From Inspiration to an Idea to a Book

To be published, you have to want it so bad you can taste it.

A writer I know from a different platform asked me for inspiration to write a book. I thought he meant share my experiences, so I shared some with him. He said, “No, I mean should I write a book?”

I told him, “No, it doesn’t work like that. You are the only one with that answer. But I can tell you from my experience, you have to want your book to be published and want to be an Author so bad you can taste it!”

Then he said, “Okay, I do. Now, what should I write about?” Again, I had to tell him, it just doesn’t work that way ...

At this point, I felt safe saying it’s the same for all writers. You don’t look for, or ask to be inspired to write a book. Inspiration comes to you from many outside directions. You hear or read or meet something or someone that inspires you.

Book ideas come from inside you. The idea actually hunts a writer down mercilessly and shouts, “Here, this is it! Now start writing!” The best I can do is offer a few suggestions:

• A unique skill you have that you could teach through a book

• The special interests you enjoy

• You’ve written poetry and/or short stories for years and have enough for a book

• You have an insightful view of the world you would love to share

• You’re a photographer and you want to share your work

I continued to explain to him, “With my own books, the ideas plagued me for years. It was my own blasted procrastination and my time restraints, due to working full time, that kept me from buckling down and just doing it.

I guess what I am saying is, the inspiration to write a book should have already come to you and only you can decide what to write a book about. There isn’t anyone anywhere who knows you better …”

I was trying hard to stay nice and still be honest ...

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