I
have rewritten my novel 3 times, the first ten pages of my novel 7 times, I
have rewritten my first page 12 times, I have rewritten my first paragraph 21
times, and I have rewritten my first line 31 times. Don’t believe me? I have
the proof, I keep all of my deleted work.
I have bled all over these pages and now all I see is red. Why have I not simply tightened the tourniquet
and stitched her up? Fear.
Over
and over I read, “There is only one item in your book more important than the
first chapter, the first paragraph.
There is only one item more important than the first paragraph, the
first line.” I have also read, heard,
and digested the fact that my dream will live or die by the first ten pages. One
dream and one chance, and five to ten pages to make it come true. If an industry
wished to force a perfectionist into suicide, the writing world has found the key.
Fortunately,
in the last month I forced myself to start to learn one thing….. ‘The Little
Engine That Could’ is one of the most profound books of all time. It teaches a principle that is lacking in so
many facets of advice, you have to ‘think
I can’ to make it up the hill.
Confidence, when paired with self-actualization, will get better results
than fear and apprehension. Focusing on this prospective is helping me and I
hope it will help you….. Believe in yourself and truly think you can!
