Why Most People Don’t Write
Negative attitudes of people - This sounds hard when we consider many seemingly honest outcries against helplessness of those who would otherwise wish to write but their circumstances won’t permit them. I mentioned in the introduction my own struggles with family pressures, financial constraint and perhaps I forgot to mention snobbish dispositions of those who tried to talk me down and explain why no reasonable person will waste his time reading writings of a half-baked literate and unknown author. One bible school lecturer told me that I was not popular enough to attract readers. Perhaps he was right but at least I attracted him because he read my book and acknowledged my skill in communication. Dr. Fyne Nsofor in commenting on my second book said, “Well, you managed to write a good book with a bad title”. Dr. Gary Maxey in commenting about the same book said, “How can you use the phrase Must Answer while referring to God” but he ended up speaking in the conference held in honor of the book. I did not try to force him to agree with me; I just let him speak his mind. Towards the middle of his message in trying to discuss the book he said, “Brother Emma, I can’t help but to agree with you that there are prayers God has no option than to answer”.
A pastor of a church in Port Harcourt told me he only reads popular authors. Another one told me that when he will write, it will be world class. None of the two have written a tract to my knowledge almost twelve years after. A university professor said I was writing for money hence won’t pay for the book but told me he was preparing to write a bigger volume he will share for free. More than ten years have passed, please, if you see his book let me know. One other Pastor in Port Harcourt said he won’t sell my books in his church because the titles were scary, like Confronting Witchcraft in the Neighborhood. Well, I personally caught an evil bird in his church and that church made news as a church infested with witches. On the first count there were more than ten families without fruit of the womb in their midst, the founder and this pastor inclusive.
My reason for pointing out this is to show to you that I was there, so you can see that all that is not excuse folding your hand. One may say, “Emma everybody knows you are a gifted author”. That is a lame excuse. Were you able to read and write the first time you went to school? Yet, you soon learnt the art. In the same you can learn the art of writing if you discipline yourself. You have to make up your mind to write because it is a wonderful pastime ant it is worth the trouble. Today, there are many more ways to disseminate your writings on the internet, so you cannot say you that have audience.
What will I be writing on? Do I just writing? We will answer that question later.
Laziness – I wish I can write specifically on this vision killer called, LAZINESS. As a believer I have believers disciplined for all killed of sins but not one person for laziness. Yet, the bible said that a lazy man is brother to the devil (Proverbs 18:9). But have you seen a man who acknowledges that he is lazy? Most lazy people take cover under something else.
I am too busy – Most pastors give this excuse but you see them idling away time. You meet a man chatting on the road while going up and meet the same man at the same spot two hour later on the same spot arguing on l politics or football. Some youths have all the name of premier league players of top European clubs off hand and position of each club on the league table. They then follow league and championship programs religiously through every year. Yet, same person argues that he has no time.
Procrastination (I do it at a convenient time) – Days come and go and nothing is done. While preparing for JAMB my daughter asked her instructor if she will be permitted to go out and ease herself during the exams and he said, “Why not but just understand that the clock did not stop because you left the exam hall”. I am fed up with people tell me of a great book they will write some day. I want to see a pastor and he told of more than ten books he has to publish. With excitement I asked to see the manuscripts and he should me some cover designs he had done. “but what about the manuscripts?” Well, I have not seen any and four years have passed. Procrastination is the voice of laziness
Perfectionist Syndrome – It sounds like this, “I don’t like it when I see people with books full of errors or seeing a pamphlet presented as a book. I will take time and write a real book.” Most people who talk like this never ended writing any. Most books you see today voluminous were first published as small books and as time passed the revelation of the author grew and the book was re-edited or reversed to a bigger volume. I told you how my first books were initially eighteen page books. Somebody wanting to follow me by trying to write the volume I write today will be pursuing shadows. Start small.
Negative attitudes of people - This sounds hard when we consider many seemingly honest outcries against helplessness of those who would otherwise wish to write but their circumstances won’t permit them. I mentioned in the introduction my own struggles with family pressures, financial constraint and perhaps I forgot to mention snobbish dispositions of those who tried to talk me down and explain why no reasonable person will waste his time reading writings of a half-baked literate and unknown author. One bible school lecturer told me that I was not popular enough to attract readers. Perhaps he was right but at least I attracted him because he read my book and acknowledged my skill in communication. Dr. Fyne Nsofor in commenting on my second book said, “Well, you managed to write a good book with a bad title”. Dr. Gary Maxey in commenting about the same book said, “How can you use the phrase Must Answer while referring to God” but he ended up speaking in the conference held in honor of the book. I did not try to force him to agree with me; I just let him speak his mind. Towards the middle of his message in trying to discuss the book he said, “Brother Emma, I can’t help but to agree with you that there are prayers God has no option than to answer”.
A pastor of a church in Port Harcourt told me he only reads popular authors. Another one told me that when he will write, it will be world class. None of the two have written a tract to my knowledge almost twelve years after. A university professor said I was writing for money hence won’t pay for the book but told me he was preparing to write a bigger volume he will share for free. More than ten years have passed, please, if you see his book let me know. One other Pastor in Port Harcourt said he won’t sell my books in his church because the titles were scary, like Confronting Witchcraft in the Neighborhood. Well, I personally caught an evil bird in his church and that church made news as a church infested with witches. On the first count there were more than ten families without fruit of the womb in their midst, the founder and this pastor inclusive.
My reason for pointing out this is to show to you that I was there, so you can see that all that is not excuse folding your hand. One may say, “Emma everybody knows you are a gifted author”. That is a lame excuse. Were you able to read and write the first time you went to school? Yet, you soon learnt the art. In the same you can learn the art of writing if you discipline yourself. You have to make up your mind to write because it is a wonderful pastime ant it is worth the trouble. Today, there are many more ways to disseminate your writings on the internet, so you cannot say you that have audience.
What will I be writing on? Do I just writing? We will answer that question later.
Laziness – I wish I can write specifically on this vision killer called, LAZINESS. As a believer I have believers disciplined for all killed of sins but not one person for laziness. Yet, the bible said that a lazy man is brother to the devil (Proverbs 18:9). But have you seen a man who acknowledges that he is lazy? Most lazy people take cover under something else.
I am too busy – Most pastors give this excuse but you see them idling away time. You meet a man chatting on the road while going up and meet the same man at the same spot two hour later on the same spot arguing on l politics or football. Some youths have all the name of premier league players of top European clubs off hand and position of each club on the league table. They then follow league and championship programs religiously through every year. Yet, same person argues that he has no time.
Procrastination (I do it at a convenient time) – Days come and go and nothing is done. While preparing for JAMB my daughter asked her instructor if she will be permitted to go out and ease herself during the exams and he said, “Why not but just understand that the clock did not stop because you left the exam hall”. I am fed up with people tell me of a great book they will write some day. I want to see a pastor and he told of more than ten books he has to publish. With excitement I asked to see the manuscripts and he should me some cover designs he had done. “but what about the manuscripts?” Well, I have not seen any and four years have passed. Procrastination is the voice of laziness
Perfectionist Syndrome – It sounds like this, “I don’t like it when I see people with books full of errors or seeing a pamphlet presented as a book. I will take time and write a real book.” Most people who talk like this never ended writing any. Most books you see today voluminous were first published as small books and as time passed the revelation of the author grew and the book was re-edited or reversed to a bigger volume. I told you how my first books were initially eighteen page books. Somebody wanting to follow me by trying to write the volume I write today will be pursuing shadows. Start small.
Excerpt from my book, "My Journey to becoming an Author"
No comments:
Post a Comment