“I was left to my own devices. Many days fell away with nothing to show.” What do these opening lyrics, from the song Pompeii by the British band Bastille, have to do with you and your book writing?
Read to the end my friend and you’ll find out!
My daughter and I were driving to Target for some shopping, listening as this song came on the radio. That’s the first time she pointed these lyrics out to me. She had unofficially adopted them as her theme song or motto.
I had to laugh!
Sometimes you just need to hear something in a certain way in order for it to have impact. I could see why she felt so in tune with these words.
Aren’t we all?
When left to our own devices, what do most of us do? Fritter away our time? Scan through our Facebook page? Post on Twitter? Watch TV? Oh, I like this next show too.
As much as we hate to admit it, most have very little personal initiative or discipline.
But when there’s a deadline, just watch us move! How fast does that house get cleaned when there is a special occasion, party or the in-laws are coming over for dinner? Or the boss?
How fast do we get our work done when we are motivated by something fun coming afterward? Or the threat of a pink slip?
But left to our own devices, many days pass with nothing to show.
Book writing is like this. Any writing for that matter. We need some sort of motivating factor, be it the carrot (something good is going to happen when we do) or the stick (some punishment will be forthcoming if we don’t).
Carrots and sticks. Deadlines. Doing for others. These are the things that motivate us.
What’s motivating you?
If you answered “nothing” then you need to change that, if you want to move forward. You need to find or give yourself a BIG reason WHY. What carrot reward can you get if you do the work and write the book? How about a lifetime of residual book royalties? How about fame and fortune? Or maybe you just help lift someone up. You give them the help you wish you had gotten so they don’t have to endure the pain you did by figuring it all out by yourself.
Sometimes, we just need someone to show the slightest bit of interest in our topic. We need someone to be on our side. We want someone to do it with us. We don’t want to be left to our own devices. WE WANT A CHEERLEADER! Someone to encourage us along the way.
One of the nicest words to hear is, “Let’s…”
It means someone want to do something with us. We don’t have to go it alone.
Let’s go to the park!
Let’s go on vacation!
Let’s go for a drink!
Let’s go for ice cream!
Napoleon Hill, author of the the best selling book, “Think and Grow Rich” referred to this as the Mastermind Principle. One of the key elements for success he found from interviewing 100’s of the wealthiest businessmen. Where two or more minds work in harmony
So I’m officially inviting you. Let’s get that book of yours written. Finally!
I’d be honored to work with you. And it will be FUN!
Life, like the game of chess in the photo above, isn’t meant to be played alone.
I’m in! Let’s play.
Let’s create productive writing days together and in the end you’ll have a great book to show for it.
by Bob Schwarztrauber
