WHAT IF

---

Recently, I was listening to a radio show and the guest brought up an interesting topic, "The Power of What If."  I had to think about for a moment and before I knew it I was somewhat consumed by those two words, What If. 

​Of course, one could use those two words in anything and everything we do and how we live. I kept it confined to being a writer.

---

              "What if I spend a thousand hours writing and nothing comes of it?"
              "What if I spend two thousand hours writing and write a great novel?"
 
              "What if I can't find anything to write about?"
              "What if I let my imagination run free?"
             
              "What if no one believes I'm a writer?"
              "What if I believe I'm a writer?"
 
              "What if I never get an agent?"
              "What if I self publish?"
 
              "What if I don't think I'm that good of a writer?"
              "What if I practice three hours, everyday, and become a good writer."
             
              "What if I don't like criticism?"
              "What if I grow because of criticism?"
 
              "What if I'm afraid and have doubts?"
              "What if I have no fear and trust myself?"
             
              "What if it takes a year to write my first book?"
              "What if I write two books in 11 months?"

​     The list could go on and on, but as I look this one over, I realize that writing a novel is not for the weak minded. Writing will drive a person to both their highest highs and their lowest lows. How long we mentally remain in one or the other depends on our individual personalities.

THE WRITER- A SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL

        This next little bit of information is nothing more than putting everything in perspective.
The 2014 Census says that the population of the United States was slightly over 318,000,000. Reduce that by 118,000,000 due to children, elderly-elderly, a partial population who does not care about anything, and the balance those busy texting and checking the apps on their phones.
          With 200,000,000 people in the U.S., let us say 2,000,000 are writers who have written one novel, with at least 50,000 plus words. That would mean that a total of only 1% of U.S. population have accomplished this feat. Refining that number a little more, how many of those 2 million have written two novels, half? The group narrows down to only .05% of the population. Let me cut it down one more time. How many writers have written three novels, I wonder, half of that one-half, of one percent?
          My point is simple, anyone who can sit down and write a book, no offense, I do not mean a self-help book, I mean a novel. A story, created in the author's head from start to finish is in a select group. If that same individual has the inner strength, determination, and the ability to stick to it and write another book, and then another, believe it, they are a rare individual. 
                    Add all of the positive, "WHAT IF'S," to the mix and life, will be rich, and meaningful.

Robert Stephen
 
               


#whatif,#writersarespecialindividuals