Photo credit: photosteve101
I’ve been reading a lot of inspirational books these days from Tony Robbins to Napolean Hill’s old stuff (although I understand that he has a newly released book that is going on my list). It just seems that every so often I get in a funk, not a true depression as much as “I’ve lost my way.” I don’t know where I am going as I write.
When this happens I reach for one of these books that tell me to define my goal, to act as if I am already where I want to be, to move forward. It’s pretty tough not to be motivated when you have some of these guys yelling to you across their pages.
So okay, my goal? – perhaps not that original in a writing community – is to write a best selling book. Not necessarily for the money (although don’t get me wrong on that one – world if you want to send a little extra money my way feel free) but because if a lot of people buy your work it’s because they think it’s worth paying money for. It has value.
And more than anything, I want my work and time here on earth to have value.
I’ve followed the directions the books give, I’ve written down my goal on a piece of paper and every morning when I wake up I read it, visualizing my success. When I sit down at my computer I open a word window and start writing instead of checking up on celebrity gossip because that’s what a best seller would do.
I set deadlines, I punch out an outline. I am making progress, slow, but it’s there. I keep my goal ahead of me.
I’m always a little stumped however, at the next part of the “success formula” the part about acting like a best selling author. Do I remove myself from society to write in seclusion a la J.D.? Do I wear a tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows like all the great authors did? Do I have a few too many at lunch and a few more too many at dinner? Do I buy a castle?
How on earth does one behave like a best selling author? When I asked some of my friends what they felt best selling important attributes were, they came up with:
- intelligent
- introverted
- confident
- thoughtful
- a creative, deep thinker who is always looking for her new story or character (Jodi Picoult
- somebody who has a wide array of exciting life experiences (Clive Cussler)
For now I’m going to continue writing in my teeshirt and shorts. For lunch I’m having a salad and as soon as I finish an article this afternoon I’ll be going downstairs to play a dice game with my daughter.
Not sure if that’s how a best seller author would spend her day but that’s how this up-and-coming one is going to.
My question to you, when you close your eyes and visualize a best-selling author, what attributes and characteristics do you see?
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Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons.
Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens).
And trust me on this, someday you’ll be reading a best-selling book about our chicken adventures.
