Mr Coelho, my dream is to write a book. I have often wondered which book to write, but the problem is not the topic, but to make that first step, as most of your books teach, and to live your dream. I am not Catholic, but Protestant and I respect your religion, because through all your work it is very clear that you believe in god and trust in Him.
And as Christian, we learn the story of Jesus walking on the water, and one of the Lessons to be learn from the story, is that in order to walk on the water, we need to first get out of the boat!
And my problem is that I need the motivation, to make the first step and get out of my boat!
Dear Sandra,
I can totally relate with this first difficulty – it took me 40 years to be able to write my first book (The Pilgrimage).
I remember how much I turned away from the white page, how difficult it was to simply seat down and write. Furthermore I had to go to a far away land and walk the sacred path of Santiago in order to finally come down to writing.
I think the only advice I can give you is this : seat down and write – anything that comes to your head and keep going. At first you may feel stuck, but with time, if you continue on your quest of storytelling, you will see how the first barrier was only an illusion.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Secretly, I’ve started writing a “book” it’s like 82 pages long so far and it is not finished yet. It is a children’s book. A Story full of adventure and some mystic parts as well. Mostly it is based on my own childhood.
My dream is to be able to publish the book and then to give it to the hands of all those who had lived that “childhood” with me.
However, I share Luce’s problem. It’s not writing that worrie’s me.I get pleasure from that. It is the “after writing” that gets me frightned…
Will I ever be able to fullfill this dream?
Is this what is written for me, for my life?
So many questions…
I believe what we are all doing on this site is write for ourselves, the same as what Paulo is doing.
Like everybody else, I know my heart is good and I want to go to the bottom of it. Trying to find what my dream is a bit of a dilemma for me because I am interested in so many things and I don’t know where my talent lies. I know I have to focus only on one thing. It is hard when you feel so strongly about so many things…
Thanks Paulo for making this blog so interesting.
Love to all
Thank you Sandra for asking that question.
I am also in the same position. If it took Paulo 40 years to strengthen his spirit for the act, then I guess we shouldn’t be panicking. I’ve discovered that the most detrimental thing is actually the thought that we are not moving fast enough, or writing quicker and better material. It’s like attempting to run in water. Sheer, raw physical power has the opposite effect! Instead of going forward, you end up going nowhere. Whereas if you just let your mind go and wrote for yourself, you would fly.
Water is a funny element eh? It’s not for nothing that Neptune is said to be the ruler of nightmares and dreamscapes. Oh, another thing. Whenever anyone suddenly become conscious of their dream while dreaming, it usually dissolves and we wake up. Again, same principle.
Thanks all!
Writing short stories would defenitly be easier for me, but I really want to write a longer story. Although I do think the shorter story idea with one theme is a good one in case I really get stuck, thanks!
Childrens books is really not my “cup of tea”, but still thanks for suggestion! (A dog sounds great Luce!)
Am convinced now it is lack of discipline in my case and I should be seeing it as a job… (blugh..)
I have plenty of time since a few months but just seem to prefer doing absolutely nothing productive. And kicking myself for that every night before going to bed :-) I am however already writing poetry (mainly in Dutch)(I am from Holland), but only seem to be capable of doing that when deeply depressed…and since I don’t want to be in that state it’s better to write a book.
How is that for logic :-)
Luce: maybe you should go with your first instinct if there seem too many possibilities?
Anyway, thanks a lot for all the help, I’ll try starting my “new job” tomorrow… :-)
Lots of love
Marielle,
in my case you are right, it is partly matter of discipline and partly time, or too many branches my main story takes, so I loose patience.
Being Balance does not help either. I should not blame zoodiac for my indecision but so many possibilities make me confused.
Susan gave us very good advice, so I’ll write few short stories and some stories for children, main character probably a dog.
Thank you Susan, thank you Marielle,
and of course
THANK YOU PAULO !!!
Love
Luce
Good luck.
Start, and keep at it.
As you go on, you will find a way; writing groups, mechanics of the work, etc etc- it will unfold, step by step.
Right there on that path, too.
Best.
The difficult thing is not the writing, for me. It’s what can be done with it when it is finished.
I am Protestant myself.Wish good luck to Sandra,hope I soon read one of her first big literary success.I am also in her place,even if so many person encourage me to write,for I have tallent ,is enough one single bad word ,I lose faith.
I know not everybody is meant to be writer,but what we lose trying….I think the title is the first step,think on one and all will start moving.In faculty we used to continue in our own way well known stories,in an original way.The result was good,so many different approaches.I was the only one had the courage to read mine version,even if poor,coleagues applauded me.A moment I felt proud.Or try to write a short story taking words from a first paragraph of another story.Like takinf the igredients for making cookies. Hope I was not talking nonsense,good luck once again Sandra.
