Yesterday I was invited to come and speak at a Writers Seminar. I didn’t really know what to expect there, I only made up my mind, I was going to rely on what was on my heart to speak to them. I imagined I would see a handfull of people there, you can’t imagine the internal shock I had when I entered the venue and saw they were actually many! Wow…so many writers, where have these people been? I was given the mandate to motivate them for a few minuites. To encourage them to write. After I came in a lady was introduced from Cassava Republic, her name was Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, an impressive lady…hopefully more about her later. I was later introduced (Adeolu Akinyemi owner of the most popular blog in Nigeria – wow – thanks to you!), and i approached the stage, with 4 phrases in my head, but plenty in my heart.
I spoke about 5 things I believed these writers or writer wannabe’s needed to do. I first asked, just to check how many of them really loved to write. All hands went up, I also asked how many of them presently wrote, as you can guess, the numbers divided by two or more. Many of us know what we love, but we don’t do it. Many of us have so much potentials, yet we deny the world of the service we could render, by staying in our comfort zones. Why? Many wishes, few desires. Nobody will introduce you as the person who loves to write, they’ll introduce you as a writer, the world won’t qualify your writing skills, they’ll call you a best selling author. It’s about appeal, and believe me, you won’t know except you get it out, and get it out!
1. We are not all born equal! The first thing you must understand if you are a writer wannabe or any wannabe is that you will meet people in your life more skilled than you are, and less skilled than you are. Life is a middle game most of the time, you are ahead of some, some are ahead of you! If you read the parable of talents in the Bible, you’ll see the story of a master who gave talents (cash for business) to his servants. He gave one 5, another 2 and the last 1. Lesson, we all start from different points. Don’t let the fact that you don’t have as much as Janet hinder you! Quit looking around and comparing yourself, that’s the passtime of fools.
2. Use what you have! From the talent story, the reward was not for how much they were able to get back (ROI), but the fact that they ventured with it. Many people have writing skills and they are waiting for one publisher somewhere to publish their work, don’t wait for the perfect seasons to sow, you will never sow. Use what you have now. Get a blog, own a site, but look for an avenue to get and polish your raw diamond. Venture, risk, get criticized, take on feedback. There is no growth without groans.
3. Find your earth! A seed on a table is going to be there alone forever, a seed in a glass cup is of no use. A good story in your brain is not worth a dime, neither is a write-up that has not been read. Find your earth. Find a place to push out your seed to. A place where it would probably be riddiculed but put it out anyway! Get your seed into it’s place. Whatever it is that is your skill, get it functional. If you know how to write, get a blog today! (I can help), if you know how to speak, volounteer to compere in birthdays, if you know how to encourage or counsel people, take time out to speak with someone today, if you have the gift of care, use it (there is real need out there), whatever you have, search for your earth, look for your avenue! Don’t wait till tomorrow, start now! Some of us started with love letters (did you say what?), whatever your starting point, start!
4. Jam your backdoor! I love the seed, so don’t mind my using it again and again. Once the seed is placed in the earth, there is no retreat, no surrender – The die is cast! You need to set yourself up into a routine and get cracking. The reason we have 4th rate writers is because we have 4th rate readers. Gabbage in is gabbage out, that’s true everyday and twice on sunday! Commit! Give yourself a routine – All great writers (like me) have promised themselves to do it with routine. Some every day, some weekly, some monthly, do it, do it, do it. It won’t be easy, but you’ll be better for it! If someone has ever told you they loved what you wrote, you have the makings, polish (punish!) yourself till you shine.
5. Network! Again…meetings like the one I went for are good, it makes you know their are passionate and hungry people around. You can’t be a best selling author in your room. Mix with the right crowd, talk to people who are not giving up, network with other writers, mabye there are easier ways, maybe there are simpler ways, maybe the world has moved past where you are. The only way you’ll know is if you belong to a network of writers. You want a quick network, register at here, it’s at your right hand corner.
There are wishes, wants, needs and then desires. Wishing it won’t cut it, wanting it won’t buy it, neither does needing it -look around you there are so many people who need who don’t have. If you desire to be a writer, an achiever, a winner, a top executive, a business owner, a leader, a money magnet, a …whatever. The first step is to desire it, and what is the proof of desire again? PURSUIT! Your desire is no desire until you swing into action. Somebody say, Now! Let the word Now, be the constant word in your day today!
