Don't talk about it, write it!

I was at a housewarming party this weekend, drinking way too much, and somehow managing to get the title of "intellectual drunk."

Apparently chatting about book writing, even if it is vampires, makes you an intellectual. LoL. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Anyway. Another attendee of the party was also attempting to write her first book. Some kind of inspirational memoir about surviving mental and physical abuse.

Upon hearing this I was excited for this woman, until I found out she isn't really writing it.

She's at the talking stage. The, I have an idea stage. She's not writing a book, she's thinking about it.

Now, there is nothing wrong with that stage, unless that's all you do. Eventually, you have to get the idea down on paper.

She told me she didn't know how to do it.

"Who cares," I said. "You have an idea, write it. Get the idea on paper. First drafts are meant to be crappy, that's why they are first drafts. If you never get the idea on paper, you will never write your book."

Writing a book is not like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, anyone can do it. What sets writers apart from the wanabies, is the actual act. If you want to write a story, then do it. Sit down and write. Forget who will read and who won't. Forget your fears about not knowing when to use a comma, or a semi-colon. Step one is to Write. Get the idea out there on paper. If you can't get past step one, you will never write.

You know, on second thought, maybe that’s why I got labeled the intellectual drunk. I did kind of go off on a tangent there. LoL. Happy Writing.

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10 comments:

Robyn Campbell said...

AMEN SISTER! Tell it like it is. I was at that stage for over a year until I finally said, "I'm going to do this." I sat down and began with chapter one. Now I'm querying agents. Woohoo! :)

Susan R. Mills said...

I was at that stage for ten years. It bothers me to think about all the time I wasted!

Jessica Nelson said...

Hahaa! Intellectual drunk. That's hilarious. Great post though. You're completely right. I've met so many people full of ideas, but a good idea does not make a writer.

Deb said...

Sounds like you had a blast! I thought about writing for so long that I was beginning to feel like I was someone who wanted to have written a novel, instead of someone who wanted to write one.

Roni Loren said...

Agree totally. Also, sometimes the more you talk about an idea, the more you spill out the creative juices that should have landed on a page. You can over talk about something and lose all inspiration to actually write it.

Katie Salidas said...

Yeah, I think we all hung around in that, "dream" stage for a while. It's something we all have in common, but the thing that sets us apart from the dreamers is, we are now writing, not just dreaming ideas.

Danyelle L. said...

I agree. So many people want to have written a novel, but not so many actually do it. It's a lot of hard work, but very much worth it. :D

B.J. Anderson said...

OoOOoo. Intellectual drunk. I like that!! And you said it for sure. Butt in chair and hands on keyboard. That's the only way to get it done!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

not just the act. Its the climb :)

Chuck Dilmore said...

excellent guidance to your friend!
and kudos on your drive to create! write!

Jack Canfield recently advised: Ready. Fire! Aim.
get it done. THEN make it perfect.

i look forward to reading you!
peace~ Chuck

About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.