Author: Dan Blank

All I do is talk to writers and creators. The work we do is about creating and sharing. But sometimes I hear writers justify why they can’t do that. They make conclusions such as:

• “The world is in crisis, it would be selfish of me to talk about my writing now.”
• “Who can write when there is so much to worry about? Now is not the time.”
• “It’s not even worth it to query agents now, I heard it’s best to wait 6 months at the earliest.”
• “Self-publishing? Do people even read self-published books? I don’t know anyone that does, I’m not wasting my time with it.”
• “Social media doesn’t sell books, so I’m not bothering.”

These conclusions are sometimes closely tied to personal experience too:

• “I had a big break 15 years ago with my first book, but then my editor left the publisher just before it was published. The new editor didn’t love my book, so I don’t feel it got much support. The book didn’t do well. I mean, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and mine got messed up. Honestly, why bother at this point?”
• “I worked for years on a book, and then like 5 other authors published books with the same themes. The market was flooded, and they got all the recognition. It would be embarrassing to publish it now and look like a copycat.”

Each narrative above is meant to be a conclusion that says a version of: “And this is why I can’t….”

The question I always ask as I consider these things is: does this limit your potential? Must it?

Earlier this week I spoke with Shannon Connery, PhD about this topic. About how our narratives can limit our potential to create and share. Shannon is a psychologist, and spent a portion of her career working with first responders after traumatic incidents. What was her take on the topic of how writers can use narratives to stop creating and sharing? She put it this way:

“They are giving away their power.”

That phrase blew my mind. Why? Because it recognizes this amazing power that all writers have. That you are not a cog in a machine of publishing or the marketplace. You have the power to create. To write. To connect. To teach. To inspire. To grow as a person through your craft. To help others grow through what you share.

This means that any narrative that limits that potential is a choice to give away that power. Remember that scene at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark where they hide the crate amongst thousands of other boxes?

I would encourage you to not do that with your own creative power. Don’t hide it away.

In my conversation with Shannon, we dug into the narratives that tend to limit our potential, leaving us with excuses instead of creative actions. Shannon shared several stories to illustrate the point, digs into the psychology of what is going on, and most importantly, shares how to fix it!

Her advice: lead with your goals and values.

You can listen to our entire conversation on my podcast, The Creative Shift.

This power extends to our ability to reach out to others as well. I recently interviewed author Jenny Blake for an upcoming episode of my podcast. As we ended the interview, she paused and thanked me — not just for reaching out, but for reaching out now, amidst the pandemic. She appreciated that I emailed her in the middle of this crisis, when her business is changing dramatically and when so much is uncertain. It meant even more to her that I wanted to reconnect at this time and feature her on my podcast.

When you connect with someone, you change the potential of what is possible. For them. And for you together.

In my consulting and programs, I often encourage writers to reach out and say “thank you” to other writers they admire. A simple email will suffice.

Usually, the writer strongly resists this idea. They explain to me how “big” this writer is, how busy they must be, how emailing them would be bothering them.

Yet, 9 out of 10 times that I have someone do it, the other person gets back to them quickly, replying, “Thank you, you made my day!” I mean, what else are these authors doing on a random Tuesday afternoon where they don’t want to be told that their writing matters?

I would encourage you to connect with people you admire, regularly.

These can be simple emails sent to different people a few times a week. You can reconnect with old colleagues and acquaintances, or to establish new connections with those you admire or would like to meet.

You don’t need to pitch anything or promote yourself. Just say hello, thank them, and explain why their work matters to you.

That is an incredible creative power you have. And one that establishes the most critical parts of an author platform: communication and trust.

Who can you email today to do exactly this?
Thanks.
-Dan

I have seen a lot of people sharing this New Yorker cartoon this week:

And of course, the comment to the right of cartoon showcases how much more difficult people’s actual reality is: “Just add 4 children and 3 dogs in that boat and that’s me.”

The implication of the cartoon (as I read it) is that people are dealing with so much crisis and responsibility now. Any suggestions of “since you are likely quarantined at home, now you have time to finish your novel!” miss the complexity of all that people are dealing with.

I know that many of you reading this feel that you are well past 100% in your life. That you are simply juggling too much, and have nothing left in the tank to use in order to create more or share more. I, of course, absolutely understand and respect that.

Whenever I consider this — how can someone find the ability to create something extraordinary — I always look for models of success. Real people, juggling their own complex lives.

