I spoke with my friend Paul last night. I’ve written about Paul before. He’s the Raider of the Lost Archives (I love seeing that in type), America’s premiere producer of television DVDs.
Paul ripped into me pretty good.
“You don’t have to write about the crab cakes you had,” he said, “or the other things you considered ordering.” Too much detail! “People think you’ve got too much time on your hands.”
I sat and pondered that for three or four hours.
It is within Paul’s natural nature to be judgmental. Don’t read this and think he was being overly critical.
Then he said, “You should write a book.”
I should, shouldn’t I? This blog has taught me one thing I never expected to learn – I really enjoy writing. But a book? That’s a lot of work and more organization than I normally muster.
I’m not even sure how one writes a book? Do you start at the beginning? Do you make decisions before the first words of dialog are spoken? Or, do you just write and let the story develop in an organic way.
That last choice is too easy and straightforward to be the correct one.
It’s not like I haven’t thought about the prospect. Everyone is supposed to have at least one novel in them, waiting to get out. I can’t even come up with a concept! I have writer’s block before the outline.
I’m sure Paul will be upset I’ve written about writing. “No one wants to know what you’re thinking 24 hours a day,” he’ll say¹.
One of the guys I work with has written a novel. I know he’s been working on it for at least five years. Obviously, there’s more to the process than I understand, because I can’t figure out how you could fill five years writing and rewriting.
Still, it’s an interesting thought, and as I said, I really like writing.
¹- Wow, you can put words in someone’s mouth!