Writing a Novel is not a Team Sport

Picture yourself standing on a 40 acre plot of land. It’s nothing but rocks, weeds, and dry dirt. Underneath though lies rich fertile soil. The type of soil that will grow the most beautiful and tastiest crops anyone would be proud of. 

There’s one small problem though. You only have a shovel. No livestock to pull a hoe, hell you don’t even have a hoe. No one else is around. Just that shovel, you, and 40 acres. If you start today and work hard it might take you somewhere between 6 months and 1 year. That is if you work at it every day and you don’t quit. 

If you want to write a novel, picture yourself standing on a 40 acre plot of land. 

As the pictures above depict, writing is a solitary endeavor if you are writing a novel. Read bio's of authors you admire. For the most part there will be nothing about writing groups. The truth is if you need others to encourage you to write you are not ready yet. Writing takes discipline and perseverance. 

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​Writing groups make me think about the settlers who came out west over 150 years ago. 
Big dreams in the beginning as a group. Helping one another with their supplies and there livestock if they had any.
Off they'd go into lands unknown. Most had no idea of the trials and tribulations that lie ahead.

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​One by one, the settlers dropped out. 

If you are still reading this you might be saying that I am so negative or that I am not encouraging you. My friends, that couldn't be further from the truth. I will always encourage anyone who wants to write, as long as they as willing to work at it. Everyday, 1-3 hours each day, 300 + days a year.

There are so many facets in writing that need to be perfected, but they only come with practice and patience. The settlers and explorers who ventured into the unknown were fearless. That is exactly what a writer has to be, fearless. Go into the unknown with the knowledge that mistakes will be made. That's okay, make them, learn from them, improve because of them. Remember one thing. Writing a novel is a solitary journey. 

                                                                                 #writing,#novel,#Iwanttobeawriter,#learntowrite,#writeanovel,#beawriter