I am currently writing a book, and I must admit, there are times when I think I might lose it.
But in in a panicked way, more because I cannot get my brain to tell my hands to transcribe something perfect every time. I want most of what I write to be very good, or just good, while elements throughout would be perfect. I don't expect to make a book that is wholly perfect, but when I see myself being lazy that is when I'm most disappointed in myself.
I have been writing every day since I got home, and have been holding myself to a standard of five pages a day, every day. But, the reality of my writing schedule looks a lot more like this:
Monday: 7 pages/ Tuesday: 3 pages/ Wednesday: 1/2 page/ Thursday: 8 pages...
And so on until I get to the end of the week and see that I have still hit my personal quota of pages, but not at all in the orderly fashion that I had hoped I would. The half-page days are the worst, I think. It is on those days that I am sipping from the very bottom of my creative well with a twisted straw. Still, I am at least a little happy if I write anything at all. I am also making myself read everyday, which helps the writing process, both in stimulating creativity and in teaching different vernacular and writing style. But, I read rather slowly, so in a day I may read five chapters, I may read a half.
The truth of the situation is, as much as I live for writing, as much as I love books and reading, it is the thinking up of stories that is my true favorite. It's what makes writing possible at all.
But still, thought grueling at times writing a book may be, I have only two pieces of advice to those who truly want to see their own creation in stores one day.
One: Don't forget to let yourself rest. If you are anything like me, your creativity can spike unexpectedly, or it can run completely dry. Read, go out, spend time with friends, think, write something else, but don't forget that just a bit of procrastination is good for the wandering mind, and wandering is where any good story starts.
Two: Remember that writing a story, just like reading one, is a relationship with the characters and the plot. You are not just giving some of your attention, but all of it. This book is a part of you, your observations and experiences. In order for it to be really good, you have to give much of yourself, and that requires time. But once it's finished, nothing will make you more proud than to see what you have accomplished.
Writing a book is difficult, I'm finding that out first hand, but there is nothing more amazing than the mental freedom and training on gets from working and reworking their craft. When you make something from yourself, and strive for your definition of perfection, not only will your work grow, flourish, but so will you.
