Discipline and Patience:
One of three character traits all authors must possess
Fresh from a workshop with legendary Terry Kay, I have much to share. First, a confession: I have missed my critique group. Please, if you don’t have a core group of souls with whom you share your work, make it a point to find one. I had no idea how much I missed the camaraderie of Lynn, Mary, John and Lee. Being around other scribes is crucial. I owe much of my success to them. They kindly (and forcibly) reminded me that I have been away for far too long and that I must attend the next meeting.
They are correct.
Mr. Kay spoke to a crowd of eager pupils about the craft of writing. Any author who believes he or she knows everything about that subject is a fool. Regardless of the number of books you have written, purpose to learn something new. Keep your writing fresh. After leaving the workshop with eight pages of notes, I was encouraged, hopeful and energized.
However, there is no way to sugarcoat the message. Kay reminded the group: “authors must have three character traits: a lot of discipline, a little bit of talent, and a lot of patience.”
This is my message to you, of discipline and patience. The books we love are the result of discipline. Someone sat for hours on end writing, reading, cursing, crying, fretting over the words placed on the page. If they didn’t —and this is going to sound rude—their book probably isn’t worth your time. Most books require months, if not years, of discipline.
You will be that author. You will be disciplined and invest the necessary time both when writing your book, and when marketing.
Conversely, marketing your book takes an equal amount of discipline. Take publicity for example.
A Message from Captain Obvious: Readers do not know about your book unless you (or a another reader) tells them about it.
It is necessary to invest the time to send individual emails to each person you have identified on the marketing list.
No group emails.
This investment of time requires discipline.
To impart a bit of personal information about me, I watch one television show, one night a week. Period.
I do not waste time…I manage it.
***
Patience: Quite frankly, I don’t have time for patience. I am guilty of wanting an instant return on my time-investment. Realistically, this never happens. It is human nature to want lightning-fast results. However, writing (and marketing) is the ultimate lesson in patience.
Personal Example: Last month, after working two consecutive days at the computer emailing every newspaper, radio personality and blogger imaginable, I wanted instantaneous result. C’mon now people, why haven’t you responded to my emails? All have responded, in their time, not according to my schedule.
However, a year and a half ago I contacted a company regarding making copies of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes available in their grocery store. They commonly carry books by local authors and since Billy is from the area, I thought my book was a perfect match. I approached, delivered my best marketing spiel and waited. I heard nothing…for a year and a half.
Upon returning from the workshop last night, I had a Facebook friend request from the manager of the marketing department. Does this mean she is going to stock my book? I am not certain. I know this; we have no mutual friends, so how did she find me unless she sought me?
I understand, more than you know, how difficult it is to approach people and want so desperately for them to buy your book. Truly, at the end of the day one must remember the words of The Great Terry Kay: “Discipline and Patience.”
Write the words on a note.
Adorn the walls with those two words.
Practice them and believe in yourself.
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“To impart a bit of personal information about me, I watch one television show, one night a week. Period….I do not waste time…I manage it.” OMG, this resonated. Television is not my time waster, it is the endless running of unnecessary errands that does me in. I allow other’s needs to supersede my writing time leaving me to squeeze it in when I’m least creative.
Definitely hit a home run with me on this one as I too want things to happen NOW. lol. Great blog and valuable information as I travel the road to writing stardom. 😉
Hey Lynn, I was in South GA at the cotton gin. I should have had them write me a “research excuse slip.” Love, love, love cotton !
I intend to keep up with Ms. Winchester’s blog. Intuitively, I recognized the importance of her points before I visited the blog, but seeing them in writing reminds me to keep these factors in mind, and how to move my book forward professionally.
As for TV programs, we haven’t had our TV hooked up to cable or even an antenna for over two years. I get a lot more done with out it, and I couldn’t agree more with Ms. Winchester on this point.
This passage from her blog struck me “The books we love are the result of discipline. Someone sat for hours on end writing, reading, cursing, crying, fretting over the words placed on the page. If they didn’t —and this is going to sound rude—their book probably isn’t worth your time. Most books require months, if not years, of discipline.”
Yesterday, I attended the Local Authors Expo in Birmingham. There were over 100 local authors in attendance. The majority were new, self-published authors with religious tracts. A lady sitting next to me self-published her first “book”, a bound-50 page religious tract this summer. Then her second book a few months later. Her third is already on the way.
I recently read in the Wall Street Journal that estimated there will be 125,000 plus self-published books in America this year. Some of these will be great writing, but most will be quickly written, quickly published, messages that the author wants to deliver, but lacked the patience and skill to develop into a book worthy of printing, reading, and keeping on the shelf.
The University of Alabama Press received the manuscript for “Year of the Pig” in July, 2008. It took until September 1st, 2011 to make it through the reviews, editing, and publishing process. And my book is manifold better for the time and the effort.
I plan to start on my second book after a year on the road with Year of the Pig. But having published one book, I will come at my second book with two key ingredients: discipline and patience.