DIKKON EBERHART
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so you want to write a book

12/7/2018

7 Comments

 
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Dikkon Eberhart

[Sometimes I am approached by those who want to write a book. Often their excitement is delightful.  When it is their first attempt, they may not be as alert to the difficulties of writing a book as I wish they could be.  I don't want to discourage them, but I don't want them to be blind-sided either.  I posted a piece like this a few years ago and thought I'd update it now because these encounters continue to happen.]



You came to me and said you want to write a book. 

I applaud you.  I’m excited for your excitement.  May your excitement carry you through. 

Yes, here’s one way to write a book.  Sit down and write five pages each day for two months. 

How hard can that be?  Only two months. 

It’ll take discipline, but in sixty days, you’ll have a manuscript that is 300 pages long.
 
 

My most recent book that I had published also came from a manuscript that was about 300 pages long.  However—different from you—writing that book took me ten years!

The new book I am close to completing today has taken about two years, and that includes the six months I knocked off writing all together because I couldn’t figure out how to pay attention both to my family and to the book at the same time, for the benefit of each.
 
 

When you are done with your two-month manuscript, then I will be happy for you as a person. 

I will be happy because evidently you are a person who has had a very strong sense of three things during your past two months.  The first thing about which you have been strong was where your book came from inside of you.  The second thing about which you were strong was where your book was each day, while you pushed it along, page after page.  And the third and most important thing about which you were strong was where your book was going to end up--that is, what it is about.

That’s impressive; very.

I had none of those assurances while I wrote any of my four books.   I thought I had, but I needed to do the books over and over again to work these issues out, especially the third issue--what is the book about?  

You are able to work quicker than me; good for you!
 
 

However long it ends up taking you—whether two months or maybe three—one day, your manuscript will be done.  

Or anyway you’ll think it is done. 

Because it had better be done. 

Because you really, seriously need it to be done. 

You really, seriously need it to be done because your brain will hurt just as my brain hurts when I am done.  My brain hurts with a hurt that isn’t assuaged by two fingers of bourbon and a night’s hard sleep. 

My brain hurts because, having re-read my manuscript five times over again since I deemed that it was done, I still can’t tell whether it’s any good or not. 

Maybe you’re different.  Probably you are different because it only took you two months to write your 300 pages.  It’s likely that you do know your book is good. 
 
 

By the time I finish my new book, I will not want even to see one more word.  Nor will I want to create anything.  All I will want to do is to absorb. 

Even the smallest act of creating will make my brain hurt.  Instead of creating, I will desire to absorb that which has already been created…and not by me. 

I would gaze upon that which is pure and upon that which, being pure, is holy. 

Perhaps I would gaze with the same intensity as that beachcombing, rusticating, French painter, Paul Gauguin, when he gazed, in the 1890s, on the maidens of the far South Sea.  Those same maidens were the ones he used as icons while he wondered upon his canvas, wondering at his answer to the same three questions you mastered during your two-month book— Where Do We Come From?  What Are We?  Where Are We Going?  
 
 

After my last book was published, we moved from Maine to the Blue Ridge of SW Virginia.  We chased our first three grandchildren—now there’s another one here and one in New York, too. 

Pretty soon after the move, I started out trying to capture the voice for my next book, the book I’m close to finishing now. 

Took me a while to get it right—took writing three times deep into the book to decide what the voice is that should tell it—and now does. 

Each writing-in brought me closer to understanding what my book is really about, since each of the now rejected earlier voices told the story in a lesser way than the present more robust and straight-forward voice does. 

I envy you if you knew what your book was really about from the get-go.  Lotta people don’t, like me. 
 
 

Regarding your book—indeed you may finish your book in two months.  People do.  I hope you do, proving you know the answer to these three vital theological questions and can work your answers into the weft and warp of your tale. 

Write it all down, my friend. 

Write it all down and tell us about it. 

We need to know. 

Thank you...and--I mean this deeply--may you prosper!
 
 


7 Comments
Kathryn
12/8/2018 09:22:40 pm

Thank you for the encouragement. I have not written much recently, but I really wish I could. Sometimes, my head feels like I have so much I want to write and other times, I cannot ink out one sentence. So, I appreciate your honesty and encouragement. I look forward to reading your new book.

