I'm not sure why the above quote struck me so powerfully this morning. Maybe I was just awake...for a change. Perhaps it was because I realized I am not the only writer who begins anew with each book.
Every writer starts from scratch.
Think about it. Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Shakespeare, Cindy Spenser Pape, Louis L'Amour, Amarinda Jones, Georgette Heyer, Harper Lee, Alistair MacLean...they all started from scratch with each new book. It sort of levels the playing field, doesn't it? Regardless of genre, working style, message, or craft level, we all start from scratch with every single book.
There is a tendency to put established authors up on a pedestal, somehow elevating them so we fail to remember or believe they have the same tasks as a newbie author. Our struggles seem more difficult than theirs.
Not so. The creative process is the same. We all start from scratch. We all deal with the edits/revisions/plot issues. I find this comforting. Yes, I'm still developing my craft, but when it gets down to it, we all belong to the same guild.
We all start from scratch.
anny
It's true. We begin every book at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteGee....I'm hardly on any level with that mob and as for pedestals? People are always falling off them. Better to stand on a step and concentrate on stepping to the next one without falling on your arse.
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