Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 99
June 9, 2022
June 8, 2022
People Do Use Typewriters
People don’t use typewriters anymore. That statement may be commonly believed, but it’s actually not true. If at least two people use them, people do use typewriters. I just read an article about a man who uses typewriters to literally type out portraits, and sent one to Tom Hanks. Hanks, a typewriter enthusiast which regularly types out thank you notes, typed back. People do use typewriters.
Similarly, many people believe the following phrase, I can’t write a book. If one person has written a book then, just like you, one person who can write a book. If they can, you can too. I know, I’ve written over thirty on Amazon.
Like you, I used to think I couldn’t. Most people don’t realize how many times I tried, before writing my first book. Or the number that I attempted between my first and second book. The first time, I was able to accomplish it because there was a cause attached to it, which was bigger than myself.
I had also had a lot of practice in the attempts over the years, so nothing was wasted. The second book was also tied to something bigger than myself. That’s important, because it gave me a goal that was larger than my reasons to stop.
I say reasons because, some people have legitimate obstacles. At times we may make excuses, but we also face real challenges. I learned that the real challenges can be overcome. For example, a number of books were written when our son was an infant. His Mother and I both took turns during the night, and we got very little sleep, but the books still were written.
I learned that if other people could write books, and if people with busy lives could write books, so could I. As a result, I’ve written over thirty books, and I am actively working on more. It is possible, people do write books. Some probably still type them out, after all people do use typewriters.
June 7, 2022
Writing What You Know, Writing What You Research
Know that you know what you want to write about, your writing idea, it’s time to ask a few more questions. The first is a researching, and not a challenging question. I say this because, as I said before, you don’t have to know everything about a subject, to know something about a subject.
In that mindset, what do you know about the subject. For example, in my most passionate column are my faith, my family, friends, writing, and art. However, I’m just a parent of a three year old so my knowledge about parenting is minimal. That is not to say that other parents of toddlers can not write wonderful parenting books, but I’m not there yet.
What I generally I write about my faith, family in general terms, writing, and art. I do not claim to know everything about any of these topics, but these are areas that I have experience in. Because of this, they are my base.
The answer to this question allows you to do two very important things. First, you write what you know about the subject. Remember this is a rough draft, it doesn’t have to have a cohesive line at this point. You are writing what you already know, write it out how it comes to you.
This may take three pages, half a book, or the entire book, depending on where you are in life. Don’t allow what the length is to affect you mentally. If you go blank as you begin to write, it doesn’t mean you don’t know the subject. It only means there is a tree in the road, a traveler can drive to somewhere for years, and have a temporary obstacle on their next trip.
There are a number of ways to get past this, for now I’ll mention just a few brief ones. They can be broken down much farther, but I would have you change either the method, the setting, or the time. If you’re typing, try audio, if you’re uncomfortable with video, try handwriting. Sometimes it’s the method that’s the problem. For some, it’s the wrong setting, or the wrong time of day.
The wonderful thing is, the second important answer to my first question can also help you with this obstacle. After you write what you know, whether it comes easy, or has a roadblock, is to research what you don’t. If you’re having trouble writing what you know, don’t stop, just move to research mode.
All of us will need to research, even if we are truly an expert. As an example, Frank Sinatra knew the singing business as well as anyone could have. Yet in the last years of his touring life, he came to his son for help. Frank Sinatra Jr was not near as famous as his father, nor was he as experienced a singer.
What he did know was orchestra, arrangements, and his father. Frank Jr was a composer, a singer, an arranger, and an orchestra leader. More importantly he wasn’t just Frank Sinatra’s son, he was his father’s son. That meant that he didn’t know his Dad as Frank Sinatra, he knew his Dad.
Because of this, he knew how to work with his Dad. According to what I have researched, this made working together not only successful, but enjoyable. I’m sure that both men learned from each other. Research doesn’t mean you don’t know enough to write a book, it means you know enough to know you want to learn more.
Another aspect of this is that, hearing information you know from others, clarifies your own thoughts. Even if you disagree with someone or something you research, their view may help you to communicate your own totally opposite view. John Maxwell said you can learn from anyone, even someone you completely disagree with.
After you are finished researching, or finished with a research session, you’ll know more. You may write and research, or write, research, write, and research. I would encourage you to find the strategy that works for you. Once you know more, you’ll have more that you are able to write.
Writing what you know, and writing what you research is a successful step in the writing process. Before you know it, you have went from having no idea of what to write about, to writing your second chapter. These practical tactics are why I say that anyone can write a book, with the proper roadmap, and an experienced guide.
June 6, 2022
Finding Your Writing Idea
I would like to talk to you about finding your writing idea, but first I’d like to introduce you to someone. He was called The Human Joke Machine, Maury Amsterdam could come up with a joke almost instantly. Though most people know him from the Dick Van Dyke Show, he had a full career. Maury began as a straight man to his brother’s routine, which explains his wonderful comedy timing. In comedy a straight man is vital, because they understand timing.
While a brilliant comedian, Maury was also a savvy businessman in the business side of show business, and the stock market. He also was a skilled cellist, along with being a successful song writer. You’re asking, what does he have to do with finding your writing idea?
If you walked into the room not knowing Maury Amsterdam, you’d quickly find out he was funny. After you would probably hear about his family, and then his interests. Honestly he could write a book about each one, but the question is this. What would he share most passionately?
Suppose we were meeting you instead of Maury Amsterdam. What would you first say about yourself? What would you want us to know about you? What would you talk most passionately about? I ask because many want to write, but share that they don’t know what to write.
The best answer is to write what you are most passionate about. We all are about something, but there is usually a few things in the most passionate column. You may write about other passions later, but if you are having trouble deciding on your first writing project, I would start with the most passionate column.
I would ask that you take a few moments and decide what that is for you. Then spend a few more moments jotting down your thoughts on this subject. You may find that, while you thought you had no idea about what to write, you’ve written down much more than you imagined possible. Once you’ve done this, let’s talk tomorrow about where to go from here.
