Joseph Donne is an unpublished writer who lives in Ohio with his wife, two kids, and two cats. Visit http://josephdonne.com to get in touch or find him on Twitter or Instagram
Right about this time two years ago, I made the decision that I was going to jump in with both feet and give this writing thing a go. I was that walking cliché that told people I “always wanted to write a book,” and some part of me wanted to believe I would be able to just sit down and do the thing. I’d written some short stories when I was younger (Yes, I still have them, and no, you may not read them), so I assumed this would really be just an extension of that process. And as you might expect, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Two years later, I have *checks notes* two first drafts completed. I’m not (yet) close to publishing either one. On that alone, I would say I haven’t been successful. I’m not making any money (yet) on this adventure; in fact, I’m still paying in. More than a few people have reached this stage, did some calculations, and decided this wasn’t for them after all.
Speaking for myself, I have several other hobbies to which I could be dedicating my time. And yet, each night, I put a few more words down—usually close to a thousand—in my current project. Maybe I also dabble a little on my website. Maybe I do a little more research (okay, a lot more research…I fall down rabbit holes easily). I’m not a published writer, but I can say I’ve learned volumes over this two-year journey that moved me a little farther ahead than where I began.
When I first started, all I saw was the finish line: whether I self-publish or query, I dreamed of the end result: the status of being a published author. That will happen one day in one form or the other, but in the meantime, I’ve learned to embrace the grind of putting together a draft.
When I first started, all I saw was the finish line: whether I self-publish or query, I dreamed of the end result: the status of being a published author.
Joseph Donne 2020
Now that I’ve finished the draft on my current project, I’ll next start tearing much of it apart in order to make it new and fresh. All that is to say, that instead of focusing on the end where my book is out there for people to read, I’m embracing the process of putting it together.
In short, I’m having fun being a writer. Some nights I want to close up my computer, set it on the stove, and turn on the burner. But that frustration is often replaced after watching my plan come together piece by piece, word by word, until I hit the end of the draft and go, “Holy crap, I WROTE A BOOK.”
The economics of this endeavor will be sorted out one day down the road. But for now, I will enjoy tackling the challenge of honing my craft, getting over my fears, and putting in the work. If you’re on the fence about being a writer, I encourage you to give it a shot.
