written was driven by a kind of drug addiction. Check out Sugar- a story about drugs and betrayal on Amazon by Jeannie White. I used to have this published as an ebook, with an epublisher. You might like to pop by and read some of my hubs, don't have as many as you, I feel I have to be really inspired to write a hub. Good work.
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Minnetonka, you had me laughing with that comment. What the hell are any of us waiting for? Life is too short and I refuse to waste my remaining time frozen by fear and doubt. Let's get going and knock down some walls.
Thank you as always my friend.
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toknowinfo, your last line is so right on! Writing makes the world a better place, and we sure need what it gives. Thank you for that reminder.
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jeanster, thank you for stopping by and I will stop by and check out your work. Best wishes to you and may you always be inspired.
Great message. We shouldn't deny the world our story because of our fears or insecurities. As you said, those are all exuses anywase. Time to do what we love.
You have an excellent way of inspiring others Bill. I've been working on and off on a book for a while now and this is really a kick in the pants. Thank you for this hub. Voting up, sharing, and rating awesome, interesting, useful, and beautiful :)
God, I love you Bill! Yesterday I write a hub about defining my "success" as a writer, and today you create this one!! You are dead on yet again; why should I care about accolades, reads, comments? The thing is to do it. If I wake up in the morning thinking about writing, I am a writer. If I go to sleep thinking about writing, I am a writer. If I find myself going through story lines, characters, and possibilities on a story throughout the day, I am a writer. Who said "I think, therefore I am"? I think it was Marie T. Russell in the 17th century. To paraphrase her: I write, therefore I am a writer. Thank you, my dear Bill. Thank you!
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Relationshipsc, yes indeed! Push our limits and face our fears. Who knows what wonders await us if we do. Thank you!
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Cashmere, thank you for the kind words and the follow. I thought I was following you but I was mistaken. I just took care of that omission.
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Thatta boy, Mike! I was touched by your hub, and if this helps you see a bit more clearly then fantastic. Sit down at that computer and write because, hey, you are a writer. :)
Someday, Bill. I have several books but too much is on my plate right at present...personal stuff with my family...
Your words are well chosen and definitely spoke to me as I would like to some day publish. For now HubPages will have to be my way to ramble on about things that excite me to write.
Voted up for sure...
Sending you many Angels today :) ps
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PS, I understand completely. There is just too much to do. I do this full time and I can't juggle all the plates I have in the air. Well, there is always tomorrow, right? Hopefully! :)
Thank you for those angels; they are always appreciated.
blessings and hugs are yours,
bill
I have to admit that I don't think I have a book in me Bill. Maybe a how to or something like that. But who knows, maybe a swift kick is all I need to get started.
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Glimmer, I would submit to you that you have enough knowledge about quilting to write a book. :)
Push 'em, shove 'em, Rawhide! Great article, Bill! You're a true mover and shaker. I can attest to that!
- Author
Just shaking things up a bit, Sha! You never know you can move a mountain until you try. :) Thanks dear friend.
Billybuc,
I already have written my book about a chapter in my life. I have about 340 some odd double spaced word pages. The only thing I am missing is tying the ending to the rest of the book as there is trauma there. I kind of have difficulty remembering exactly what happened to tie the two together.
Fortunately I think I will only need about 20 more pages to do this. I know I will have to go back over and fictionalize it a bit as the content is controversial and the "names have been changed to protect the innocent" type thing will also apply. Really both things would be easy to do if I had some reason to do it.
Heck the rest of my life would easily make 2 more books too.
However, this book has just been lying around since I wrote it in 2011.
I don't know where to go with it and am afraid to send it out so that someone would rip me off for it. I even have a catchy title picked out, but I don't want to write that down here either as I don't want someone else to take it.
I even made an attempt and contacted Chris Schelling, who helped Augustine Burroughs with his "Running with Scissors" as I felt my book was in the same type of genre.
All I was told was that memoirs were kind of like a dime a dozen back then and good luck but too busy right now. I was appreciative that Chris even replied but it was a little discouraging.
Any new ideas?
- Author
Empathetic, you can call me Bill as my friends do. :)
As for your problem, Schelling was right in that memoirs are a tough sell in today's market, especially for an author never published before. That doesn't mean it can't happen, but the stars have to be perfectly aligned.
Have you considered self-publishing? That's what I ended up doing with mine. It cost me six bucks a book for 100. Of course, then you have to market your book which is not easy, but it is doable....and you can always keep trying to find an agent or publisher even after you have published it yourself.
Memoirs do much better as ebooks in today's market, for whatever reason. Maybe it's because most memoirs are priced below three bucks and people are willing to take a chance on them at that price. :)
There really are not many other options. I know it's easy to say but don't get discouraged. Keep hammering away at agents and publishers. Who knows when lightning will strike.
Wishing you good luck, and if I can answer any other questions feel free to ask.
bill
Thanks for the push, Bill. It's funny that I should read this after returning to a story I've been working on for awhile now. I stopped for a couple of months because I ran out of steam. Just didn't know where to go with it. Then this morning I sat down to it again and knocked out 4 pages without even trying; practically wrote itself.
I don't think reading this hub before my spurt of creativity this morning would have motivated. But know I can't wait to get back to it.
Thanks again.
- Author
Phoenix, that happened to me with my novel. I had to take six months off and then come back, and then the rest of the book wrote itself. Funny how creativity comes in those spurts.
Much appreciated my friend.
You didn't insult me, Bill. I need this reminder (and kick!) to keep me focused. Right now, I am so bogged down with teaching schedules and finding the time to write is difficult. I am going to have to make that jump soon!
- Author
Dianna, I'm glad you weren't insulted. Life has a way of derailing our best plans. The eternal struggle is to find time to do the things we want to do rather than those we need to do. :) Thank you!
Thank you for this hub! I needed that! I have wanted to write a book about my family for so long. My plan is to write hubs about them and then compile those into a book. Thanks for the encouragement! Voted up and useful!
- Author
Insightful, I hope you do write that book. If it is important to you then it should be done. Good luck with that and thank you.
Bill,
I have been mulling over the Ebook thing, and was wondering about how a writer protects their copyright to their work.
Nothing would be more horrible than to write a successful book and have some big publisher steal it from you.
So could you tell me what you know or where I can find out?
Thanks.
- Author
Emmpathetic, I wish I could. It is possible of course, and if it should happen I don't know what recourse there would be. I'm sure there is a system in place for claiming plagiarism, but what that system would be I don't know.
As in all your Hubs, once again you are the great encourager and exhorter.
So glad you are HubPages to urge us all forward. Terrific Hub. Theresa
- Author
Theresa, it's the teacher in me. I want everyone to find their potential, or at least keep approaching it. Life is too short my friend; we can't waste a minute. :) Thank you as always.
bill
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