How to write your heart out

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 11 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #9,290 in How-To, #96,634 overall

Writers, Authors & Dreamweavers: I Heard Your Call for Help!

The Good Life starts with a dream, and if your dream is to become a successful published author, I'm here to celebrate and support you.

As a professional ghost writer, "book doctor," editor and publisher, I have spent many years "weaving the dreams" of others and serving as a midwife for the birth of some of the world's most precious "children."

Falling in Love with the Muse 

That special 'Cllick' that means love...

So there I was, sitting cozy and comfy in one of those large leather college dormitory lounge chairs with a list of next semester's courses

and a pad of paper balancing on my lap (this was BPCs & LTs, or "Before PCs and Laptops"). Leafing through the English courses, I noted that a famous novelist would be giving a creative writing course for beginners.

My eyes lit up. Should I? Should I follow my passion and simply dump the extra philosophy course (picking it up some other time) and enroll in that writing class?!! Why not?

The professor and Best-Selling Published Author strode to the front of the room (tweed jacket with leather-patches on the elbows and Meerschaum pipe tucked into his pocket; beard, with hair graying at the temples) and glared at all thirty of us as if we'd just stolen his best excuse for being alive.

"So you want to write?" was his accusation. "WHY?"

Stunned, I sat there and let that BIG WHY drip slowly into my psyche like a gutter so imploded with dirty rainwater, it had no other choice than to dump. All I could hear was the echo of this man's pain, loneliness, frustration and fear that the Next Book would not be a Best Seller.

Are you crazy? he was asking. Why do you want to put yourself through the hell of a high-risk life with few rewards and dubious returns (how many authors really do make the Best Seller List)? Why would anyone want to deal with the agony and ecstasy of 1) writer's block, 2) jealous colleagues, and 3) pandering fans?

My answer came back loud and clear%u2026 in fact so loud and clear, I've never forgotten that classroom moment nor the dreamy "lounge chair visionary" experience that preceded it. Here is my response to the big WHY:

Because I cannot not write.

Incidentally, this creative writing professor never met the class again after that first session-which ended as soon as he'd volleyed his two questions. Out the door he walked and was unavailable thereafter either for class or office hours.

I didn't mind. He'd served his purpose simply by delivering that all important "WHY?" question that motivated me to ask "Why not?"

I had fallen in love with the Muse and knew from that time on that I was going to become a professional writer.

Hot off the press is the ebook Write to Publish for Profit, soon to be published in hard copy. Enjoy!

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Spread the word and send me your writing tips & techniques! 

What's the latest word? Share this squidoo with your friends and colleagues (even your relatives :>)

If writing is your passion, I invite you to get passionate with other wordsmiths and squidoodlers... This page was created just for you!

vbright105 wrote...

It's nice to have a new and insightful perspective! I enjoyed the lens, thank you!

ReplyPosted July 09, 2009

qlcoach wrote...

I am a writer and author too. Enjoyed your lens. Best wishes for your success. Hope you will visit my new lens about emotional healing. Sincerely: Gary Eby, author and therapist.

ReplyPosted June 15, 2009

MsSnow4a wrote...

Nice lens thanks for sharing about writing

ReplyPosted May 11, 2009

jacquelinestone wrote...

Hi, Carol!
I didn't realize you had joined Squidoo. What a delight to find you here, and your wonderful lenses! I think it's great that you not only share what you write, but also inspire others to write what's in their heart.

ReplyPosted May 09, 2009

Dandelionbooks wrote...

Passion comes in many packages... your gift is so powerful, as you said, your characters force you to bring them to life without asking your permission first! This can be difficult because you may not feel ready.

ReplyPosted January 18, 2009

view all 11 comments

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