Visualizing Success
By
Linda Rodriguez
Linda Rodriguez
One of the best books on actually
living a writer’s life is Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See. I often
give it as a gift to serious aspiring writers I know. Carolyn is herself an
award-winning novelist, and her advice is pretty solid. (I have come to feel as
if she is my friend from reading her novels and this book again and again, but
though I’m on first-name basis with her here, I’ve never actually met Carolyn
See.)
living a writer’s life is Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See. I often
give it as a gift to serious aspiring writers I know. Carolyn is herself an
award-winning novelist, and her advice is pretty solid. (I have come to feel as
if she is my friend from reading her novels and this book again and again, but
though I’m on first-name basis with her here, I’ve never actually met Carolyn
See.)
First, she tells us to write 1,000
words a day every day. Blam! Just like that! Right at the beginning! But she
says they don’t have to be finished words—they don’t even have to be good
words. We just have to put down 1,000 words every day. And of course, it
works—because no one will be able to keep slapping random words on the page. We
start to make sense, and then we start to make story. So, her rule number one
is write 1,000 words each and every day.
words a day every day. Blam! Just like that! Right at the beginning! But she
says they don’t have to be finished words—they don’t even have to be good
words. We just have to put down 1,000 words every day. And of course, it
works—because no one will be able to keep slapping random words on the page. We
start to make sense, and then we start to make story. So, her rule number one
is write 1,000 words each and every day.
Carolyn’s next rule will prompt
groans from everyone. She talks about the need to build a writing community and
to get involved in the writing community that already exists. So she wants us
all to write a charming note each day to a different writer or editor or agent
or reading series administrator, expressing our genuine appreciation for
something they’ve done or written. I suspect this will be the biggest stumbling
block among her rules for living the writing life, even though I’ve come to see
the sense of it. (I must admit I don’t follow this rule very often, though,
being no better than any of the rest of us.)
groans from everyone. She talks about the need to build a writing community and
to get involved in the writing community that already exists. So she wants us
all to write a charming note each day to a different writer or editor or agent
or reading series administrator, expressing our genuine appreciation for
something they’ve done or written. I suspect this will be the biggest stumbling
block among her rules for living the writing life, even though I’ve come to see
the sense of it. (I must admit I don’t follow this rule very often, though,
being no better than any of the rest of us.)
The
rules continue throughout this informal and witty book, and they are all good
rules. When I abide by them, I am in better shape than when I don’t. This I
know. However, it’s another part of the book that I want to talk about here.
rules continue throughout this informal and witty book, and they are all good
rules. When I abide by them, I am in better shape than when I don’t. This I
know. However, it’s another part of the book that I want to talk about here.
Carolyn makes a great case for
visualizing the career and life we want to live as writers. She talks about
well-known writers who have entourages, chauffeurs, phalanxes of attractive
bodyguards, or dramatic capes and trench coats. She makes a persuasive case
that each of these successful writers had at some time in the past decided,
consciously or unconsciously, that when they were successful they would
have—entourages/ chauffeurs/ bodyguards/ trench coats.
visualizing the career and life we want to live as writers. She talks about
well-known writers who have entourages, chauffeurs, phalanxes of attractive
bodyguards, or dramatic capes and trench coats. She makes a persuasive case
that each of these successful writers had at some time in the past decided,
consciously or unconsciously, that when they were successful they would
have—entourages/ chauffeurs/ bodyguards/ trench coats.
Carolyn encourages us to consciously
visualize the successful writer’s life we want to have in the future in detail,
including what we’ll wear, if that’s important to us, what friends we’ll have,
where we’ll live, and more. That kind of visualization is important, I think.
If we don’t put some thought into what we want, how will we know when we’ve
achieved it? She encourages us to go into detail because some of the details
are easier to achieve than others. It’s very tough to make the New York
Times bestseller list, but it’s not so hard to save up for a splashy cape
or dramatic trench coat.
visualize the successful writer’s life we want to have in the future in detail,
including what we’ll wear, if that’s important to us, what friends we’ll have,
where we’ll live, and more. That kind of visualization is important, I think.
If we don’t put some thought into what we want, how will we know when we’ve
achieved it? She encourages us to go into detail because some of the details
are easier to achieve than others. It’s very tough to make the New York
Times bestseller list, but it’s not so hard to save up for a splashy cape
or dramatic trench coat.
So my question to all of you today,
as well as to myself, is what would your life look like if you achieved the
kind of writer’s success that you long to have?
as well as to myself, is what would your life look like if you achieved the
kind of writer’s success that you long to have?
I’m
not into splashy capes or trench coats or matched pairs of bodyguards, but I
think a chauffeur might be a nice achievement, especially on regular
professional visits to New York City (which are very much a part of my
visualization). Actually, I think I’ve already achieved this.
not into splashy capes or trench coats or matched pairs of bodyguards, but I
think a chauffeur might be a nice achievement, especially on regular
professional visits to New York City (which are very much a part of my
visualization). Actually, I think I’ve already achieved this.
On my last trip to NYC to meet with
my editor and attend a poetry award ceremony, I found a livery car service that
took us all over the city at all hours and for less than a cab would have cost.
After the post-award-ceremony bash, native New Yorkers in our party were
futilely trying to gain the attention of cabs outside the restaurant while one
phone call brought our driver to pick us up in front and take us across town to
our B&B.
my editor and attend a poetry award ceremony, I found a livery car service that
took us all over the city at all hours and for less than a cab would have cost.
After the post-award-ceremony bash, native New Yorkers in our party were
futilely trying to gain the attention of cabs outside the restaurant while one
phone call brought our driver to pick us up in front and take us across town to
our B&B.
What would you visualize for your
life as a successful writer? Inquiring minds want to know!
life as a successful writer? Inquiring minds want to know!
REPLIES TO COMMENTS (because Blogger):
Marilyn, how big is big? The power’s in the specificity of the details. Do you want a fan base of 100,000? 600,000?
Mary, yes, first-class travel might well be a perk to visualize. A cook/nutritionist would help you stay in good shape so you could turn out more of your books.
Judith, the idea of ease is a great one. Things that make the different tasks we face easier for us will always be a favorite.