Start small with a rough idea. Then move on to filling the ‘branches’ of the story. That works for me. The best way to start is just to get a very basic sketch of your project. Narrow down your search to the subject, main character and plot.
:)
-C
Siempre tus palabras llegan en el momento justo. Es una sincronicidad que he tenido desde que leí tu primer libro. LA palabra en el momento adecuado. Uno de tus dones sin lugar a duda, que ha llegado a tantos millones de personas. ASí que por estas palabras que han llegado hoy para mi, GRACIAS!! LA pregunta es una vez que escribís, cuál es la diferencia entre un escritor que llega a millones de personas y uno que no logra traspasar las fronteras de su región. Conozco excelentes escritores que no pueden salir de lo que las editoriales pequeñas le ponen como´límite. Y asimismo, las editoriales grandes, tienen sólo pautas claras respecto de lo que publican, por lo que se hace difícil llegar hasta ellas. Qué pensás?
UN abrazo!
Marielle,
I do the same thing. Then it occurred to me why I do this. It is not a job to me, it is a hobby. If you want it to be a job, then constrain yourself. Iow’s, discipline yourself.
As well consider this; maybe you are not a novelist, maybe you are an essaist, short stories. Write short stories that end before you get bored. Collect them into a book/manuscript, that perhaps has a central theme you are wanting to express then see if someone will publish them.
Try poetry. Read poetry. Then read poetry, then read more. Buy a book or take a class on writing.
Try writing childrens books, they are generally shorter.
It stimulates the economy, it really does. If there is a library nearby that you can use for free, do it.
Do you know how to do it? No manuscript will ever even make a desk top, let alone an editors eyes if one doesn’t know how to write, meaning the mechanics of writing.
People think that a good book, one that is worthy to be published is published because it is creative, imaginative, intriguing, mysterious. True enough, eventually, but it is well written first.
If it is true that we have to be willing to pay the price, what is the price to pay to write a good book. An education. Reading things others wrote. Exposing oneself to new ideas. An education.
As well, all those things stimulate the economy.
Did I mention an education. Start with an English 101 course, or a whatever your country considers a higher course of study in writing and literature.
If you writing flows, wild like a river, without any structure, language mechanics, it will never make it to the publishers desk top for consideration. It will be thrown in the trash can.
I think Nike best said it with their slogan: Just Do It!
In my opinion, we shouldn’t think about it. Just start it and things will flow naturally. Like Paulo said, sit down and write.
Luce,
Hahahahahhaaa
:-)
Suppose it’s just a matter of discipline, what do you think?
Love
Marielle
Marielle,
Kill the main character, give him/her big challenge, leave him/her just tiny hope at the end of tunel, and there let them find another challenge……
I am joking as I am at the moment in almost same position as you. I wish you good luck, courrage and joy !
Love
Luce
Mr. Coelho,
I haven’t read any of your books. In fact, I’ve read very few books, because that’s the culture here–we don’t read many books. I’ve heard about you from some of my friends. I’ve been reading your blog since quite some time. And I’m totally loving it!
Mostly, I read textbooks, and I have a big desire to write anything–novel, textbook, blog–or do anything that could be immensely useful to people and would be a very rewarding activity for me too.
To begin with, I’ve tried to write some articles on my blog, create a photo album, but it’s not good enough. The most important question I face is–”am I missing any important piece of knowledge (an authoritative text or something) that would keep me forever from getting that classical work? Is it impossible for me?”
I’d really appreciate it if you could point me to something that helps me–a book, a reply to this post, anything.
Sincerely,
Aniket S.
Oh…and I think I should add that it is not because the story is boring. If I read it again a few weeks later I’m actually quite impressed with myself (:-))and very curious where the story is gonna go.
I just don’t continue for some sort of reason.
Love
Dear Paulo,
I actually have a different problem: I dó start and write the first chapter, and than I get bored.
Bored with the story and bored with the main charactar. So than I stop.
And a few weeks/days/months later start a new story. And the same thing happens.
What to do oh what to do?
Love
I am not a writer..
From my experience I think, the way to start doing things is to start doing it in your mind! Imagine yourself as …doing it and next time you will find yourself in that position.
I think it works for everything in life. From finding and buying a new dress, to driving the car of your dreams or to meet the ..prince of your dreams! ‘Anything we desire, the …Universe will present it to us!!’[Paulo Coelho]
So we must be careful in using our imaginative, creative powers. Because we may send a .. curse that will eventually be returned to us seven times stronger.To use it only with ..love for ourselves, others and the Cosmos.
LOVE,
Thelma
Dear Paulo,
I needed this advice today as I am stucked for some days now, ( or is it already weeks ).
Thank you for answer, and Sandra for question.
Love
Luce
{ 1 trackback }