Figmentations

The ubiquity and accessibility of the Internet has long since given flight to the belief that: “Everyone has a book in them.” Some of us will write that book.  Some of us won’t. 

Motivational gurus will work to encourage us to get our book(s) written.  Additionally, The Long Tail theory will insure that a broad range of books (of varying content and quality) will get written and read.

Clearly writing a book that gets published and read by others makes most authors feel worthy and satisfied at putting forth their best effort to leave a, hopefully lasting, legacy of some sort behind.

Yet, just because a book gets written doesn’t mean it’s a good book.  Of course, “good” is a broad and relative term.  Clearly not every book idea is worth writing or reading, regardless of whether or not that indubitably will take place.

Of all the good books that do get written by good writers, the reality about books is as follows: 

• There will be good books that never get read.
• There will be good book ideas that good writers never get around to writing.
• There will be bad book ideas that never get written (and rightfully so).
• There will be good ideas that don’t become good books.
• There will be good writers that write bad books.
• There will be bad writers that write bad books.
• There will be bad books that never get read (and rightfully so).
• There will be bad books that will get read.
• (Interestingly, there won’t be bad writers that write good books, because writing a good book by default gives its author the credence of being a good writer.)

 

 Either way, before an author puts pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) self-doubt will surely find a way to creep into the picture.  Common questions that come to mind include the following:

“Am I a good writer?  Is this a good book idea? Is it original enough?  Does anyone care about what I’m trying to communicate?  Has someone else already tackled my book idea?  Will my life experiences really make my particular observations and way of framing them unique?  Can I be unique yet still evoke a commonality of experience that enough readers can relate to?  Will my “unique” way of capturing and conveying an idea be anything more than just another way of capturing and conveying the ideas of another author who already beat me to the game?”

In the end, it seems that the best way to answer those questions is to invoke that success strategy of “fail fast and often”.  I suppose we’ll never know what the true potential or legacy of a book idea is until we get it written, edited, and out there.  I’ll keep you posted on how things turn out for me.

If you (or someone you know) has any related experience(s) to share, please share below.

Other related posts by this author:

• “Is Original Thought Still Possible” (EzineArticles.com)
• “To Write or Not To Write?” (EzineArticles.com)