This week I was honored to be a guest on the Write-Minded podcast, hosted by Brooke Warner and Grant Faulker. They described the episode as a “game-changing conversation about generosity, authenticity, and how to be heart-centered in how you share, engage, and promote.”

Among many other achievements, Brooke is the author of a whole bunch of books, and the publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress. Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

It’s incredible to consider what they have each created. And on top of all of what they do, here they are producing a podcast as well.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Brooke for years, but had only known Grant through his reputation at NaNoWriMo. I mean, the whole idea of this is a little bit bonkers. Every November, thousands of people write a novel, start to finish, in a single month.

That is 50,000 words written in a month that includes a major holiday, along with all of the other normal responsibilities in life: family, work, home, health, travel, and of course, so many dishes and laundry.

What I love most about the idea of NaNoWriMo is that it reframes what you think 100% is. Most people would say, “Look. I work a job. I raise a family. I can find time to write 1,000 words a week. But 1,700 words per day?!? And these words have to be strung together so they create one story — one novel? That’s simply not possible.”

NaNoWriMo pushes you to reconsider what 100% can be for you and your creative work.

I was reading an interview with guitar legend Joe Satriani who talked about how in 1988, Mick Jagger gave him the break that made his career, and what Mick taught him:

“I was on my very first solo tour. We were losing lots of money, about eight grand a week playing two club shows a night. I was all but done. So I was going to scrap the tour and just go figure something else out. Then I get a call about an audition for a Mick Jagger solo tour. I end up getting the job, then BAM – all of a sudden i went from all but total obscurity into a hyper world with a red carpet in front of me at all times. It was insane.”

When asked how this helped his solo career, Joe replied:
“It was Mick. See, not only was he the total rockstar I always dreamed he would be – but he was also funny, unpredictable, incredibly cool, open, and one of the most generous people I’d ever met. He said to me, ‘my staff is your staff – use all of my resources to help promote your record while we tour. Use this private room for interviews – use these people to help you.’ Then he gave me a big solo spot in the show. He was totally selfless and completely excited to help me with MY success as a solo artist. He would tell me all the time –you’ve gotta go all the way – you’ve got to take advantage of whatever you can and most importantly, connect with the audience. I just learned so much from Mick Jagger and he really allowed me to establish myself as a solo artist.”

What was the biggest lesson Mick taught him? This:
“Being on stage with him every night, I never failed to appreciate that this is a guy who always is trying harder than all of us to make a great show for the audience. We had an 11-piece band – so if someone wanted to kick back and relax a bit, it’d be easy to cover. But then Mick would run past you, giving 100%, 100% of the time, and you’d realize, if he’s doing it, we all have to do it. He would drag me into the spotlight with him so different parts of the audience could really see me. He loves his audience so much, and is so focused on pleasing them – that’s what I think I was the important thing he taught me – appreciating those who come and see you play – and working your hardest to please them.”

When I read stuff like that, I get inspired to clarify my work. To consider the people I want to reach and connect with, and meaningful ways I can do that.

But, perhaps you are reading that story and thinking. “Ugh. Why bother? I do so much already.”

This week I sat down with bestselling author Jennifer Louden to talk about her brand new book, Why Bother?: Discover the Desire for What’s Next.

In our interview, she went through her six-step process to figure out what is next for your creative work:

1. Leave behind: Examine the excuses that you’re too depressed, anxious, old, or ill, that it’s too late, that you’re not good enough. See with love what needs to be jettisoned so you can start a new story.
2. Ease in: Trust yourself to wonder, awaken self-compassionate grit, investigate habits that deaden possibility, and return again and again to the truth that you matter.
3. Settle: Find the stillness that makes everything else possible. Settling doesn’t mean being static or putting up with less than what you desire.
4. Desire: The heart of the why bother approach, the missing piece in your life. Make friends with the misunderstood quality and energy of desire, replace substitute desires, drop your diversions, and be amazed.
5. Become by doing: Follow through with gentle, devoted action that helps you stay in the gap, check your head, and become the most human version of you.
6. Be seen: Celebrate your desires in community and take refuge in belonging.

So much of what she talks about is finding the path that is customized for you. As a huge bonus, in our conversation, she also takes you behind the scenes of her book launch, and shares how she got more than 175 five-star reviews on Amazon in less than a week. She digs into what else she is doing to promote the book, discusses the biggest mistakes authors make in their book launch, and the things that surprise her most about marketing her book.

You can listen to our entire conversation here.

Your creative work matters. You get to choose if you work on it, how you do it, and the manner by which it fits into the vast complexity of your life.

Thanks.
-Dan