Reply
Dikkon
12/10/2018 05:09:17 pm

Hello Kathryn--

I am grateful that you look forward to my new book; thank you!

In the meantime, please understand that I know EXACTLY what you say about feeling urgent to write sometimes and at other times not being able to ink out one sentence. (Incidentally, I love your phrase, "to ink out." That in itself is good writing!)

In my view, the Lord provides the "inking out" opportunities when He considers them appropriate. At other times, He provides life experiences which prime our writer pumps and which we may then be able to use the energy of when the time comes for inking.

Bless you for your concentration on Him while you are being primed!

Reply
Betty Draper link
12/8/2018 10:01:40 pm

Last night I ask two friends to be prayers partners for me writing a book. I said it, I am writing a book, not I want to write a book. I ask them not to bug me about it though with weekly or monthly questions such as, how far have you got in your book? In fact, just pray for me, for clarity, for encouragement and when I want input I will let you read what I have already wrote. And, then I said you better have lots of patience because from everything I have read writing a book takes a long time. I have another friend who was an English teacher for years, she will be my third prayer partner and the one I will actually take questions from. My goodness I realized after I wrote the above how petty I am, my ego is frail. If people ask me much about writing I get scared when they tell me they went on my blog and read it. I get that at least once a week or so, someone says I read your blog and I rush over there and they did not leave a comment. Kind of encouraging because I know some are reading and do not feel the need to comment, those that do are always encouraging but that's what we bloggers do for each other. I would never tell someone their post was awful but I don' think I have read one that is awful. I have read many that do not interest me, I am not crafty, and I have enough recipes to last me the rest of my life so I tend to skip those after the first read. But give me some meat, something I can think on for the next day and the next or go back and re-read, or use a one liner on my facebook. I guess that is what kind of write I want to be, useful for Him. Which is probably why I continue to come back to your site, you write useful stuff. Y I am so past the fluff, give me gut stuff, God knows I have had more punches in my gut and been knocked down a few times. When rising from a gut punch and I give time for my head to clear, there is truth waiting for me, begging me to use it. Hey I think I will use some of what I wrote for my comment in my book. What do you think, is it too early to ask?

Reply
Dikkon
12/10/2018 05:33:22 pm

Dear Betty--

You've cleared the first hurdle. "I am writing a book." Period. Say this out loud sufficiently frequently that you can say it automatically and without hesitation anytime an acquaintance says, "So, Betty, I haven't seen you in a while. What are you up to nowadays?"

Another thing you should think about is a short, one-sentence, succinct answer to your acquaintance's next question, "What is your book about?"

Don't answer by telling the book's story. The questioner does not ask for a book report. The questioner asks for a billboard. In one short punchy sentence, your acquaintance wants to know, why should he or she read your book, and what will he or she get from doing so?

Personally, this one sentence is the single hardest for me to create regarding any book I am writing. But hard as it is, it's vital for you to know the answer, and for you to have the answer so well practiced that it will roll smoothly off your tongue.

And now--another hurdle you've cleared--you have friends to assist you and to keep you honest in your effort (even if you haven't asked all of them to keep prodding at you!).

Good for you, Betty! Go, girl!

Reply
Betty Draper link
12/10/2018 07:56:06 pm

Thanks for the tips. Still kicking around what is my book about...hummmm. An old song click in my mind right now, What the world needs now, is love sweet love. The love of Jesus is what is it about, and it has come packaged in some terrible wrappings. Now to put that in a way it will resonate in others..I could say, wrapping paper...red wrapping paper. Ok, enough taking your time. Thanks for reading my thoughts.

floyd samons link
12/9/2018 09:51:31 pm

Ahhhhh... I remember this one...

I relate to it more even now than the first time!

Love your easy way in recounting the nightmare that is writing a book!

Great advice again, brother.

Reply
Dikkon
12/10/2018 05:38:17 pm

Thanks, brother.

A few old chestnuts maybe are worth roasting over a later fire...but you're a long-time reader. Give me a hint if I seem to be slacking off!

Best to you, out there in the west!

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