Dear writer,
When I start with a new coaching client, I almost always ask two questions:
1) Why do you want to write a book?
2) Why do you want to publish a book?
The answers usually tell me whether a writer is more interested in the process or in the product, and that helps shape how I proceed.
Turning those questions around on myself, it's clear that I'm far more invested in the process than in the product.
1) Why do I want to write a book?
Because I love to write. I love these characters I've been fooling with for ten years, and I hate to leave them hanging like this.
2) Why do I want to publish a book?
Honestly, I'm not sure I do.
This reminds me of a question I asked a few years ago, and now I want to throw it out there again.
Would you rather:
1) Wake up tomorrow morning with a finished, published book but no memory of having written it?
or
2) Experience the entire writing process but, when you’re done, throw your manuscript into a fire?
Why do you want to write a book? Why do you want to publish a book? And the middle space (if there is any) between your two answers, what does it mean to you?
Let's talk about process, product, and more over at this week's post!
