The Book I Tried Not to Want to Write

Back when I was young and ambitious, I used to want to write a book. I was sure that every thought that I had was precious and precocious. I knew my woeful tale was worth telling. Then I grew up. And knew my tale wasn’t so different from many tales. Messed up childhood, abusive marriage, addictions, blah blah blah. So many good books well written on these same subjects, I was glad, relieved even, when I felt I had put it all away where it needed to stay.

Until recently, when that concept reared its know-it-all knowing head and said, “Oh Hello, you can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m still here and I’m your Destiny!” Oh Please Already!

Everyone wants to write a book. There’s is nothing novel (hahaha) about it. I really don’t want to want to write a book. And yet, there it was, waving and smiling like an old friend/enemy that I couldn’t ditch.

I have dared not even mention all of this because as soon as I do, I’ll have committed to it and I wasn’t certain I wanted to. You’re going to ask me questions I don’t know if I’m ready to answer. Like what kind of book? I suppose it’ll be what’s known as a self-help book. It’ll be me pulling all these thoughts and life ahas together into a comprehensive format and a lot of personal insights and stories. Because that’s what I am.

Something that I read recently gave me the permission to write this to you today. A gentleman by the name of Jeff Goins has a wonderful career writing to empower writers. And his blog post the other day was on this subject exactly. He said that if that idea is still lingering and you are more than a little afraid of it, it’s because it means a lot to you. You want to do it “right” or not at all. Yup. Like when I used to worry about what kind of parent I’d be and then I realized that was proof enough, that I was going to be (a mostly) good one.

Plenty of people publishing just to get it out of the way. And while I’m not a perfectionist, I certainly don’t want to blow the opportunity to produce a quality product. And you know how you can guarantee you won’t produce a stinker book? Don’t write it. Then you won’t create a stinker and people won’t laugh at you behind you back. And then they never speak to you because you’re a loser.

Except that whole fear/shame script is soooo tiring and unoriginal. And a book that is this much a natural making sense of yourself needs to come out. Much like being constipated in your expressive soul, you need to get it out of the way so that you can express other stuff next. Plus, I might be a bit interested in what I have to say.

And If you enjoyed what you read, subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my thrice weekly posts via your emailbox. And visit me on Instagram to see my daily pictures, friend me or like my page on Facebook. Or come find me on Twitter orPinterest too. I am always practicing Intentional Intouchness so chat at me please. I live for conversations.

And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.

Save